Workshop Modules – Workplace Communication Training

Understanding Communication Styles

Diagnose your style via a workplace style mapping tool
“Style-switching” drills to adapt communication on the fly
Competitive scenario games: adapting to multiple styles in one conversation

Active Listening & Deep Questioning

Listening sprints with layered questioning (surface → deep insight)
“Echo then elevate” technique practice (paraphrase + add value)
Simulated miscommunication drills with instant correction

Verbal & Non-Verbal Synergy

Decode hidden meanings in facial expressions/body language
Video playback practice with peer critique
Contrast verbal tone with non-verbal signals in live role-play

Overcoming Barriers to Communication

“Noise filters” workshop: handle jargon, accents, distractions
Stress-testing messages under simulated workplace pressure
Multi-channel message relay (email + chat + call) to test clarity

Empathy in Conversations

“Empathy mapping” exercise: step into colleague/customer shoes
Reframe negative feedback with empathetic language drills
Competitive empathy challenge: win points for accurate perspective-taking

Psychological Safety Basics

Simulated unsafe-to-safe discussion conversions
Identify microaggressions & reframe into inclusive phrasing
Build “safe phrase” lists for your workplace

Clarity & Conciseness

60-second clarity pitch (cutting down wordiness)
Rewrite long-winded emails into 3-line versions
“Clarity duel”: team competition for simplest explanation

Confidence vs Aggressiveness

Self-assessment role-plays to spot over-assertion
Controlled assertiveness scripts with progressive challenges
Group reflection on “impact vs intent” mismatches

Cross-Generational Communication

Translate Boomer/Millennial/Gen Z expectations in scenarios
Style-shifting exercises for mixed-age workplace teams
Generational stereotype challenge (debunk via real cases)

Mindful Communication

3-minute mindful pauses before delivering feedback
Stress reduction drills before sensitive talks
Reframe reactive responses into mindful responses

Feedback Mastery

Radical Candor vs Sandwich Method simulations
Peer-to-peer video-recorded feedback sessions
Competitive “feedback poker” card game with scenarios

Conflict Resolution Toolkit

Role-flip conflict simulations (play the “other side”)
“Escalate–De-escalate” ladder practice
Team heat-mapping of conflict triggers

Trust Building through Communication

Trust accelerators (transparency scripts, check-ins)
“Broken trust repair” simulations
Live experiment: build trust in 10 minutes with strangers

Inclusive Communication

Spot & neutralize exclusionary phrases in scripts
Inclusive language bingo challenge
Case studies of diverse workplace misunderstandings

Collaboration Signals

Silent collaboration drills (non-verbal teamwork)
“Yes, and” improvisation exercises
Rapid consensus-building challenge

Difficult Conversations

Deliver bad news in tiered difficulty simulations
“Choose your words” branching dialogue games
Hot-seat practice: respond under pressure in 10 seconds

Relationship Management

Map influence networks in your workplace
Strategic communication role-play (stakeholders, bosses, peers)
Relationship-building pitch contests

Peer-to-Peer Influence

Influence without authority case simulations
30-second persuasion challenges
Storytelling sprints for peer buy-in

Nonviolent Communication (NVC)

Observe → Feel → Need → Request framework practice
Scenario re-framing (aggressive → nonviolent response)
“Need-finding” challenge: decode hidden needs in statements

Micro-Moments of Connection

Learn powerful “5-second interactions”
Speed-connection exercises
“Random colleague appreciation” live task

Email Excellence

Inbox challenge: rewrite 10 emails in 15 mins
Reverse-engineer a “perfect” email structure
Competitive clarity ranking (teams vote best rewrite)

Chat Etiquette (Slack, Teams)

“Tone tester”: same text, different tones
Speed etiquette drills: short vs long response balance
Cross-timezone async communication simulations

Report & Memo Writing

Executive summary compression challenge
Convert data-heavy content into human-friendly narrative
Peer scorecards for clarity, tone, structure

Presentation Writing (without slides)

