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Critical Communication and Leadership Skills

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Critical Communication and Leadership Skills

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

7 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

7 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Explain key principles of active listening, relationship building, clear communication, and conflict management.

  • Apply active listening, relationship, and clear communication techniques in everyday team interactions.

  • Analyze communication gaps, relationship issues, and causes of workplace conflict.

  • Create a leadership plan using authentic practices aligned with personal values and organizational goals.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Recently updated!

March 2026

Assessments

13 assignments

Taught in English

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Management Excellence for Supervisors and Leaders Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

In this course, you will learn to practice active listening, build strong manager-employee relationships, communicate with clarity and impact, and confidently manage workplace conflict. You will also assess your communication strengths, identify growth areas, and create actionable plans to improve your leadership effectiveness.

Through interactive lessons, real-world workplace scenarios, expert insights, and hands-on activities, you will develop practical skills you can apply immediately. You will learn to interpret verbal and non-verbal cues, tailor messages to your audience, reduce ambiguity, and use structured techniques to prevent and resolve conflict. The course emphasizes real manager situations, such as one-on-ones, team discussions, feedback conversations, and high-stakes communication, making the learning highly practical and relevant. After completing this course, you will be able to manage difficult conversations with confidence, communicate clearly and purposefully, and strengthen trust and engagement within your team. You will also develop a personalized Readiness Plan to apply what you’ve learned, preparing you to lead with confidence, build trust, and drive team performance.

In this module, you will learn how managers strengthen relationships and team performance through deliberate, attentive listening. You will examine how active listening means giving full attention, observing verbal and non-verbal cues, and engaging with empathy. You will explore how reflecting, paraphrasing, asking clarifying questions, and responding thoughtfully build understanding. You will also understand how avoiding distractions, suspending judgment, and being fully present demonstrate effective listening. Through examples and practice, you will see how these behaviors foster trust, collaboration, and a high-performing workplace culture.

What's included

5 videos7 readings3 assignments3 plugins

5 videosβ€’Total 15 minutes
  • Course Introductionβ€’2 minutes
  • Specialization Overviewβ€’2 minutes
  • Meet your Instructorβ€’3 minutes
  • What is Active Listening?β€’4 minutes
  • Active Listening into Actionβ€’3 minutes
7 readingsβ€’Total 26 minutes
  • Course Overviewβ€’4 minutes
  • About the Specializationβ€’2 minutes
  • How to Make the Most of This Courseβ€’5 minutes
  • Active Listening: Critical Manager Communicationβ€’4 minutes
  • Real Life Scenarios: Active Listening in Actionβ€’5 minutes
  • Behaviors of an Active Listenerβ€’4 minutes
  • Module Summary: Active Listening Processes and Skills β€’2 minutes
3 assignmentsβ€’Total 41 minutes
  • Graded Quiz: Active Listening Processes and Skillsβ€’21 minutes
  • Practice Quiz: Understanding Active Listeningβ€’10 minutes
  • Practice Quiz: Practicing Active Listeningβ€’10 minutes
3 pluginsβ€’Total 25 minutes
  • Activity: Benefits of Active Listening β€’5 minutes
  • Activity: Identifying Good and Bad Active Listeningβ€’10 minutes
  • Activity: What Did They Say?β€’10 minutes

In this module, you will learn how managers build trust and engagement by cultivating strong relationships with their direct reports. You will examine how open communication, empathy, and respect create a supportive work environment. You will explore how managers provide feedback, recognize achievements, and support development, and understand that relationship-building requires consistent effort from both managers and employees. Through examples and reflection, you will see how these behaviors foster trust, boost productivity, and strengthen workplace culture.

What's included

2 videos3 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt1 plugin

2 videosβ€’Total 9 minutes
  • What is a Manager-Employee Relationship?β€’5 minutes
  • It Takes Effort from Both Manager and Employee β€’4 minutes
3 readingsβ€’Total 10 minutes
  • Real World Scenarios: My Best and Worst Managerβ€’4 minutes
  • Strategies for Building a Strong Manager-Employee Relationshipsβ€’4 minutes
  • Module Summary: Building Relationships β€’2 minutes
3 assignmentsβ€’Total 33 minutes
  • Graded Quiz: Building Relationshipsβ€’21 minutes
  • Practice Quiz: The Critical Manager-Employee Relationshipβ€’6 minutes
  • Practice Quiz: How to Improve Manager-Employee Relationshipsβ€’6 minutes
1 discussion promptβ€’Total 2 minutes
  • Your Best Managerβ€’2 minutes
1 pluginβ€’Total 15 minutes
  • Activity: Benefits of Developing Manager-Employee Relationshipsβ€’15 minutes

In this module, you will learn how managers communicate ideas clearly, concisely, and with impact. You will examine how structuring messages, using precise language, and tailoring communication to your audience enhances understanding and decision-making. You will explore how brevity, storytelling, and executive presence help managers motivate and align teams. You will also understand how practicing, refining, and delivering messages thoughtfully demonstrates professionalism and builds credibility. Through examples, practice activities, and reflection, you will see how these behaviors foster clarity, engagement, and a high-performing workplace culture.

