Communications Manager Job Description

communication tasks manager

What is a Communications Manager?

The Communications Manager job is a mid-level, management role for someone with at least 7 years of experience in the field. Communications Managers create, implement and oversee communications programs, be it internal or external, that effectively describe and promote the organization and its products.

This role provides supervision and direction to staff and often works in conjunction with the marketing department. They typically report to the head of a unit/department.

Education Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Marketing or Communications
  • Extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals

Communications Manager Essential Skills

  • A confident communicator and presenter
  • Strong writing, editing, proofreading, layout and design, professional printing/publishing skills are essential, including ability to present concepts verbally
  • Excellent organizational and planning skills
  • Superior project management and time management skills
  • A wide degree of creativity and latitude
  • Strong knowledge and understanding of current trends in digital media/social media
  • Self motivated with a positive and professional approach to management

Communications Manager Roles & Responsibilities

  • Oversee all internal and external communications for a company, ensuring its message is consistent and engaging
  • RFP review and development
  • Marketing budget development and cost tracking
  • Develop and implement effective communication strategies that build customer loyalty programs, brand awareness, and customer satisfaction
  • Plan and manage the design, content, and production of all marketing materials
  • Lead the marketing and public relations staff

Day-to-Day Duties

  • Preparation of presentations and/or speeches geared toward employees
  • Creation and development of:
  • Print and online advertising
  • Email marketing
  • Web site management and content development
  • Press releases, bylined articles, white papers
  • Corporate videos and marketing collateral
  • Work with different marketing departments to generate new ideas and strategies

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Communications Manager Job Description

Communication managers are in charge of overseeing all internal and external communications for a company, ensuring its message is consistent and engaging. Also known as a communications director, their main duties include preparing detailed media reports, press releases, and marketing materials.

Communications Manager Job Description Template:

We are looking for a self-motivated and talented communications manager to lead our communications department. In this position, you will be in charge of producing high-quality content that engages customers and builds brand recognition.

Your main duties will also include creating informative content, press releases, articles, and media opportunities to share our company’s brand, products, and services. The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator, with brilliant presentation and organizational skills.

Responsibilities:

  • Create informative and interesting press releases, press kits, newsletters, and related marketing materials.
  • Develop and implement effective communication strategies that build customer loyalty programs, brand awareness, and customer satisfaction.
  • Prepare detailed media activity reports.
  • Plan and manage the design, content, and production of all marketing materials.
  • Work with different marketing departments to generate new ideas and strategies.
  • Supervise projects to guarantee all content is publication-ready.
  • Create communication and marketing strategies for new products, launches, events, and promotions.
  • Lead the marketing and public relations staff.
  • Respond to communication-related issues in a timely manner.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations or relevant field.
  • A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar role.
  • Proven experience creating targeted content is advantageous.
  • Strong knowledge of communication practices and techniques.
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
  • Must be able to multitask and work well under pressure.
  • Excellent organizational and leadership abilities.

Related Articles:

Communications manager interview questions, communications coordinator job description, communications coordinator interview questions, content editor job description, content editor interview questions.

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Manager of Corporate Communications

Job summary:.

The Manager of Corporate Communications will lead the organizations communications team and will develop and implement internal and external communication strategies for the organization to ensure that unified, consistent, and positive messages define and promote the corporate identity and mission.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

  • Interviews, hires, and trains communications staff.
  • Conducts performance evaluations that are timely and constructive.

Duties/Responsibilities:

  • Identifies and capitalizes on opportunities to promote and positively represent the organization through internal and external communication.
  • Develops and implements policies and procedures for communicating on behalf of the organization that represents the corporate identity, and promotes and supports the organizations mission.
  • Oversees the workflow and work assignments of the communications team to ensure effective collaboration among team members and consistent, quality work.
  • Drafts proposals for special communications projects; presents on and promotes these projects to management.
  • Seeks new methods and creative strategies to increase internal and external awareness of key events and changes in the organization including the launch of new products, special events, local and global community service, and other topics of interest.
  • Prepares and delivers presentations in the company to share information.
  • Prepares and distributes direct marketing products.
  • Represents the company in a variety of settings, always promoting the company in the best possible way.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

  • Superlative communication skills in all forms.
  • Excellent strategic organization skills.
  • Excellent managerial skills.
  • Ability to use tact and professionalism including in times of extreme stress.
  • Ability to think creatively.
  • Ability to adapt and respond to difficult questions and issues.
  • Ability to create, implement, and apply a budget.

