Effective Communication for Project Stakeholders and Teams
Keep adding new skills with 10,000+ programs for $239 (usually $399). Save now.
Effective Communication for Project Stakeholders and Teams
This course is part of Program Management and the Art of Communication Specialization
Instructor: William A. Brantley
3,184 already enrolled
Included with
Ask Coursera
32 reviews
32 reviews
What you'll learn
Craft clear, engaging, and impactful messages that resonate with diverse audiences.
Explain the Understanding Triad and its three components—Know-What, Know-How, and Know-Why—to communicate with purpose to stakeholders
Design effective feedback loops to confirm audience understanding and improve communication outcomes.
Analyze audience characteristics to find the optimal balance of Know-What, Know-How, and Know-Why in your message design.
Details to know
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
- 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
Go beyond technical project management and master the power skill that drives success—learn how to truly connect, not just communicate, as an effective program or project leader.
Earning a certification like the PMP® or CAPM® gives you the technical foundation to manage projects—but true leadership requires more than process knowledge. It requires connection. In this course, you'll go beyond what’s taught in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) to explore the deeper dynamics of effective communication. You’ll discover how communication is not just the transfer of information, but the creation of shared understanding between sender and receiver. Through the Understanding Triad—know-what, know-how, and know-why—you’ll learn how to tailor your message to every audience: team members, stakeholders, customers, and executives. This approach helps you ensure your message is not just delivered, but understood and acted upon. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to lead conversations that drive alignment, strengthen collaboration, and accelerate project success. Communication becomes more than a skill—it becomes your strategic advantage as a program or project leader. Certified program and certified project managers earn 10 professional development units (PDU) as they learn how communication can make a difference in every interaction, and become a truly effective program or project manager.
Define the two communication models: transmission and emergence. Then, how each communication model is used in program and project management.
What's included
4 videos12 readings5 assignments
4 videos•Total 26 minutes
- 1.1.0 The Transmission Model of Communication Video•8 minutes
- 1.2.0 The Emergence Model of Communication Video•6 minutes
- 1.3.0 Project Management Communication - Tasks, Resources and Schedules Video•8 minutes
- 1.4.0 Project Management Communication - Visioning and Building a Team Video•4 minutes
12 readings•Total 28 minutes
- Orientation and Welcome•2 minutes
- Course Syllabus•3 minutes
- FAQs•1 minute
- 1.1.1 The Transmission Model of Communication - Lesson Summary•5 minutes
- 1.1.3 The Transmission Model of Communication References•1 minute
- Announcement•1 minute
- 1.2.1 The Emergence Model of Communication Lesson Summary•4 minutes
- 1.2.3 The Emergence Model of Communication References•1 minute
- 1.3.1 Project Management Communication - Tasks, Resources and Schedules•5 minutes
- 1.3.3 Project Management Communication - Tasks, Resources and Schedules References•1 minute
- 1.4.1 Project Management Communication - Visioning and Building a Team Lesson Summary•3 minutes
- 1.4.3 Project Management Communication - Visioning and Building a Team References•1 minute
5 assignments•Total 35 minutes
- 1.1.2 The Transmission Model of Communication Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- 1.2.2 The Emergence Model of Communication Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- 1.3.2 Program and Project Management Communication: Tasks, Resources, and Schedules Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- 1.4.3 Program and Project Management Communication: Visioning and Building a Team Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- Week 1 Quiz•15 minutes
The second week describes the three parts of the Understanding Triad. You will learn how know-what, know-how, and know-why work together in creating an effective and compelling message.
What's included
5 videos10 readings6 assignments
5 videos•Total 30 minutes
- 2.1.0 Case for Audience Analysis Video•7 minutes
- 2.2.0 The Different Audiences in a Project Video•5 minutes
- 2.3.0 What Information Does Each Audience Need Video•5 minutes
- 2.4.0 Balancing the Understanding Triad in Your Message Video•7 minutes
- 2.5 Module Five - Putting It All Together With Building Blocks Video•6 minutes
10 readings•Total 18 minutes
- 2.1.1 Case for Audience Analysis Lesson Summary•4 minutes
- 2.1.3 Case for Audience Analysis References•1 minute
- 2.2.1 The Different Audiences in a Project - Lesson Summary•3 minutes
- 2.2.3 The Different Audiences in a Project References•1 minute
- 2.3.1 What Information Does Each Audience Need•3 minutes
- 2.3.3 What Information Does Each Audience Need References•1 minute
- 2.4.1 Balancing the Understanding Triad in Your Message•2 minutes
- 2.4.3 Balancing the Understanding Triad in Your Message References•1 minute
- 2.5.1 Troubleshooting Understanding•1 minute
- 2.5.3 Troubleshooting Understanding References•1 minute
6 assignments•Total 40 minutes
- 2.1.3 The Building Blocks of a Message Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- 2.2.3 What is Understanding: Know-What Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- 2.3.3 What is Understanding: Know-How Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- 2.4.3 What is Understanding: Know-Why Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- 2.5.3 Putting It All Together with Building Blocks Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- Week 2 Quiz•15 minutes
The third week describes the value of feedback in building understanding. You will learn the three types of feedback and how to combine the three feedback types with the Understanding Triad for better testing of agreement.
