Our Approach
Communication Training That Impacts Work Performance
Investments in communication skills development must lead directly to increased productivity. This means a noticeable improvement in participants’ workplace communication performance as they save time in meetings, interact more effectively with team members, serve customers successfully, share innovative solutions, show competent leadership, and accelerate their career advancement.
To ensure positive impacts on work performance, Gandy’s training employs six keys.
Key #1 – Targeted to Needs
In business communication training, one size does not fit all. Learning solutions must be well-targeted. Gandy’s experts start with a needs analysis. We gather input from your organization’s learning leaders and people managers, and we interview each learning candidate to understand their development priorities and desired outcomes. These insights enable us to recommend powerful and meaningful learning solutions for each participant.
For example, employees with English as a second language need business communication courses that go beyond generic offerings to include necessary language and intercultural supports. Gandy offers various courses and customized coaching options to meet a range of needs.
Key #2 – Layered Learning
Business communication is an amazingly multi-layered operation, and each Gandy course addresses four essential layers.
1. Workplace communication tasks: We focus on the workplace speaking or writing tasks that the employee is involved in throughout their work week, such as giving succinct project updates.
2. Communication tactics: We zero in on relevant communication tactics. In a project update, for example, the employee may need to express perspectives, summarize, and engage in Q&A.
3. Language skills: We build and polish effective core English language skills—vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation—so the employee’s message is crisp and clear.
4. Intercultural understanding: We provide insights into cultural differences related to business communication, such as diplomacy and directness, nonverbal communication, and interpersonal styles.
Key #3 – Customized Activities
To ensure the learning is relevant to participants’ work situation, Gandy’s intake process includes gathering workplace communication scenarios from each participant. This enables facilitators to weave highly relevant work-related topics, discussions, and role play activities into the learning sessions. Practising pertinent scenarios in class builds participants’ confidence and proficiency and helps them transfer the learning into their everyday work communications.
Key #4 – Extended Schedule
Research shows that multiple learning sessions spaced apart over time produce better outcomes than concentrated full-day training, especially for learners operating in a second language. Gandy’s approach provides weekly sessions (typically two hours) over an extended eight- to ten-week period so participants retain and integrate the learning.
Key #5 – Learning Loops
Each week, participants learn new skills and receive an assignment to apply the learning in their real-life work interactions. When they return for their next in-class session, they have an opportunity to reflect and debrief on their successes and challenges and to receive feedback and support from their peers and facilitator. This virtuous cycle of Learn-Apply-Reflect is highly effective for honing skills, and participants see noticeable improvements in their workplace communication performance.
Key #6 – Learning Paths
In the spirit of lifelong learning, Gandy Associates is ready to map out a learning path for each individual, based on insights gleaned during the initial needs assessment and ongoing feedback. Below are typical learning paths to suit a range of audience types and learner characteristics.