Education and Experience:

  • Bachelors degree in communications required; Masters degree preferred.
  • At least seven years of experience in communications field required.
  • Management experience preferred.

Physical Requirements:

  • Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
  • Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

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12 tips for effective communication in the workplace

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Today, we’re in almost constant contact with our coworkers. You might not put a lot of thought into saying “hi” to your coworker, grabbing virtual coffee with a remote team member, or sending a gif of a cat wearing pajamas to your team—and that’s ok. Even though you’re communicating at work, there’s a difference between these types of messages and communication in the workplace.

Communication in the workplace refers to communication you do at work about work. Knowing when and how to effectively communicate at work can help you reduce miscommunication, increase team happiness, bolster collaboration, and foster trust. Teams that know how to communicate effectively about work are better prepared for difficult situations. But building good communication habits takes time and effort—and that’s where we come in. Here are 12 ways to take your workplace communication skills to the next level.

What does “workplace communication” mean?

Communication in the workplace can happen face-to-face, in writing, over a video conferencing platform, or in a group meeting. It can also happen in real time or asynchronously , which happens when you’re communicating about work over email, with recorded video, or in a platform like a  project management tool . Some examples of workplace communication include:

Team meetings

1:1 feedback sessions

Receiving information

Communicating about project status or progress

Collaboration on cross-functional tasks

Nonverbal communication

Collaboration Report: How the most effective teams in the world collaborate

Explore key traits that have made the most effective teams in the world successful: their strategies, techniques, and tips for working well together.

Collaboration Report: How the most effective teams in the world collaborates

What makes communication good?

Now that you know what type of communication can be included in workplace communication, how do you start getting better at it? There are a few key tenets of good communication that you can use no matter the type of communication it is. In particular, good communication:

Aims for clarity. Whether you’re sending a Slack message, drafting an email, or giving an off-the-cuff reply, aim to clearly communicate your message.

Seeks to solve conflicts, not create them. The reason you’re communicating is to solve a problem or promote effective collaboration on a project or task. Good communication in the workplace can bring up blockers or provide feedback—but make sure the goal is to get to a better place than where you are now.

Goes both ways. Every instance of communication in the workplace is an exchange of information—even if one person is only communicating nonverbally.

The benefits of open workplace communication

Clear, effective workplace communication can:

Boost employee engagement and belonging

Encourage team buy-in

Increase productivity

Build a healthy workplace and organizational culture

Reduce conflict

Increase retention

7 tips for more effective communication in the workplace

Effective communication in the workplace is all about where, how, and when you’re communicating. Try these seven tips to become a stronger communicator.

1. Know where to communicate—and about what

Communication happens in many different forms—face-to-face, over email, via instant messages, and in work management platforms. To be most effective, make sure you’re following communication guidelines and messaging about the right things in the right places.

Sometimes, knowing where to communicate is half the battle. Your company may have different communication tools —which makes knowing which tool to use all the more important. Which tool is appropriate for your question or comment? Do you need to communicate in real time, or is it ok to send an asynchronous message? If you’re not sure, ask a team member or manager where you should be sending different types of messages. It is important for everyone to be on the same page. For example, at Asana, we use:

2. Build collaboration skills

Collaboration is the bedrock of effective teamwork. In order to build strong team collaboration skills , you need to practice open and honest communication. This doesn’t necessarily mean always agreeing on things—knowing how to disagree and work through those differences is a key part of collaboration, too.

Collaboration and communication skills are kind of a “chicken and egg” scenario. You can build good collaboration by communicating effectively—but knowing how to collaborate is a key component of strong communication. Essentially, this just means you’ll have to practice improving both collaboration and communication skills over time. As you improve team collaboration, you’ll get better at conveying information and opinions in a work environment—and as a result, that honest communication will make collaboration feel more effortless.

