The Language of Leadership – Full Course
The Language of Leadership is a new way to train your organisation, your team and yourself to become the leader you want to be. We’ve created a customised platform that provides practical and experiential training and video micro lessons to help you incrementally improve your communication and leadership skills. We will send you daily video micro lessons which explore in-depth communication themes followed by interactive exercises designed to put your learning into practice.
Your competency and confidence will develop over the six month programme as you learn to implement strategic layered communication techniques and practices transforming those who communicate by “default” to people who actively and intentionally communicate by ‘design’. Your responses are available throughout the programme so you can review your progress and development as it evolves over time.
The Language of Leadership is a new way to train your organisation, your team and yourself to become the leader you want to be. We’ve created a customised platform that provides practical and experiential training and video micro lessons to help you incrementally improve your communication and leadership skills. We will send you daily video micro lessons which explore in-depth communication themes followed by interactive exercises designed to put your learning into practice.
Your competency and confidence will develop over the six month programme as you learn to implement strategic layered communication techniques and practices transforming those who communicate by “default” to people who actively and intentionally communicate by ‘design’. Your responses are available throughout the programme so you can review your progress and development as it evolves over time.
Course Content
Expand All
Month 1 The Foundations of Purposeful Communications
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
List three adjectives of how you think people perceive you and then list three adjectives of how you would like to be perceived
Practice delivering purposeful handshakes
Evaluate your appearance, wardrobe & personal grooming
Develop awareness of your own behavior in listening situations
How am I becoming a more deliberate communicator? To myself as much as to others? Take a moment this weekend to write your thoughts on this
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Appraise your reflection in the mirror
Actively engage in positive body language - smile!
Adopt the power posture
Try out more purposeful gestures
Record yourself presenting & review with the sound turned OFF
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Read, record & listen to your voice reading a passage of text
Read both a familiar & unfamiliar piece of text aloud with equal purpose
Practice controlling your inflection for, 'May I have a glass of water'?
Slow your pace - Record & listen back to your voice reading a memo
Identify any words you are using that may devalue your message
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Appraise your word choice in an existing piece of text
Word choice: Take your first e-mail of the day and expand upon your vocabulary
Professional presence: What does Google search say about you?
Begin authoring & contributing to your own story
Commit to implement, practice & embrace this week's actions so they become second nature
Month 2 Motivate and Inspire
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Write three things that inspire you and keep them where you can refer to them
Write down your organisation's vision or purpose in your own words
Write a paragraph on your current corporate culture. Does it need to be redefined? If so, how?
Write down how your company is (or should be) promoting wellness programs. If they're not, you may submit a proposal. Career builder opportunity alert!
Write down three acts of kindness you can do today
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Write a single goal in one short sentence. Also list anything that has hampered you in the past
Write and place your goal statement in three obvious places. Also write five supportive steps you will take to help you reach your goal
Identify and list your personal triggers. Write down what they are and how you current respond to them
Take a moment and write down what tomorrow, next week and next year will look like if you do nothing. This isn't mean, it's motivating!
This week we covered deliberate goal setting. Checking this box is an outward and visible declaration that you are committed and will do a single little thing every day - that you identify in a list - to make your goal become reality
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
On your calendar, title four separate campaigns to help you or your team accomplish something each quarter.
Plan a listening session based on your campaign concepts. If you can't facilitate it, ask someone who can.
Set the start date, at least two check-points, and end date.
Explore and identify two playful ideas to apply to your campaign.
Imagine how friendly competitions can create a culture of team spirit and enthusiasm for others and yourself. This is the magic of campaigns.
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Identify two ways to add a bit of personal branding in your organization
List three ways you would create the 'Perfect First Day'. Even if you're not a manager, you can suggest your ideas to your supervisor. Career Gold!
List five different short ice-breaker activities that can kick-off a meeting in a fun and team-building way
Diagnose ways to reinvigorate your internal communications and consider alternatives
You've spent a week learning how and why to connect teams, imagine now how you can apply this in a college setting a parent association - wherever groups gather!
MONTH 3 Dynamic Presentations
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Record yourself for one minute on camera. Introduce yourself and introduce a topic you may be working on
Write a couple lines reminding yourself how you used to approach a presentation and now how you feel about learning AIM
List out the hopes, dreams and fears of your next audience
Define exactly what you want to motivate your audience to do in one sentence
Craft a memorable, repeatable and emotional message for your next presentation in one sentence
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Record yourself walking into the shot to begin your presentation. What energy do you exude?
Record yourself deliberately 'turning your energy on' and then begin your presentation.
Design an introduction that includes a pleasantry as well as a strong and concise message.
List three major effects ideas you will try. Keep track what happens!
Take charge of the rats and elephants. Write down whatever objections you may encounter for your next presentation or speech.
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
List all the supportive points you want to include in your presentation. Go wild
Condense yesterday's list into three main points and layer anecdotes or illustrations to each
Craft and record your wrap-up message, remembering to tell your audience what will be improved in their lives and to keep you energy level up
Prepare at least three potential questions and write a short positive response to each
Do I understand and agree that my energy and emotion are as important as clarity and a compelling close?