Draft “slide-free” scripts for a short talk
Peer evaluation on logical flow vs jargon
One-page visual storytelling (infographic exercise)

Professional Tone Management

Reframe “angry” emails into neutral-assertive tone
Tone-matching drills for senior vs peer vs client
Live AI-powered tone analysis feedback

Conciseness in Digital Workflows

Twitter-style 280-character summaries
10-10-10 rule drill (10 words, 10 seconds, 10 lines)
Trim an email chain into one final email

Digital Storytelling

Convert raw data into a 3-part story arc
Storyboard a workplace win
Visual analogy challenges (explain a KPI via metaphor)

Remote Communication Norms

Virtual meeting etiquette tournament
Chat storm vs structure simulation
Asynchronous communication playbook building

Documentation & Knowledge Sharing

Write a 2-minute SOP draft
Peer audit for clarity and usability
“Knowledge relay race”: handoff info 3 levels down

Managing Digital Overload

Inbox-zero simulation under time pressure
Signal-to-noise sorting challenge (emails vs spam)
Create personal “communication filter rules”

Vision Communication

Translate big vision into 30-sec speech
“Inspire without slides” competition
Role-play visionary vs operational leader talks

Meeting Mastery

Speed-run agenda design (5 min prep)
Facilitation under interruption drill
Debate-to-decision challenge

Persuasion & Storytelling

Hero’s journey in workplace storytelling
Story “elevator pitch” for a workplace idea
Peer-judged storytelling competition

Delegation Clarity

Role assignment simulation with hidden blockers
Delegation poker game (who should do it?)
Instruction clarity drill with feedback loops

Handling Sensitive Conversations

Crisis role-play with escalating stakeholder anger
Delivering bad news with empathy practice
“Word choice audit”: swap harmful words with neutral ones

Motivational Communication

Craft motivational micro-speeches
Peer inspiration round (vote most inspiring)
Story-driven morale-boost exercise

Influence without Authority

Stakeholder negotiation games
Coalition building simulations
Power mapping exercises

Public Presence

Body-language filming and analysis
Improvised speaking challenges
Presence under pressure drills

Leadership Feedback Loops

Build open feedback systems in role-play
Reverse feedback session (leader as learner)
Culture-mapping exercise

Cross-Functional Communication

Translate finance-to-marketing jargon
“Universal translator” game: simplify technical talk
Simulation of cross-department misalignment

Horenso Principle

Japanese case studies of reporting loops
Role-play: report, inform, consult correctly
Adapt Horenso to Western workplace exercises

SBAR

Clinical-to-corporate SBAR drills
90-second SBAR pitch challenge
“SBAR or not” decision game

Nonviolent Communication (NVC)

Decode emotional needs in workplace language
Rebuild aggressive statements into NVC form
Role-play escalating → peaceful dialogue

Crucial Conversations

Simulate high-stakes salary negotiation
Role-play peer confrontation with stakes
Competitive dialogue maps for outcomes

Radical Candor

“Care personally, challenge directly” scenarios
Compare Radical Candor vs destructive feedback
Role-play tough-love coaching moments

Assertiveness Techniques

“Broken record” assertiveness practice
Say “no” politely under time pressure
Escalation ladder of assertiveness drills

Nemawashi

Silent pre-alignment negotiation simulations
Draft proposals before group alignment
Compare Nemawashi vs Western decision-making

Kaizen Communication

Daily stand-up improvement rituals
Mini-Kaizen suggestion box role-play
Rapid feedback cycle simulations

Johari Window

Blind-spot discovery through peer feedback
“Open self” expansion challenge
Group mapping of hidden workplace insights

Ladder of Inference

Decode how assumptions build miscommunication
Reverse ladder exercise (strip assumptions back)
Competitive ladder mapping with scenarios

Full Workshop Module List

Module 1: Foundations of Communication

Module 2: Team & Interpersonal Communication

Module 3: Professional & Digital Communication

Module 4: Leadership & Influence

Module 5: Workplace Communication Frameworks & Practices