3. Talk face-to-face when you can

Perhaps the most tried-and-true way to avoid miscommunication is to talk face-to-face. If your team is virtual, speaking via video conferencing also works. Face-to-face communication is particularly important if you know a conversation is going to be hard. Tone can be difficult to communicate through writing so ideally, you want your team member to be able to see your facial expressions and body language.

If your team is remote or distributed, communicating via a phone call instead of a video conference could work as well.  Video conferencing fatigue  is real, and it can make collaboration and communication particularly difficult for remote teams. Communicating over the phone reduces some of the visual strain, while still giving you the ability to hear your team member’s voice and tone.

4. Watch your body language and tone of voice

Communication isn’t just about what you say—it’s also about how you say it. Make sure you aren’t crossing your arms or coming off as curt. Oftentimes, your body language may have nothing to do with the current situation—maybe you’re tired or stressed about something in your personal life. But your team members, who might not have that context, could see your actions and assume you’re angry or upset about something. Particularly for hard conversations, try to relax your body language and facial expressions to avoid giving off any unintentional cues.

5. Prioritize two-way communication

Listening is just as important to communication in the workplace as talking. Part of being a collaborative team member is listening to other people’s ideas instead of just trying to put your own ideas out there.

There are two common  types of listening : listening to reply and listening to understand. When you listen to reply, you’re focusing on what you’re going to say next, rather than what the other person is saying. With this type of listening, you risk missing key information or even repeating what the other person just said.

Instead, try to listen to understand—that is, listen to what the other person has to say without thinking about how you’re going to reply. If you do think of something you want to say, jot it down so you can go back to listening to understand , instead of trying to remember the thing you want to say next.

6. Stick to facts, not stories

“Facts vs. stories”  is a technique recommended by the co-founder of the Conscious Leadership Group, Diana Chapman. In this case, “facts” are things that have actually happened—things that everyone in the room would easily agree on. A “story,” on the other hand, is your interpretation of the situation.

For example, say your manager gives you live feedback during a small team meeting. That is a fact. You weren’t expecting the feedback, and you feel like your manager shared the feedback—instead of saving it for your 1:1—because they’re dissatisfied with your work. This is a “story” because you have no way of knowing if this is true or not.

Stories are inevitable—we all create stories from facts. But try to separate stories from facts, and avoid acting on stories until you’re able to validate them. For example in this case, you might want to talk to your manager during your next 1:1 and ask why they shared feedback in a team meeting.

7. Make sure you’re speaking to the right person

Effective workplace communication is as much about who you’re talking to as it is about what you’re saying. Poor communication often occurs when you’re talking to the wrong people, or trying to share information in the wrong setting.

To avoid this, make sure the right people are in the room or receiving the message. If you aren’t sure who that would be, go through an exercise to identify any important  project stakeholders  who might be missing.

5 tips to build leadership communication skills

If you’re a leader, you have the power to set and establish communication conventions on your team. Strong communication can build healthy company culture , trust among your employees, and break down silos between cross-functional teams. Here’s how:

1. Address any underlying changes

Before you start improving your team’s communication skills, ensure there are no underlying issues that keep everyone from communicating honestly. Does everyone feel comfortable talking openly? Is there anything that might make a team member feel like they can’t be their full selves?

One of the most valuable things you can do as a leader is to make sure your employees feel comfortable showing up to work as their whole selves (or as much of themselves as they want to bring). Whether that means voicing disagreements, talking about their passions outside of work, or being honest about what type of communication works best for them—make sure to understand each team member’s needs, and ensure they’re being met in the team environment.

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One theme that kept coming up in our employee engagement surveys was that we could improve information sharing and communication across the organization, so we looked for a way to do that.”

2. Frequently ask for feedback

If you don’t ask for feedback on your communication style, you may never get it. Even though communication in the workplace impacts every other interaction, team members might not immediately think of it as something to provide feedback on. By asking your employees for feedback on your communication style, you can continue to improve and develop clear communication strategies for your team.

3. Understand team communication styles

Another effective way to communicate with your team is to ask them how they want to communicate. Communication preferences shouldn’t be a secret—or a guessing game—and knowing off the bat if your team members prefer video conferences or phone calls, early morning meetings or afternoon jam sessions, can help you create an environment where they can thrive.

Important questions to ask include:

Are they an early bird or a night owl?

