Communications Course

This in-person, instructor-led program will be presented in one full-day session being held Thursday, March 6th from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at the NEPPA Training Center (200 New Estate Road, Littleton MA 01460).
NEPPA has partnered with Robert J. Awkward, Ph.D., from Framingham State University, to provide high-caliber leadership training focused on communication techniques essential to good management. Dr. Awkward’s progressive, diverse and successful human resources experiences in varied industries, and in academia, makes him an invaluable resource on this topic. This course will cover understanding the nature of communication as well as strategies to master it, highlighting real life experiences using an interactive approach.
Who Should Attend
This program is designed for:
- General Managers
- Directors
- Supervisors
- Team Leaders and Emerging Leaders
- Administrative Professionals
- Project Managers
Course Overview
Good communication is the path to building better teams, sparking growth and innovation and engaging others more effectively. Sometimes this means giving tough feedback or crisis management and other times it means active listening and understanding your audience. Participants will reflect on what clear, concise communication looks like. From the very beginning, participants are encouraged to identify the changes they desire and, more specifically, the behaviors they are seeking to change or improve. They are then asked to imagine the specific results they will achieve because of these new behaviors and work to create an environment that allows transformation to happen. This course is highly interactive and designed to equip existing and emerging leaders with the tangible skills to better use all types of communication.
Topics Covered
• The Communication Process
• Types of Communication
• Characteristics of Successful Communication
• Communication Barriers
• Media Richness
• Communication Styles
Agenda
Agenda details are subject to change.
Thursday, March 6, 2025
9:00 am Welcome & Introductions
9:30 am Instruction – Topics to include:
- The Communication Process
- Types of Communication:
- Verbal Communication
- Non-Verbal Communication
- Active Listening
- Giving and Receiving Feedback
- Written Communication
10:30 am Break
10:45 am Instruction – Topics to include:
- Characteristics of Successful Communication:
- Clarity
- Conciseness
- Consistency
- Audience Consideration
12:00 pm Lunch
12:30 pm Instruction – Topics to include:
- Communication Barriers:
- Noise
- Selective Perception
- Misperception
- Filtering
- Information Overload
- Organizational Barriers
- Cultural Differences
1:30 pm Break
1:45 pm Instruction – Topics to include:
- Media Richness
- Communication Styles
3:00 pm Adjourn
About the Instructor

Robert J. Awkward, Ph.D
Robert J. Awkward is the Program Coordinator and Academic Advisor and serves as a Visiting Professor of Human Resource Management for the Framingham State University Master of Human Resources (M.H.R.) program. In addition, Bob is also a tenured Professor of Business and Economics at Middlesex Community College (MCC). However, Bob is currently on a professional leave of absence from MCC, which enables him to serve as the Assistant Commissioner for Academic Effectiveness for the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. In this role, Bob is responsible for leading the advancement of a culture of institutional assessment and open educational resources for the public higher education system. Bob possesses a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston; a M.Ed. in Human Resources Development from Boston University; and both a M.S. in Economic Policy & Planning and a B.A. in Political Science from Northeastern University.
Registration
To register, please click the button below. Upon completion of the Program, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from NEPPA. Registration fees include coffee and lunch. If you have any dietary restrictions or considerations, please make note on your registration.
Registration fees are as follows:
NEPPA Members: $289
Non-Members: $585
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations are accepted until two weeks prior to the start of the class. Substitutions may be made at any time prior to the start of the class.
Questions?
Please contact training@neppa.org or call the office at (978) 540-2200.