Communication in projects

The key to successful project management is excellent communication, because the essence of a project is that it generates change and those affected by the project - whether they are active participants or passive subjects - need to be guided through these changes. It is now well known that in our everyday communication, 55% of the first impression we make on our audience is our body language and delivery, 38% is our tone of voice and only 7% is what we say, the mere words.

The training is a very intensive, hands-on training programme that addresses both important factors for successful presentations: what to say and how to say it. Throughout the training, video-recorded practice, analysis and personalised advice will enable participants to develop a presentation style that is professional yet personal to them.

The training is recommended for all those who, as a manager or project member, or as a member of staff responsible for communication in the organisation in which the project is taking place, are interested in preparing, planning and implementing communication for projects.

Module 1 - Sense and emotion in communication

A clear definition of the "rational" side of a project, i.e. its purpose and scope (technical specification), is crucial for the project. However, agreeing the technical content and working out the details is a lengthy process, because not all the people involved are professionals: often the client invites a professional to the project precisely because he is not a professional. This incompetence, however, makes it difficult to define the technical content accurately, to price it and to reach an agreement.

At the same time, the rational, measurable and quantifiable definition of the project described above is clouded by many emotional elements. Conflicting interests, different motivations of the project participants and stakeholders, not only lead to conflicts over rational issues, but also to a multitude of emotional conflicts that complicate the daily work of the participants.

All these rational and emotional, minor and major conflicts can be resolved by preparing and planning the communication within the project, using a variety of simple communication techniques. The first module, the first day of the training, focuses on this.

Module 2 - Roles and roles, and the motivational elements that arise from them

The aim of this module is to highlight the interpersonal events that take place in the project team during the project and to go around the roles of the people involved in the project and the resulting behaviours. The second day of the training will look at the roles and roles of the professionals involved in the project: We will look at who starts a project and why? Who decides? Why and how is the decision-making process carried out? How are professionals selected and what are their motivations for getting involved in the project: for money or reputation, for a reference or out of necessity? Through this lens, it looks at the tasks of the project manager and project staff and prepares participants to manage or participate in projects effectively and efficiently.

The day will introduce the concept of the "internal customer", highlighting that every chain is as strong as its weakest link, i.e. highlighting that the weakest link in a project, wherever it is in the project, will "break" the project.

By understanding these roles and roles, the motivation of the people involved, the training will teach us the basic communication/management techniques to support our people's activities in the project. Participants will then be able to consciously review the interactions taking place in the project and, based on this knowledge, develop an interaction/communication that is appropriate for the given purpose.

• About project management in general
• Project management functions / The "stakeholder" - the soul of a successful project
• The preparation phase - defining the project
• Project objectives and definition of success - Sense and Sensibility
• The balance between "goal - cost - time - quality
• Organisational issues
• Relationship between the project team and the organisation - Motivational elements
• Role of the (project) leader
• Conflicts and their management
• Communication within the project
• Communication with management and clients
• Reporting techniques, reporting system
• Potential problems
• Decision making and problem solving
• Elements of project closure and project evaluation / Performance analysis

Following the training, company, programme or project office or individual coaching and team-coaching sessions are available to apply the lessons learned to specific team or individual projects or to solve any stuck points/problems.