Do they like structured meetings or prefer free-flow brainstorming sessions?

Do they do their best thinking out loud, on the spot, or on paper?

What personality type do they identify with: introvert, extrovert, or ambivert?

Do they feel like they know their team members, or would they prefer more team bonding activities?

What type of meetings or tasks are most energizing for them?

4. Make time for team building or icebreakers

Getting to know your team is a critical part in knowing how to communicate with them. It’s particularly important to make time to get to know your team outside of a workplace setting. Icebreaker questions can help bring an element of personality and fun to every meeting, so consider starting with a light chat before diving into your meeting agenda.

5. Set the tone

Remember: the way you communicate and collaborate will impact your entire team. It’s up to you to set the standard for open and clear communication in the workplace. Once you set and communicate this standard, your team will follow suit.

Every few months, make a note to check back in on how everyone is feeling about team communication. Are there any habits that have cropped up in the last few months that you want to cull or encourage? Regularly thinking about how your team communicates—instead of “setting and forgetting” your team practices—can help you be more intentional about your communication methods.

As an organization grows, communication starts to bottleneck. At Hope for Haiti, we’ve seen those inefficiencies hurt us: when we can’t run like a well-oiled machine, we’re not serving as many people as we could be—and it’s our responsibility to improve upon that.”

More types of workplace communication

Most discussions about communication in the workplace assume the “workplace” is in person. But there are a variety of ways to communicate across different locations—from global offices to remote teams. Most communication best practices still apply to any type of team, but there are a few additional considerations and best practices you can use to help team members truly connect.

Distributed teams

Distributed teams work across multiple national or global offices. These teams might span different time zones and languages, and each office will have its own culture and habits. Don’t expect each distributed team to communicate in the same way—in fact, one of the advantages of distributed teams is the variety of thought you’re exposed to by working with teammates from all over the world.

If you work on a distributed team, it’s critical to over-communicate so that team members in different time zones and offices stay in the loop. Make sure to document everything in a central source of truth that team members can access when they’re online, and look for a tool that updates in real-time so no one has to slow down due to information lag.

Keep in mind that time zones might affect how people come to a conversation. Try to schedule meetings when everyone is available, or offer recordings and notes if team members can’t make it. It’s also critical to double check that the right people are in the loop, and that they aren’t just being left out because they’re in a different office than the majority of your team.

Online coworkers

If you’re working with a virtual team, it’s critical to establish where you’re going to communicate and how frequently. Knowing exactly what each communication tool should be used for can help team members feel connected—even while they’re remote.

While working remotely, we’ve had to re-learn how to communicate in many ways. Slack, Asana, and integrations between these tools has replaced or supplemented a lot of in-person ways we used to communicate.”

Remote team members can feel siloed and disconnected from one another, so consider doing an exercise with your entire team about preferred communication habits. Some team members might love cold calls, while others might prefer scheduled meetings with clear agendas. Because team members have fewer chances to interact in person, it’s critical to establish these preferences as a team, so you can keep the communication channels open.

Finally, make sure to bring team members in for regular team bonding events. Whether you’re doing  icebreaker activities  at the beginning of every meeting or scheduling some time to just chat at the end of each week, dedicated team time can help team members connect no matter where they’re dialing in from.

The cherry on top of effective workplace communication

The last component of clear communication is having a central source of truth for all of your communication and work information. Using a centralized system like a  work management tool  can help you coordinate work across all levels of your team. Learn more about how work management makes project coordination and communication easier in our  introduction to work management article .

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Communications Manager Job Description

Communications Manager Job Description

The communications manager job description outlines the main purposes and responsibilities of people responsible for developing and executing effective communication strategies that support the company's goals and objectives.

The communication manager job profile may include creating, managing, and executing campaigns, content, and materials used to promote the company's products, services, and initiatives. To achieve the goals of the job, the Communications Manager must develop relationships with media outlets, industry influencers, and other stakeholders.

A brand can differentiate itself from rivals through communication. In the current digitally advanced era, the message you spread counts greatly. The time when a detailed advertisement sufficed to convey a company's message is long gone. Customers today want more from a company's communications. This is where the role of a communications manager comes in.