What's included

3 videos3 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt2 plugins

3 videosβ€’Total 13 minutes
  • Why Clarity Mattersβ€’4 minutes
  • The Tropical Offsite in North Dakotaβ€’6 minutes
  • The Power of Presenceβ€’3 minutes
3 readingsβ€’Total 10 minutes
  • Principles of Clear and Concise Communicationβ€’4 minutes
  • Crafting Clear and Compelling Messagesβ€’4 minutes
  • Module Summary: Clarity and Conciseness in Communication β€’2 minutes
3 assignmentsβ€’Total 41 minutes
  • Graded Quiz: Clarity and Conciseness in Communicationβ€’21 minutes
  • Practice Quiz: The Power of Clear Communicationβ€’10 minutes
  • Practice Quiz: Speaking with Impactβ€’10 minutes
1 discussion promptβ€’Total 3 minutes
  • Reflections on Manager Communicationβ€’3 minutes
2 pluginsβ€’Total 20 minutes
  • Activity: Make it More Conciseβ€’5 minutes
  • Activity: What Motivates You?β€’15 minutes

In this module, you will learn how managers address and resolve workplace conflict to maintain team cohesion and organizational health. You will examine how effective conflict management involves identifying issues, actively listening, and understanding the perspectives of all parties. You will explore strategies to prevent conflicts, apply structured resolution techniques, and foster open, respectful dialogue. You will also understand how skills such as empathy, problem-solving, negotiation, and patience help managers handle disagreements constructively. Through examples, practice activities, and reflection, you will see how these behaviors build trust, collaboration, and a productive, resilient workplace culture.

What's included

3 videos4 readings3 assignments2 plugins

3 videosβ€’Total 13 minutes
  • What is Conflict Management?β€’4 minutes
  • Your Role in Resolving Workplace Conflictβ€’5 minutes
  • Real World Scenarios: Most Challenging and Most Rewardingβ€’4 minutes
4 readingsβ€’Total 14 minutes
  • Understanding the Roots of Workplace Conflictβ€’4 minutes
  • Why Conflict Management is Importantβ€’4 minutes
  • Steps to Effective Conflict Resolutionβ€’4 minutes
  • Module Summary: Conflict Resolutionβ€’2 minutes
3 assignmentsβ€’Total 33 minutes
  • Graded Quiz: Conflict Resolutionβ€’21 minutes
  • Practice Quiz: Manager Role in Conflict Resolutionβ€’6 minutes
  • Practice Quiz: Preventative Strategies and Resolution Techniquesβ€’6 minutes
2 pluginsβ€’Total 11 minutes
  • Activity: Impact of Effective Conflict Management β€’6 minutes
  • Activity: Core Skills for Effective Conflict Resolutionβ€’5 minutes

In this final module, you will bring together all the knowledge and insights gained throughout the course. As part of the final project, you will create a personalized Readiness Plan based on a given scenario. This plan will outline how you intend to lay the foundation for team success by adapting your leadership style, providing effective team coaching, and creating a vision for team success. This practical exercise will help you apply course concepts to create a real-world strategy. You’ll also review a peer’s readiness plan, gaining new perspectives and insights. The module concludes with a course summary, a glossary of key terms, and a final exam.

What's included

1 video4 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

1 videoβ€’Total 5 minutes
  • Course Summary β€’5 minutes
4 readingsβ€’Total 17 minutes
  • About the Final Projectβ€’4 minutes
  • Course Glossary: Critical Communication and Leadership Skillsβ€’10 minutes
  • Congratulations and Next Stepsβ€’2 minutes
  • Thanks from the Course Teamβ€’1 minute
1 assignmentβ€’Total 45 minutes
  • Final Exam: Critical Communication and Leadership Skills β€’45 minutes
1 peer reviewβ€’Total 45 minutes
  • Final Project: Creating a Communication and Leadership Excellence Readiness Planβ€’45 minutes
1 discussion promptβ€’Total 2 minutes
  • Comparing Your Work β€’2 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructors

SkillUp
4 Coursesβ€’3,198 learners
SkillUp
155 Coursesβ€’502,725 learners

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Frequently asked questions

This course is ideal for new or experienced supervisors, team leads, and professionals who want to strengthen communication and leadership skills.

No formal experience is required. However, experience working in teams and basic workplace communication knowledge will help you benefit more from the course.

The course takes about 6 hours to complete and is designed for flexible, self-paced learning to fit your schedule.

You’ll develop active listening, clear communication, conflict resolution, relationship building, and practical leadership skills for workplace success.

Yes. You’ll complete quizzes, interactive activities, and a final Readiness Plan to apply your learning to real workplace scenarios.

This course focuses on real manager situations, practical tools, and immediate application to improve communication, trust, and team performance.

This course helps you build practical communication and leadership skills to manage teams effectively, handle challenges confidently, and grow into leadership roles.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Financial aid available,