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OCB0: Overcoming Communication Barriers: Tools for Business and Data Professionals Learning Plan

This two-course learning plan, led by communications expert Dr. Wendy Lynch, equips business and data professionals with evidence-based techniques to listen deeply, ask strategically, and engage more effectively across teams. Grounded in behavioral science and organizational research, the program goes beyond presentation tips to focus on real-world communication challenges, helping participants uncover what others truly think and need. Through video instruction, examples, and guided practice, learners will gain tools to navigate complex conversations, foster alignment, and strengthen their influence in high-stakes environments.

True collaboration and progress hinge on the ability to communicate with clarity and confidence, yet even skilled professionals can struggle to be understood or to uncover what others truly think and need. Wide-ranging intellectual and cultural backgrounds of data and business professionals create additional challenges to effective communication, often contributing to communication breakdowns.

In this Overcoming Communication Barriers: Tools for Business and Data Professionals Learning Plan, instructed by communications expert Wendy Lynch, PhD., participants will develop the foundational communication skills that drive alignment, insight, and results in complex, diverse, and fast-paced environments.

Grounded in evidence from behavioral science and organizational research, the two-course plan provides practical, immediately usable techniques to transform how professionals engage with colleagues and stakeholders. Exploring beyond traditional presentation skills, trainees will focus on the often-overlooked superpowers of listening and inquiry to develop the skills to successfully navigate complex conversations.

Through a combination of video instruction, real-world examples, and guided practice, participants learn to tune in to what truly matters and use strategic questioning to uncover critical information. These techniques will help professionals open up, rather than shut down, dialogue, ultimately leading to better project alignment, enhanced team cohesion, and stronger professional influence. Attendees will complete the training equipped with a powerful set of tools to effectively drive conversations—and work—forward.

In the Overcoming Communication Barriers: Tools for Business and Data Professionals Learning Plan you will:

Recognize and overcome common communication barriers in professional settings
Apply intentional listening practices to improve focus, retention, and understanding
Identify nuanced emotional and contextual cues in conversation
Ask questions that elicit high-value, actionable insights
Avoid common conversational traps that derail clarity and collaboration
Structure dialogue to support discovery, momentum, and aligned outcomes
Use communication techniques to enhance trust, influence, and decision-making
Strengthen team dynamics through better interpersonal awareness
Apply a repeatable framework to guide high-stakes or complex discussions
Increase professional confidence in leading and contributing to conversations

Who should take this learning plan?

This learning plan is ideal for business and data professionals who collaborate across teams, manage complex projects, or communicate insights to diverse stakeholders. It's especially valuable for those looking to strengthen their interpersonal effectiveness, improve collaboration, and lead more productive conversations in fast-paced or high-stakes environments. Whether you're a technical expert, team lead, or cross-functional contributor, these courses provide practical tools to enhance clarity, connection, and influence in your daily work.

Learning Plan Price: $219
Individual Course Price: $129
Learning Plan CEUs: 8.0 hours

Each Course Includes:

Seventeen 13- to 30-minute educational training videos
5.0 hours of educational video content
A 24- to 34-question exam
Downloadable slide decks for extra study materials
Downloadable “Get to What Matters” PDF Book
Self-paced and on-demand e-learning
Unlimited course access

Courses within the Overcoming Communication Barriers: Tools for Business and Data Professionals Learning Plan:

Listening – The Communication Superpower
Navigating Conversations with Effective Listening

We offer several bulk licensing options for corporate and group use.

Overcoming Communication Barriers: Tools for Business and Data Professionals Learning Plan

Course 1: Listening – The Communication Superpower

Overcoming Communication Barriers: Tools for Business and Data Professionals Learning Plan - Overview
Course Purpose & Outcome
Course Format

Session 1: The Power of Listening

Agenda
What’s The Big Deal?
- #1: Many Of Us Don’t Listen Well.
- #2: Others Are More Inclined to Listen to You
Top Business Communication Skills
Barriers
Success Is a Liability (For Listening)
Practice Conversation Prompt
- What To Notice as A Listener
Practice Conversation Prompt
- What to Notice as a Listener
Why Listening Is So Powerful
About Listening Science
The Power of Effective Listening
Before Next Time…

Session 2: The Listening Mindset

Agenda
Recap
About Listening
What Is Rapport?
Mindset – What Listening IS And IS NOT
Being Intentional
- Set an Intention in Advance
Being Present
Practice Conversation Prompt
- Are You Noticing?
- What Did You Notice About Answering Three Times?
Rule Of Three
With Time and Space (Three Answers)
Mindset – Listening Conveys
Practice Conversation Prompt
- Knowing You Want Three Answers

Before Next Time…

Session 3: What To Listen For

Agenda
Review
Notice Emotions - Indicating Something Matters
Practice Conversation Prompt
- Listening For Emotion
Notice Levels of What Matters
Three Levels of What Matters
- Motivation
- Specifics
- Three Levels of What Matters – Strategy
Practice Conversation
- Listening For Emotion and Levels
Notice Direction
- Direction #1: Time
- Direction #2: Toward Or Away
- In What Direction Are They Focused?
Notice Direction – Guiding he Conversation Toward Positive, Constructive Ideas
Listening For Emotion, Levels, And Directions
Before Next Time…

Session 4: The Three P’s

Agenda
Review
Rule Of Three
Listening is Active
Three Ps of Listening
The Pace
Pause
- What a Pause Provides
- For You and For Them
- When
Prompt
Types
- Non-Veral Encouragers
  - One-Word Encouragers
  - Notice Emotion and Label with a Prompt
  - Short Empathetic Statements
  - Why We Notice and Prompt Emotion Fist
  - Requests To Continue
Practice Conversation Prompt
- What Did You Notice?
Before Next Time…