A communications manager puts the message coming from the company in front of the target audience.

The goal of a communications manager is to advance a brand's reputation through unified message and planning. They manage everything, from creating internal and external communications to creating brand collateral. They work with the media to promote the brand. A communications manager collaborates closely with senior management teams to create a company's brand and choose the most effective communication strategies. A communications manager may work for a large firm, a government agency, a small business in any industry, or various other contexts.

To ensure that their company's messaging is consistent with its brand and effectively reaches the target audience, communications managers must also engage with customers and the media. These actions serve as the role's foundation for blending business and creativity.

Communications Manager job description: Overall Purpose

Oversees the company's internal and external communication management. A communications manager accomplishes this by effectively informing and promoting a company's brand, people, mission, and product.

Communications Manager job description: Primary duties

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  • Ensures the company's messages are consistent and engaging by overseeing all internal and external communications.
  • Works to gain stakeholder confidence by identifying the public voice of the company's brand.
  • Builds a strong brand image by contacting media influencers and others to negotiate story placement on a national and international scale.
  • Ensures effective communication in the organization by writing letters, interdepartmental memos and other business correspondence.
  • Improves communication skills by coaching and assisting team members in the organization.
  • Develops efficient communication protocols and policies for diverse scenarios or emergencies by engaging with executive management in drafting policies.
  • Improves organizational communication by educating staff on communication practices.
  • Oversees the organization's communication channels by planning and managing the design, content, and production of all marketing materials.
  • Ensures efficient use of company resources by developing the marketing budget and tracking costs.
  • Builds customer loyalty programs, brand awareness, and customer satisfaction by developing and implementing effective communication strategies.
  • Coordinates the creation of new marketing materials, including their design and content, by assigning duties and monitoring subordinates.
  • Evaluates campaigns by providing feedback on their effectiveness.
  • Develops the organization's communication strategies by researching and analyzing communication channels.
  • Interacts with stakeholders by creating press kits.

Communications Manager job description: Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations or a relevant field.
  • Master's degree in Communications or a relevant field may be desired.
  • Knowledge and comprehension of social media communications strategies, methods, and tactics.
  • Minimum 5 years prior experience working in a marketing or communications role.
  • Exceptional communication abilities, including writing, speaking and active listening.

Communications Manager job description: Experience required

  • Previous experience in communications, public relations, marketing, advertising, or other relevant industries is required.
  • Previous experience in a managerial role to provide direction and guidance when leading the marketing and public relations staff.
  • Experience in the industry, they work to ensure that ideal communication practices are used.

Communications manager job description: KSAOs ​

  • Thorough understanding of the ideal communication techniques for business communications, public relations, promotion, advertising, sales copy, and social media.
  • Knowledge of the brand and product represented is needed to deliver accurate messages.
  • Good data analysis, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Communications Manager Job Description: Skills

  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills to communicate effectively with staff, managers and the company's stakeholders.
  • Leadership abilities, including training and mentorship, are essential to managing subordinates.
  • Ability to work well under pressure and multitask to meet the job's demands.

Communications Manager Job Description: Abilities

  • The ability to handle crises is crucial for this role to communicate effectively with the public.
  • The capacity to interact with team members across departments and at all levels to ensure collaborative communication.
  • Excellent time management, goal-setting, multitasking, and prioritization abilities to ensure the timeous completion of tasks.

A communications manager job description is an essential role for an organization. Their primary duties are to oversee an organization's internal and external communication. Finding the ideal approach to convey messages, whether to the clients of the company or the employees they work with, is the main focus of this highly creative profession.

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What does a communications manager do?

What does a communications manager do?

Are you creative, with a passion for people, words, and sharing stories? Then a career in communications could be for you. It’s a varied and challenging profession, but a rewarding one with a lot to offer.

A communications manager is a critical role and plays an important role in promoting an organization, its people, products, and services – both internally and externally — through expertly-designed and executed communications strategies. As well as being first-rate communicators, communications managers also need to be incredibly organized, digitally savvy, and great with people.

Think you might have what it takes? Let’s take a closer look at what’s involved in communications management, how to become a communications manager, and how studying for a hospitality degree can help you get there.

What is a communications manager?

