Frank Lloyd Wright had famously said - “There is nothing more uncommon than common sense.” and truly common sense is often the rarest sense. Common sense or the skill of smart thinking is sound, practical judgment that's usually developed through life experiences but it is also a cognitive skill that can be learned, developed and nurtured through reflective practice. 

Our “skill of smart thinking” is often reflected in the way we communicate with others, interact and express our intentions or feelings, and this is referred to as common sense communication. It’s no secret that many organisational problems revolve around communication and the answer to this problem isn’t more communication – more meetings, more one-to-ones, more collaboration which already consume a significant part of the working week. It’s the quality of our communication that needs addressing – productive meetings, useful feedback, meaningful collaborative work. The question is How do we get better at mindful or thoughtful communication using our smart thinking or common sense?

In this high-energy workshop, we explore the secrets of effective interaction through common sense communication. By examining thinking biases that hinder our common sense and employing thoughtful communication strategies, you will develop the skills to be more aware and reflective before making decisions. As you enhance your common sense, you will make smarter choices and effectively communicate with various stakeholders across different situations and scenarios.

KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Develop and apply common sense to decision-making.

• Apply common sense and thoughtful communication strategies to various situations such as expressing disagreement, saying no, presenting a different point of view, and giving or receiving negative feedback.

• Learn and apply three strategies of ‘Think before you speak’ that can be applied to all workplace situations.

• Recognize and explore thinking errors that can impact our common sense and understanding of situations.

• Distinguish and understand the psychology behind aggressive, assertive, and passive behaviour in communication.

• Recognize the balance of ‘Advocacy Vs Inquiry’ in tough conversations.

• Learn techniques to expand logic and knowledge for mindful communication - an essential 21st-century workplace skill.

• Enhance intuitive thinking by recognizing the elements of paralanguage and body behaviours that influence interpretations.

• Master the art of ‘Radical Candor’ to positively and assertively influence others.

• Manage emotions and present views in a systematic manner.