Session 5: Paraphrasing

Agenda
Review
Listening Is Active
Paraphrase
Dismissive Response
Try And Fix Response
Enthusiastic Agreement Response
Jump To Detail Response
Rule Of Three
Paraphrase – Three Elements
Why We Notice and Prompt Emotion First
Paraphrases
A Few Tips
Practice Conversation Prompt
- What Did You Notice?
Before Next Time…

Session 6: Listening Skills in Action

Agenda
Review
Listening Is Active
What To Remember
Listening Steps
- Listening Sequence - Notice
- Summarize
  - What Summarizing Does
  - Listening Sequence - Summarize
- Direction
  - Direction #1: Time
  - Direction #2: Toward Or Away
- Inviting Others to Move Their Thinking
- The Launch Question
  - Listening Sequence – Launch
- Practice Conversation Prompt
Wrap-Up
Overcoming Communication Barriers: Tolls For Business and Data Professional Learning Plan – Progress Review
Instructor Contact Information
- Instructor Biography
DATAVERSITY Contact Information

Course 2: Navigating Conversations with Effective Questions

Overcoming Communication Barriers: Tools For Business and Data Professionals
Course Purpose & Outcome

Session 1: Introduction

Agenda
Every Important Conversation is a Journey
Where We Want to Go
How We Get There
- Choose How We Get There

Orientation
The Three P’s
Listening Sequence
Identifying The Destination
The Launch Question
How Do You Use Questions? Are You Intentional?
Before Next Time…

Session 2: What Questions Do

Agenda
The Three P’s
Impact Of a Question
Three Types of Questions
- Transaction Questions
  - Usefulness And Cautions

Learning Questions - Open
- Usefulness

Practice Conversation Prompt
Three Types - Review: Transaction, Learning, Discovery
Before Next Time…

Session 3: Questions To Think Twice About

Three Types: Transaction, Learning, Discovery
Agenda
Wrong Place
Wrong Path
Solving Questions
- What Solving Questions Do
Criticism Disguised as A Question
- What Criticism Disguised as A Question Does
Questions That Aren't Questions
- What Questions That Aren't Questions Do
"Why" Questions (About People and Behavior)
- What "Why" Questions Do
Questions To Think Twice About
Before Next Time…

Session 4: Getting High Quality Answers

Agenda
The Right Time
- The Learning Sequence
- Indicators To Move On
Framing
- Noticing Natural Responses
- How To Dramatically Improve the Quality of The Answers You Get
Frames: Elements – Gentle Signal
Frames: Elements – Context
- Practice A Frame
Frames: Elements – Guidance
- Practice A Frame
Practice Conversation Prompt
How To Dramatically Improve the Quality of The Answers You Get
Word Choice
Breakfast Study: What Vs. Tell Me About
- Breakfast Study: What Else Vs. Tell Me More About
- Breakfast Study: Why Vs. How Did You Decide?
Summary
Before Next Time…

Session 5: Discovery Questions - Launch

Agenda
Three Types: Transaction, Learning, Discovery
Discovery Questions
The Question Continuum
Discovery Questions
- Listening Sequence
- Levels - Launch
Launch Question
- Direction #1: Time
- Direction #2: Toward Or Away
- Inviting Others to Move Their Thinking
- Desired Outcome
Practice Conversation Prompt
Launch = Hint on Where We Want to Go
Levels - Launch
Before Next Time…

Session 6: Discovery Questions - Levels (Motivation and Specifics)

Agenda
Discovery Questions
The Question Continuum
Levels - Launch
Launch = Hint on Where We Want to Go
Levels – Motivation, Strategy, And Specifics
Level Questions
- Three Levels of What Matters
- Motivation Level
  - Someone Focusing At The Motivation Level
- Specific Questions
  - Practice Conversation Prompts
  - Someone Focusing At The Specifics Level
- Motivation Level
  - Practice Conversation
- What Direction? How Would You Know? How Would That Be Useful?

Levels – Motivation, Strategy and Specifics
Before Next Time…

Session 7: Discovery Questions - Levels (Strategy)

Agenda
The Question Continuum
Level Questions
Levels – Motivation, Strategy, And Specifics
Three Levels of What Matters
Level Questions Review
Three Levels of What Matters - Strategy
- Strategy Level
- Strategy Question
- Level Questions Review – Strategy
- Practice Conversation Prompt
  - What Was Noticed
Ways To Use the Strategy Question
Getting To Each Level Using Questions
Limiting To One Direction
Levels – Momentum
Before Next Time…

Session 8: Discovery Questions – Momentum

Agenda
Levels – Momentum
Momentum Questions

Levels – Momentum Competence, Confidence, And Energy
- Examples
- Practice Conversation Prompt
- What Was Noticed
- Confidence Question
  - Example
  - Practice Conversation Prompt
  - What Was Notices
- Energy Question
  - What Was Noticed

Before Next Time…

Session 9: Putting It Together

Agenda

Listening Sequence
- Levels – Momentum: Competence, Confidence, And Energy
- Get To What Matters
- Offer
  - Offering Input
  - When Do We Offer?
  - Delaying Input
  - How To Offer
  - Get To What Matters

Overcoming Communication Barriers: Tools For Business and Data Professionals Learning Plan – Progress Review
Instructor Contact Information
DATAVERSITY Contact Information