Brian O'C. Leggett's home page
              

 
Above About Myself Books & Articles Favourite Sites

Communication, including its verbal and non-verbal aspects, forms an intrinsic part of the leadership process. It is not beyond the bounds of incredulity to accept that both effective self-leadership and the leadership of others are inexorably linked with the concept of communication. Accordingly, communication, be it one-to-one, negotiations, presentations or dealing with the media, is seen as a major tool for accomplishing things with and through others.

Management Communication (MACOM)

 

The theoretical foundation of the Management Communication course is fundamentally a humanistic one (as opposed to a skills alone approach), based on the classical rhetorical triad of Logos (argumentation), Pathos (creating the right emotional atmosphere) and Ethos (character credibility). The course encourages participants to apply this triad within the framework of invention (inventing the topic and subtopics), arrangement (organization of topic) and style. The application of this theoretical triad is centered on class presentations and speeches, and argumentationo exercises.

Corporate Communication (COCOM)

        The course is designed for students interested in a better understanding of the issues and problems that managers and executives face in communicating within the organization itself and with outside 'publics' via the media and through various public relations practices. It is based on two communication triads: that of the Business, Media and Public(s) on the one hand, and Logos, Pathos and Ethos on the other, and the use of the dialectic. Furthermore the design of the course emphasizes rhetorical and dialectical knowledge as the basis of both organizational communication practices and interpersonal communication. The course has three modules.

Module A: Understanding Corporate Communications

This module is a broad one, which includes the theories of persuasion and the dialectic, and deals with problems in communicating with cross-cultural audiences, crisis communication, corporate identity and image programmes, and public relations activities.

Module B: Managing the Media

A guest speaker who a professional journalist will either introduce or contribute to this module. The aim is to increase awareness of the role of the press, and the opportunities as well as dangers for businesses, of media coverage. The cases cover both those of a manager under pressure who must respond to the media, and those of a journalist preparing to meet management. You will be asked to play the part of a manager at a short press conference and the part of a questioning journalist. These sessions will be video-taped. Students need to understand the positions of all parties in the business, media and publics triad.

Module C: Drafting and Delivering Corporate Speeches

The purpose of this module is to provide students with a better understanding of the techniques of formal speech drafting and delivery. Speeches will range from those delivered to internal audiences, to those given to various external business audiences or stakeholders, such as shareholder meetings. Speeches are video-taped.

 

Communication skills Seminar

        This seminar is based on the text of "The Articule Leader" and is primarily for executives and managers to develop their presentation and speech-making skills. It is founded on the the principle that communication and personal leadership are inexorably linked.