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Review your presentation script and replace jargon and technical words with something easier to understand
Edit an existing PP presentation with regard to volume & style
List your preferred visual support platform. What else would you like to try?
Write down the word 'Flexible' and display it prominently
Remember, everything in personal and professional life centers around communications
MONTH 4 Compelling Storytelling
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Record a childhood memory and then short 'Day in the Life' at your work story. Replay back and compare - with the sound on and also turned off
Re-write your childhood memory & embellish it with descriptive & emotional language
Mark up your story script with which emotions correspond to which phrases and paragraphs
Craft then re-edit your story paying attention to your language, emotion, message & length
Write down your message or the moral of the story that relates to the audience - not only you - in one sentence
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Describe the setting for your story in vibrant, dramatic language
Clearly understand the obstacle in your story and write that down
In one sentence, write the story's result or outcome. This may be happy or sad or any emotion at all!
This answers the audience's all-important "What's in it for me?" Question
Write a sentence describing the Call to Action or Main Take Away for your audience
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Strategically insert stories into an existing presentation
Your story should be clear and concise. Give your script a hard-edit with this in mind
Write a statement demonstrating why your message is relevant to this particular audience
Start building your library of stories, examples, case studies or illustrations
Write a paragraph on how you are now more actively thinking about storytelling
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Discuss which stories might elevate your pitch with the members of your team
Record and review your team's collective performances
Ask each member of your team to contribute a relevant story to include in the pitch
Make a note of which of your stories are universal and which are culturally specific
Begin to think of yourself as a raconteur & storyteller and practice, practice, practice
MONTH 5 My Online Brand
WEEK 1:
5 Topics
|
5 Actions
Expand
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Write down the progress you've made towards your goals since you began this programme
Write down those negative thoughts that often nag you. For each one, write a short and upbeat line you can immediately insert in your mind - or say out loud - to disrupt your thought pattern
Identify a physical action - like a pushup or a jumping jack - you can do instantly to cancel a negative thought. Commit to doing this. Every time
Write down two attributes that you would like to change or develop. Review this in one month
Write three things your are more conscious of doing more deliberately. How are you taking more ownership of your appearance? Are you telling more human examples or stories? How are the reactions from your audiences changing?
WEEK 2:
5 Topics
|
5 Actions
Expand
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Connect with someone using a compliment and write down how they respond
Sincerely enquire how your colleague or business acquaintance is and write down their response
List your own personal passions and interests in order to initiate common ground conversations going forward
Demonstrate you care by clearing distractions and encouraging proximity in all of your business interactions
Write down the Seven Steps: Charm - Rapport - Common Ground - Proximity - Distractions - Listening -The Ask/Conceptual Agreement
WEEK 3:
5 Topics
|
5 Actions
Expand
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
List the social media platforms you are using and how you're using them
Get on LinkedIn and begin to develop your unique personal story
Write a short article or make a short video and post it on LinkedIn. Don't forget to respond to any comments. That's extra engaging
Connect with someone of interest on LinkedIn. Make sure to include a personal note
Review, revise and refine your LinkedIn bio
WEEK 4:
5 Topics
|
5 Actions
Expand
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Join Twitter if you haven't already and summarise your strategic approach to date
Send 3 Tweets today hashtagged around a topic that's relevant to you
Apply the A.I.M strategy to all of the social media platforms you use
Choose a social media dashboard and start using it
Write down the things you have changed or upskilled on your social platforms this month
MONTH 6 Business Writing
WEEK 1:
5 Topics
|
5 Actions
Expand
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
List the top three ways you are communicating now
Identify the next person you are going to write to & write a brief summary about them & the context in which they'll receive your communication
Begin thinking about and adopting the reverse pyramid style of writing
Identify relevant stakeholders and develop business writing guidelines to suit your organisation
Print out three examples of your writing. Examine your style and then ask a colleague or friend for feedback
WEEK 2:
5 Topics
|
5 Actions
Expand
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
List three jargony or overly technical words you will avoid from now on
Identify and catalogue any areas of grammar, spelling or use of the Active Voice that you can improve upon
Identify your sentences or paragraphs that are in active v passive. And change all to passive
Examine a sample of your writing and identify the tone that you have used. How can it be improved?
Rewrite a sample of text reducing the word count and refining the structure
WEEK 3:
5 Topics
|
5 Actions
Expand
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Identify the elements that make up your e-mails and start thinking about your salutations, subject line, content body and closing
Selectively reconstruct an existing email using headlines, bullet points, numbers, color accents, font options and bold-face print
Compose a specific closing 'reminder' with your call to action in your next email and use a sign off that is personal to your reader
Add a P.S to your next email providing an additional and significant piece of information
Avoid lengthy, open-ended communication in future emails by taking control and being specific with times, dates and places
WEEK 4:
5 Topics
|
5 Actions
Expand
Lesson Content
0% Complete
0/5 Steps
Design a selection of writing templates that you can employ in your every day writing
Remember it's about THEM - not you!
Critique a communication text and write down ways it could be more effective if it was simplified
Reaffirm the leadership style you wish to achieve
Congratulations from Gina and the Language of Leadership team!