What's included
4 videos8 readings5 assignments
4 videos•Total 25 minutes
- 3.1.0 The Building Blocks of a Message & Understanding Triad Video•4 minutes
- 3.2.0 What is Understanding - Know-What Video•6 minutes
- 3.3.0 What is Understanding - Know-How Video•9 minutes
- 3.4.0 What is Understanding - Know-Why Video•7 minutes
8 readings•Total 17 minutes
- 3.1.1 The Building Blocks of a Message & Understanding Triad•3 minutes
- 3.1.3 The Building Blocks of a Message & Understanding Triad References•1 minute
- 3.2.1 What is Understanding - Know-What•3 minutes
- 3.2.3 What is Understanding - Know-What References•1 minute
- 3.3.1 What is Understanding - Know-How•4 minutes
- 3.3.3 What is Understanding - Know-How References•1 minute
- 3.4.1 What is Understanding - Know-Why•3 minutes
- 3.4.3 What is Understanding - Know-Why References•1 minute
5 assignments•Total 35 minutes
- 3.1.3 What is Good Feedback? Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- 3.2.3 How to Give Good Feedback Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- 3.3.3 How to Use Feedback for Testing Understanding Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- 3.4.3 Incorporating Continuous Feedback into Your Program or Project Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- Week 3 Quiz•15 minutes
The last week gives the program or project manager the tools to determine who is their audience and their information needs. You will combine the Understanding Triad with audience analysis to tailor your messages for maximum impact.
What's included
5 videos9 readings4 assignments
5 videos•Total 30 minutes
- 4.0.0 Audience Analysis Historical Case Study Video•2 minutes
- 4.1.1 Module One - The Different Audiences in a Program or Project Video•7 minutes
- 4.2.0 Module Two - What Information Does Each Audience Need Video•6 minutes
- 4.3.0 Module Three - Balancing the Understanding Triad in Your Message Video•7 minutes
- 4.4.0 Module Four - Troubleshooting Understanding Video•7 minutes
9 readings•Total 16 minutes
- 4.0.1 Audience Analysis Historical Case Study•1 minute
- 4.1.1 Module One - The Different Audiences in a Program or Project•3 minutes
- 4.1.3 Module One - The Different Audiences in a Program or Project References•1 minute
- 4.2.1 Module Two - What Information Does Each Audience Need•2 minutes
- 4.2.3 Module Two - What Information Does Each Audience Need References•1 minute
- 4.3.1 Module Three - Balancing the Understanding Triad in Your Message•2 minutes
- 4.3.3 Module Three - Balancing the Understanding Triad in Your Message References•1 minute
- 4.4.1 Module Four - Troubleshooting Understanding•4 minutes
- 4.4.3 Module Four - Troubleshooting Understanding References•1 minute
4 assignments•Total 30 minutes
- 4.1.3 Module One - The Different Audiences in a Program or Project Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- 4.2.3 Module Two - What Information Does Each Audience Need Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- 4.3.3 Module Three - Balancing the Understanding Triad in Your Message Knowledge Checks•5 minutes
- Week 4 Quiz•15 minutes
What's included
2 readings1 assignment
2 readings•Total 2 minutes
- Final Exam Instructions•1 minute
- Don't Forget to Claim You Some PDUs!•1 minute
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Course Final Exam•30 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.
Instructor
Explore more from Leadership and Management
- Status: Free Trial
Course
- Status: Free TrialU
University of Maryland, College Park
Specialization
- Status: Free TrialM
Microsoft
Course
- Status: Free Trial
Course
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Learner reviews
- 5 stars
81.25%
- 4 stars
6.25%
- 3 stars
6.25%
- 2 stars
0%
- 1 star
6.25%
Showing 3 of 32
Reviewed on Feb 25, 2026
A great course for Program-Project Management Professionals.
The modules and resources all put together make up an-all-in one package for Communication in Program-Project Management.
Frequently asked questions
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.
More questions
Financial aid available,
