Training
A clear focus
Communication skills; it's a big subject. Our approach is simple; share the essentials. We help participants to be more effective in their roles, by sharing a straightforward, replicable 'communication template' for an array of different situations; skills that increase the chance that they and their work are recognised, listened to and acted upon.
Communication Essentials
Our core training programme draws upon neuroscience, psychology and the science of behaviour change, using social science - such as the well-regarded Schwartz Theory of Basic Human Values and cultural dynamics - to understand the Values of the people our participants are engaging with. Click here to learn more.
Our 5-Point Plan covers:
1. Values - we look at the underlying motivators that your stakeholders hold dear, and that drive their thinking and decision-making
2. Narrative - story arcs are familiar to audiences, so participants develop a clear 5-point story template
3. Facts v Emotions - we present critical data in emotive soundbites
4. You - stakeholders are more responsive when they can relate to the person talking to them
5. Language and jargon - and finally we sense check the words and phrases we've used to avoid misunderstandings
Press & Media
It is easy to believe that dealing with the press is an ordeal to be overcome but, drawing upon our team’s background in journalism - Ian is a former journalist from The Guardian, and other team members have worked in the media and made many TV and radio appearances - we aim to show otherwise. However, an interview is not a normal conversation.
To help participants deal with the press and media we share:
1. What the media want from interviews
2. How to craft your story
3. Preparing for interviews
4. Body language
5. And most importantly, a ‘3 Messages’ system
We work through: soundbites; keeping on topic, bridging; dealing with negative questions; dealing with hostile questions; and how to avoid being misquoted.
Finally - and we can work with your own videographer, or set up our own cameras if required - we focus on individual practice interviews in front of the camera, with the aim of removing participant’s fear of dealing with the media, giving them more confidence, and teaching how to focus the interview on what they wish to communicate about.
Academics?
To give you a flavour of our work, these videos - created with our sister organisation, Incredible Oceans - highlight recent work training researchers at the UK's National Oceanography Centre