After completing the course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the technologies and language specific to their role at the cooperative.
• Recognize when they lapse into “tech-speak” and develop skills for avoiding it.
• Communicate as subject matter experts in a manner that educate others without condescension.
• Monitor their body language and other non-verbal communication to ensure they are conveying empathy rather than frustration and impatience.
• Plan for and deliver effective technical presentations (both oral and written) for specific purposes that meet the audience’s needs.
• Effectively use PowerPoint presentations, graphics, stories, video clips and other visual tools to make complex information clearer.
• Recognize the signs of when the audience is lost or frustrated and create a safe learning experience that ensures people really understand.
• Use facilitation techniques for ensuring audience understanding.
• Communicate effectively about technical subjects to cooperative boards and consumer-members.
• Adapt their communication approach to keep the information clear and concise.