Communication Skills for AEC Professionals

Practical Communication Skills  (ABC Course 1.5.002)

Every construction job involves a complex system of information transfer. Good communication skills can make the difference between project success and project mess. Fortunately, good communication skills can be learned. This module will focus on developing and practicing good communication skills.

Learning Objectives:

  • Active listening
  • Identifying and addressing cognitive biases in ourselves and others
  • Coping with emotional stress in communications
  • Integrative negotiation skills for successful communication

 

Course length: 2 hours              Delivery method: In person or Virtual

How do you Effectively Get a Message Across to an Audience? (ABC Course 1.5.001)

Communicating a message so that it is received in the manner it is intended is sometimes
a challenge.


Messages are interpreted largely based on the biases and experiences of the receiver. This exploration is focused on how you can use “priming words” to better craft your communications so that your audience is more likely to hear and understand what you want to communicate to them. 

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn best practices for connecting with your audience.
  • Learn to use framing and priming to craft an effective presentation.
  • Learn tools for presenting in person or virtually.
  • Learn to develop visual tools that enhance your message.
  • Practice presentation strategies to gain confidence.

 

Course length: 1.5 hours              Delivery method: In person or Virtual

Cognitive Bias - How Do you Keep from Making Listening Errors? (ABC Course 2.2.003)

For those of you who have heard the phrase: “Possession is 9/10 of the law”, you will most likely appreciate this: Perception is 9/10 of reality.

 

This 90 minute exploration is an open discussion on how you increase your effectiveness as a leader and a communicator by addressing cognitive bias. Aware of it or not, humans have biases. They come from our environments, emotions, experiences, motivators, etc. Messages will always have some kind of bias: from the sender and/or the receiver. Great influencers have a knack for understanding this and addressing it. Come explore what you know and don’t know about addressing and leveraging cognitive bias.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn about the cognitive biases that can obstruct communication, how to see them in others and how to manage them.
  • Learn about the cognitive biases you can use to enhance your communication.
  • Learn how people make decisions and how you can communicate effectively to influence outcomes.
  • Practice these skills using real world examples.

 

Course length: 1.5 hours              Delivery method: In person or Virtual

Negotiation, Contracts and Conflict Management

Becoming a Problem Solver: Dealing with Conflict as a Normal Part of Business

Master problem solving skills you need to cope with unexpected conflicts that arise during the course of doing business -- including on a construction project. This is an interactive workshop with training and role-playing exercises. Participants will leave the workshop with a problem-solving toolkit and new approaches to support successful outcomes. 

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn how to approach business and construction project conflict as a problem solver.
  • Learn how early awareness and intervention can improve both process and outcomes.
  • Learn to develop a collaborative problem-solving team among key participants.
  • Learn to use conflict management templates to improve your outcomes.
  • Practice strategies through role playing exercises and group discussion.

 

Course length: 4 hours or 2 segments of 2 hours each.             Delivery method: In person or Virtual 

Negotiation Skills Training

This course will provide participants with an introduction to negotiation skills and the tools they need to improve outcomes in business negotiations.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn the different styles of negotiation with an emphasis on integrative negotiation.
  • Develop the skills to prepare for a negotiation, including defining your goals, researching your counterpart's interests, and formulating a clear opening position.
  • Understand essential communication techniques for negotiation. You will learn active listening skills, how to ask powerful questions, and strategies for clear and persuasive delivery of your arguments.
  • Learn to navigate challenges. You will gain the ability to identify and address common negotiation hurdles, such as handling objections, managing difficult personalities, and recognizing when to walk away from a deal.
  • Practice negotiation skills using real world examples.

Course length: 4 hours or 2 segments of 2 hours each.             Delivery method: In person or Virtual 

One-on-one consultation is available for individual coaching.

Managing Disputes

Disputes can send business owners into a panic. The goal of this class is to equip participants with the tools they need to effectively analyze and respond to disputes in ways designed to encourage collaborative resolution. 

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn how to manage a dispute when it arises to focus on collaborative solutions managed by senior executives.
  • Understand the options for third party neutral facilitation of collaborative solutions, for example mediation.
  • Understand the difference between litigation and arbitration.
  • Learn the basics of dispute provisions and notice provisions in standard form contracts.

 

Course length: 1.5 hours              Delivery method: In person or Virtual

Understanding Your Contracts

This course walks participants through the business implications of standard contract provisions (Owner-Designer, Owner-GC/CM or GC-Subcontractor - depending on your needs) to help identify areas of risk and understand standard contract terms and provisions as well as required performance standards, and paperwork requirements. 

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the key provisions of standard contracts.
  • Understand under what circumstances notice provisions may be triggered and what they obligate you to do.
  • Understand the risks that may be created by indemnification and insurance provisions.
  • Create a contract checklist for your business to understand when events in the field trigger contract requirements.

 

Course length: 1.5 hours              Delivery method: In person or Virtual

Managing Clients' Expectations

Learn how to manage client expectations to keep everyone on the same page and avoid disputes. There are a lot of moving parts in design and construction. Much of what is discussed by the parties does not end up in the contract. Clear and continuous communication is the key to managing client expectations, whether your client is the owner, a GC or a subcontractor.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand best practices in client communication.
  • Learn how to ensure timely client sign off on contract changes.
  • Learn how to track client communications to confirm agreements while retaining contractual protections.
  • Create a client communication plan for your business.

 

Course length: 1.5 hours              Delivery method: In person or Virtual

 

Pricing depends on the number of participants enrolled and the method of delivery. Please email nwg@construction-dispute-solutions.com to discuss available options.

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