This 12-week course is designed for those interested in developing the essential skills of interpersonal communication, business writing, presentations, and meeting facilitation. Participants will learn practical, proven techniques for communicating effectively, writing with credibility, improving leadership skills, and projecting a more confident, polished and professional image. Due to the highly interactive nature of this course, class size is limited.

• Learn why good business communication is the foundation for successful managers
• Identify your goals for communicating more effectively on the job
• Discover how to analyze your audience from a panel of experts in the fields of writing, interpersonal relations, and public speaking

• Review the entire writing process
• Use time management techniques to organize a writing project
• Develop tools for conducting audience analysis in writing
• Learn to write clear and concise letters, memos, and e-mail
• Discover how to write effectively and with power at the sentence and paragraph level

• Design effective formats for workplace documents
• Find out how to write difficult documents including hiring confirmation and rejection letters, reprimands, agendas, and fund-raising solicitations
• Understand the difference between writing for the Web and other documents
• Learn to proofread without a software program
• Avoid common grammar mistakes and confusing word pairs

• Discover how to structure your message for maximum impact
• Analyze a presentation for different audiences and venues
• Recognize when to use impromptu, extemporaneous, and scripted speaking approaches
• Develop the skills to dissect and perfect your message
• Determine which type of notes best complement your presentation style

• Respond thoughtfully rather than react emotionally
• Learn how to set clear expectations and hold people accountable
• Develop skills to transform complaints into requests
• Learn to resolve the conflicting needs of multiple parties
• Understand how to surface assumptions and projections

• Discover why prompt and effective follow-up is essential
• Learn proven techniques to address rumors head on
• Understand how gossip can be helpful
• Improve office communication to ensure a “win-win” for all

• Learn how to analyze and prepare for small group (2-20) versus large group (20+) presentations
• Understand the politics and dynamics of an intimate presentation setting
• Discover the secrets of successful large group presentations
• Practice proven rehearsal and visualization techniques for outstanding performances
• Put pizzazz in your PowerPoint presentations

• Build the confidence to be ego-less
• Learn to listen without an agenda
• Gain skills to ask exploratory questions
• Find out how to deliver messages that motivate
• Discover solutions through appreciative inquiry

• Overcome stage fright: appearance and attitude check-up
• Learn how to connect with your audience
• Discover how to manage a group presentation
• Become skilled at staying cool under fire
• Expect curve balls: handle questions and objections with finesse
• Maintain control with pacing and active listening

• Develop persuasive proposal writing skills
• Learn how to use reports and proposals as management tools
• Identify common problems in writing reports and proposals
• Practice planning, structuring, reviewing, editing, and presenting your report or proposal

• Ensure that the right people, roles, and responsibilities are at your meeting
• Learn effective ways use meeting documentation
• Manage your meeting topics, timing, and goals
• Discover techniques to manage noise-makers, wallflowers, bird walkers, and fighters
• Become skilled at checking in to improve your meeting process

• Make a short presentation, facilitate a meeting, or submit a written document and get coaching for improvement
• Receive inputs and tips from a panel of communications experts
• Ask your questions and get solutions

• Dr. Glenda R. Balas is Assistant Professor of Communication and Journalism at the University of New Mexico. Her background includes university teaching and 18 years professional experience in public broadcasting, public relations, nonprofit development, and marketing. Dr. Balas holds a Ph.D. in Communication Studies and an MBA, with emphasis in marketing. Her teaching and research interests include media planning and production, public broadcasting history, advertising and public relations campaigns, and nonprofit programs for adolescents.



• Ms. Mary T. Cooley M.A., SPHR, is the Principal Consultant for HR Solutions, LLC, a human resource assistance group designed to support profit and non-profit organizations in their ability to attract, retain and motivate employees. She earned lifetime certification status as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) from the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) and is the Past-President of the Human Resource Management Association (HRMA) of New Mexico. Mary was named one of New Mexico’s “40 under 40” by the New Mexico Business Weekly in 2001, and has twice been honored, in 1999 and 2003, as “A Woman on the Move” by the YWCA of New Mexico.



• Ms. Stephanie Hainsfurther is President of Words & Solutions, a writing services company for businesses of all sizes. She is a former insurance agency manager, with thirty years of hands-on experience in small company issues. She is the co-author of Covering the Business Beat: A handbook for business people who want to publish what they write. A freelance writer for the past fifteen years, she has published more than 600 articles in international, national and regional magazines and newspapers.
  
  
• Ms. Anne Lightsey, owner of Perfect Timing, has almost 20 years experience as a trainer and facilitator. Anne specializes in supervisory skills, time management, goal setting, conflict resolution and mediation, and team building. In addition to owning her own business, Anne has been a Training Manager for Spring PCS and the Executive Director of the West Side Family YMCA.



• Dr. Charles Paine, received his Ph.D. from Duke University in 1994. He teaches courses in undergraduate composition, literary theory, hypertext, the philosophy of composition, and the history of rhetoric. He is currently completing a book on nineteenth-century American composition and public culture.
  
  
• Ms. Karen Paone, President, Paone & Associates, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, leadership development, change management, presentation training and business coaching. Prior to starting her own company, she was Vice President of Planning & Administration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico. She has more than 20 years of public speaking, training, meeting facilitation and management experience.
  
  
• Dr. Scott Sanders, Professor, UNM English Department. He also serves as a consultant in technical writing, editing and training for organizations such as Sandia National Laboratories, City of Albuquerque, Gulton Data Systems and TRW. He is the recipient of the IEEE award for outstanding contributions to engineering communication and the Distinguished Educator Award from PNM.

The Communicating Effectively at Work certificate program is endorsed by Toastmasters International – District 23 (New Mexico and El Paso, TX). Toastmasters International provides a forum to improve public-speaking and communication skills on an on-going basis through weekly meetings, prepared and impromptu speeches, constructive evaluations, and leadership training. District 23 comprises more than 50 clubs in New Mexico, with over 800 members. For more information, visit www.district23.org. Members of Toastmasters International receive a $150 discount when registering for the Communicating Effectively at Work certificate program.