Connect
like Silk

Communicating without stress
in German for your job

Professional communication
that flows like silk.

Table of contents

1. What Connect like Silk ?
2. Who is it for?
3. What will I learn?
4. What will change for me?
5. How is it organised?
6. What do we actually do?
7. Where is it?
8. What does it cost?
9. How can I register?

What is Connect like Silk ?

The success of every team depends on the quality of its communication culture. But communication is not always easy – we all know that things sometimes go wrong. We misunderstand each other or even get irritated. This can create a negative atmosphere that may interfere with our work.

Communication works best when we expect the unexpected. We need to be able to adapt to the dynamics of each individual moment. Perpetual harmony is neither possible nor productive. What counts is what we do when things don’t go according to plan.

Our workshop Connect like Silk will show you how to navigate even difficult moments in your daily professional communication and focus on what you really want to say. You will discover new ways to communicate as part of a team and learn how to create a productive communicative space for your own goals as well as those of your communication partners.

Who is it for?

Connect like Silk is designed for companies and organisations that know that a good communicative climate is essential for success. The workshop engages with both in-house communication between colleagues and partners as well as external communication with customers, clients and others. It is suitable for groups of colleagues, departments and office teams as well as for employee training.

• Do you feel that what you say does not always come across the way you mean it?
• Do you feel stressed if you have to speak spontaneously or present your ideas in front of a group?
• Are you sometimes at a loss for words in the face of criticism?
• Would you like to develop strategies that help you keep cool in difficult conversations and express yourself clearly and convincingly?
• Do you want to engage with your colleagues, business partners and clients in a way that is both authentic and professional?
• Would you like to be able to trust your own communicative intuition and not have to rely on AI tools for producing good texts?
• Would you like to develop a communication profile that conveys authenticity and conviction in any setting?

If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then Connect like Silk is right for you. The workshop will give you the know-how you need and the tools to put it into practice.

We also offer this workshop for in-house training purposes for employees at your company or organisation and would be happy to arrange additional dates with you. Please get in touch.

If you are looking for personalised coaching tailored to your individual communication needs and goals, you can also book Connect like Silk as individual sessions.

What will I learn?

You will:

• be able to engage in clear and goal-oriented communication in any professional setting.
• develop strategies for managing stress so that you can keep a cool head and say what you want to say even when things get tough.
• enhance your communication style in a way that fits you and your job profile and develop communicative flexibility.
• learn how to identify what people really mean and not just focus on the words they say or write.
• recognise and incorporate the linguistic-cultural differences (accents, dialects, politeness conventions etc.) at your workplace into a shared communication dynamic.
• be able to deal flexibly with different expectations and intentions when communicating with colleagues, business partners and clients.
• know how to show authenticity and trust when communicating with your customers and clients.

What will change?

When you’ve learned how to Connect like Silk for your professional communication:

• You will no longer feel that communication in professional settings is a struggle.
  You will find your own voice and enjoy using it.
• You will no longer regard misunderstandings as communication break-down.
  You will navigate the ups and downs of real-life communication with calm and confidence.
• You will no longer feel that you couldn’t say what you wanted to say.
  You will express what’s important to you with conviction and clarity.
• You will no longer feel forced to decide between being professional and being authentic.
  You will be able to combine these dimensions into your own communicative profile.
• You will no longer look for the perfect communication strategy and lists of dos & don’ts.
  You will be able to adapt spontaneously to the requirements of the moment and reach your communicative goals with flexibility and focus.

How is it organised?

Connect like Silk runs for five (consecutive) mornings, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, including coffee breaks.

We speak English during the workshop; all teaching materials and discussions will be in English.

The workshop is held by both Michèle and Michael with 6 to 10 participants. Upon completion of the workshop, you will receive a certificate on paper confirming your successful participation.

What do we actually do?

The programme for the workshop consists of the following:

• Day 1: Introduction, basic communication principles; 1-on-1 activities; authentic communication; accent; differences in speaking styles (dialects, pronunciation etc.); making sense of ‘mistakes’; body language.
• Day 2: Defining successful communication; active listening; understanding without words; influence of non-verbal factors on communication (proximity/distance; status and hierarchy; spatial awareness etc.); communicative agency in specific situations.
• Day 3: Cooperation, not competition; speaking spontaneously; paraphrasing and letting go of the ‘right’ word; presentations with individual feedback.
• Day 4: Writing requests and refusals using Kindness Communication; possible interpretations and different reaction patterns; role-playing specific communication situations based on your input.
• Day 5: The role of empathy in communication; practicing persuasive communication; improvisation activities; speaking under pressure; discussing individual questions and concerns. Workshop feedback and certificates.

Where is it?

For our workshops, we invite you to our office in Vienna, Austria. Read more about where we work.

What does it costs?

Price for the 5-morning workshop per person: €1,620 – €1,350 plus 20 % VAT (€270)

The price includes:

• your own piece of silk in a Go like Silk box so you can continue to practice flowing at home
• “How to Go like Silk” folder with summary and further reading recommendations
• coffee, tea and non-alcoholic drinks when the workshop is held at our office
• your certificate upon completion of the workshop

We offer a reduced rate of €840 – €700 plus 20 % VAT (€140) – for students, people doing their military service or Zivildienst as well as others on a reduced income.

We would like to offer our services to everyone who wants to learn more about Kindness Communication. If our regular prices exceed your financial resources, please get in touch with us. We wish to find a solution that works for us and for you.

How can I register?

We offer Connect like Silk on fixed dates throughout the year as well as on request. If you would like to arrange individual dates for your organisation or company, please get in touch.

Our next regular dates for Connect like Silk are the following. To register for a specific date, please click on it in the list below.

There are currently no dates planned. We will announce new dates soon. You can always message us to arrange individual dates.

Please note our terms and conditions for participating and our information on accessibility.

To be fluent means to flow.

Go like Silk