Speak Up, Level Up! Script

Introduction & Warm-Up: The Power of Your Voice (5 minutes)

"Hello everyone, and welcome! I'm excited to spend the next 30 minutes with you exploring a topic that is absolutely essential for success in any workplace: professional verbal communication. My name is [Teacher's Name], and I'll be your facilitator today.

To kick things off, I'd love for each of you to share just one word that comes to mind when you hear 'professional communication.' Don't overthink it. Just the first word that pops into your head. I'll write them down on our whiteboard."

(Allow participants to share their words. Acknowledge and briefly comment on a few, if time permits.)

"Thank you for sharing those insights! Today, our goal is to enhance those skills. By the end of this session, you will be able to identify key components of professional verbal communication and practice strategies to enhance clarity, confidence, and effectiveness in your workplace interactions.

Why is this so important? Because how you speak, how you convey your message, and how you interact verbally with colleagues and clients truly shapes your success, your relationships, and the overall work environment. It's about being understood, being heard, and building strong connections. Let's dive in!"

(Transition to Speak Up, Level Up! Slide Deck Slide 3)

Key Components of Professional Verbal Communication (10 minutes)

"We're going to break down professional verbal communication into three key Cs: Clarity, Confidence, and Courtesy. These three elements work together to make your message powerful and effective.

First up, Clarity: Be Understood. What does it truly mean to be clear when you're speaking at work?"

(Allow for brief participant responses, then elaborate using points on Speak Up, Level Up! Slide Deck Slide 3)

"Clarity means using simple, direct language, avoiding jargon, and organizing your thoughts logically. Imagine you're explaining a complex task to a new team member. If you're unclear, what problems could that cause?"

(Facilitate a short discussion on the impact of unclear communication.)

"Excellent points. Now, let's talk about Confidence: Be Heard. It's not just what you say, but how you say it. What makes someone sound confident when they speak?"

(Allow for brief participant responses, then elaborate using points on Speak Up, Level Up! Slide Deck Slide 4)

"Confidence involves your voice tone and volume, your pace, and even your body language. It's about being assertive, not aggressive, and standing firm in your message. How does sounding confident, or lacking confidence, impact how your message is received by others?"

(Facilitate a short discussion.)

"Great. Finally, we have Courtesy: Build Bridges. This might seem obvious, but it's often overlooked. Why is courtesy so important in workplace communication?"

(Allow for brief participant responses, then elaborate using points on Speak Up, Level Up! Slide Deck Slide 5)

"Courtesy means using respectful language, actively listening when others speak, showing empathy, and framing your discussions positively. Can you recall a time when someone's courtesy, or lack thereof, made a significant difference in a work interaction?"

(Facilitate a short discussion.)

Activity: Scenario Practice (5 minutes)

"Now it's time to put these three Cs into practice! We're going to do a quick scenario activity. I'm going to ask you to pair up or form small groups of three. Each group will receive Communication Scenario Cards."

(Divide participants into groups and distribute the cards.)

"Your task is to choose one scenario from the card and role-play how you would handle it using professional verbal communication. Focus on applying Clarity, Confidence, and Courtesy. Don't worry about perfection; this is a practice space. You'll have about 4 minutes to work through your chosen scenario. I'll be circulating to offer guidance if you need it. Let's begin!"

(Circulate, listen to discussions, offer brief feedback and prompts as needed.)

(Give a 30-second warning.)

Game: The 3 Cs Challenge (5 minutes)

"Alright everyone, let's bring it back together from your scenarios. Now, we're going to play a quick game called The 3 Cs Challenge Game!"

(Transition to Speak Up, Level Up! Slide Deck Slide 7)

"Here's how it works: In your groups, you'll take turns drawing a prompt card from The 3 Cs Challenge Game pile. When it's your turn, read the prompt aloud and then verbally respond to it, aiming to demonstrate Clarity, Confidence, and Courtesy in your answer. The goal is to think on your feet and apply what we've learned in a fun, fast-paced way. Let's try to get through as many as we can in the next 4 minutes!"

(Facilitate the game, encouraging participants to speak up and apply the 3 Cs. Keep time and ensure everyone gets a chance to participate.)

(Give a 30-second warning.)

Wrap-Up & Reflection (5 minutes)

"Excellent energy everyone, great job with both the scenarios and the 3 Cs Challenge!

I'd love to hear from a few of you: What was one key takeaway from either the scenario practice or the game? Or, what was a challenge you encountered while trying to apply the 3 Cs?"

(Allow 2-3 participants to share their experiences.)

"Fantastic insights. Remember, practicing these skills consistently is key. To help you reflect on what we've covered today and how you'll apply it, I'm going to hand out a Cool Down Reflection Sheet. Please take a few minutes to complete it individually."

(Distribute the cool-down sheets.)

"As you reflect, remember that professional verbal communication is an ongoing journey. The more you consciously apply clarity, confidence, and courtesy, the more effective and impactful your interactions will become. Think about how you can use these skills in your daily work this week.

Thank you all for your active participation today! I hope you found this session valuable. Keep speaking up and leveling up your communication!"

(Transition to Speak Up, Level Up! Slide Deck Slide 8)

Communication Scenario Cards

Instructions: Choose one scenario and role-play how you would communicate professionally, focusing on clarity, confidence, and courtesy.

Scenario 1: Addressing a Misunderstanding

You overhear a colleague, Alex, incorrectly explaining a project update to another team member. This misinformation could cause problems if not corrected. How do you approach Alex to clarify the information without embarrassing them?

Scenario 2: Requesting Resources

Your team needs additional software licenses to complete an urgent task, but your manager, Sarah, has been hesitant to approve new purchases. How do you verbally present your request to Sarah, explaining the necessity and potential benefits?

Scenario 3: Providing Constructive Feedback

A team member, Jamie, consistently interrupts others during meetings, making it difficult for everyone to share their ideas. You need to provide Jamie with constructive feedback. How do you approach this conversation professionally and respectfully?

Scenario 4: Dealing with a Frustrated Client

You receive a call from a client who is very frustrated about a delayed delivery. They are speaking loudly and seem upset. How do you respond to de-escalate the situation, gather information, and assure them you are working on a solution?

The 3 Cs Challenge Game

Instructions: In your groups, take turns drawing a prompt card. Respond to the prompt, aiming to demonstrate Clarity, Confidence, and Courtesy in your verbal communication.

Prompt Card 1: Describe your favorite hobby in 30 seconds to someone who knows nothing about it.

(Focus on clarity and conciseness.)

Prompt Card 2: You need to politely decline an extra task from your manager because you're already overloaded. How do you respond?

(Focus on courtesy and confident assertiveness.)

Prompt Card 3: Explain a common office procedure (e.g., how to book a meeting room) to a new intern.

(Focus on clarity and helpfulness.)

Prompt Card 4: Someone disagrees with your idea in a meeting. How do you respond to their feedback respectfully while still advocating for your idea?

(Focus on confidence, courtesy, and constructive communication.)

Prompt Card 5: Share one recent professional accomplishment with your team in a way that is clear and confident, but not boastful.

(Focus on clarity and humble confidence.)

Cool Down: Speak Up, Level Up! Reflection

Instructions: Please take a few minutes to reflect on today's session and answer the questions below.

1. What is one new insight you gained about professional verbal communication today?

2. Of the three Cs (Clarity, Confidence, Courtesy), which one do you feel is your strongest asset, and why?

3. Which of the three Cs do you want to focus on improving in your workplace interactions this week? How will you try to apply it?

4. What is one specific situation where you can immediately apply what you've learned today?