This training is intended for a) higher education leaders across functional areas at the Director level and above, and/or b) communications professionals who write for senior leaders. If this description matches your role AND you would like to learn how to be more audience-centered and inclusive in your communication with others, this training is for you. 

1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern

Introduction: Who, What, and Why  

To start off the workshop, you’ll have a chance to share why this topic is important to you and what challenges you currently face when it comes to inclusive communication as a leader. Our instructor will then discuss what inclusive communication means and why it’s so important for leaders to understand and practice.  

Part I: Understanding Your Audience and Their Needs  

The first step to inclusive communication is understanding your audience and their needs. To help you practice, we’ll review 2-3 real-life scenarios as a group and identify a) the different audience segments the leader needs to consider and b) their specific needs.  

Part II: Responding to Audience Needs in Your Communication  

Having identified your audience and their needs, the next step is to communicate with them in ways that foster psychological safety, humanize and personalize the interaction, and encourage you as a leader to find value in visibility. You will learn strategies you can put to use around the following kinds of questions:   

• As the leader, how can you put people at ease by normalizing mistakes and not knowing?  
• How can you best employ listening and question-asking as part of your communication?  
• How can you help people understand who you are so they receive your communication authentically and know where you are coming from?  
• What opportunities can you capitalize on as a leader to build connection and engagement outside of planned/structured interactions with others? 

 Using scenarios, you’ll have the opportunity to apply what you learn in small groups.