The key role of a communications manager is to promote a company’s products, services, mission, and brand. They work closely with senior management teams to craft a company’s image and determine the best methods and channels for communications.

Communications managers are usually responsible for creating various marketing and advertising materials, such as web pages, blogs, press releases, newsletters, brochures, newspaper adverts, brochures, and promotional items. They might also be expected to represent their organization at various conferences and events and may be required to present, hand out fliers or host a stall.

A communications manager’s workload can be hugely varied and diverse. Here are just some of the different responsibilities a communications manager might take on.

Digital marketing

In the modern age, digital marketing is critically important for businesses that want to stay current and build brand awareness. A communications manager is responsible for designing and using digital marketing materials. This might involve sharing posts, stories, reels, and videos on social media accounts like TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. It can also involve emailing current or potential customers or clients, providing web content, and monitoring digital ad campaigns.

A huge part of digital marketing is also search engine optimization (SEO) and communications managers tend to be responsible for ensuring web content, blogs and articles embed appropriate Google-friendly keywords.

Public relations

As a communications manager, you may also be tasked with public relations duties , such as flagging campaigns to the media to help promote your company and its products. You’ll typically write press releases, and design and draft blogs, social media posts, brochures, and newsletters related to public relations activities.

Advertising

Advertising plays a pivotal role in communications and in raising the profile of a business brand. Communications managers can be involved in producing various advertising materials , like billboards, promotional banners, storefront posters, and other items that carry company logos like pens, soft toys, badges, or stickers.

Team collaboration

Strong communication skills and an ability to collaborate are hugely important in the communications industry. As a communications manager, you’ll often have to work alongside other professionals, departments, senior management, and members of the media and press. Team collaboration is vital for gaining insights, understanding products, and creating new ideas to help better communicate what your company is about.

Marketing launches

When a company launches a new product line or service it will often curate a product launch to create awareness and a buzz around the new offering. Communications managers are normally closely involved in marketing launches , which might involve crafting marketing campaigns, pushing out ads to promote new services, or hosting events to showcase new products. Being able to use project management to organize all of this is essential.

Customer service

Customer service can make or break a brand. All companies face issues and hiccups along the way, but it’s how a company communicates with customers and handles issues that determines whether it’s viewed positively or not. For example, if a customer receives the wrong shoes the day before their wedding? Disaster. If the shoe company personally couriers the correct shoes to arrive first thing in the morning? Heroic. Businesses that do customer service right can turn mistakes into good news stories.

As a communications manager, you’ll normally be involved in answering customer queries and resolving issues or complaints. This might mean responding to negative reviews online, social media posts, or email queries. It can also involve speaking with unhappy customers and offering discounts or ‘freebies’ to help improve customer satisfaction.

Communications manager skills

communication tasks manager

To be an effective communications manager you’ll have to be able to juggle lots of different projects and work alongside and collaborate well with a diverse range of people. This means possessing a broad and diverse skillset. Seven key communication manager skills include:

1. Communication skills

It comes as no surprise that communications managers need to have top-class communication skills. This means being able to write and orally communicate well in presentations, emails, marketing campaigns, customer interactions, and in discussions with prospective clients.

You’ll also need to be able to communicate clearly with organizational leaders to articulate ideas and agree on communications strategies. As a communications manager, you’ll also likely be responsible for managing a team, so you’ll need to have excellent people skills and be able to delegate tasks effectively, and make sure everyone understands their roles.

2. Organizational skills

In the communications sector, you’ll often have to work across a variety of different projects at the same time, so you’ll have to be able to schedule and organize your time efficiently to stay on top of everything. Keeping strategic communication plans, trackers, and master documents up to date is an important element of keeping you and your team on track.

3. Web design

Communications professionals are often tasked with managing company websites, so it helps to have good web design skills. Being able to work with content management systems, and basic design tools and knowing how to optimize web content for SEO are all advantageous in communications roles.

If you have additional visual or graphic design skills these can also be a fantastic asset. They can help you to channel your ideas and more effectively communicate your message when designing flyers, newsletters, and campaign materials.

4. Creativity

To stand out from the crowd you’ll need to come up with new and exciting ways to grab attention and promote your company’s products, mission, and brand. The best communications managers are highly inventive and creative , consistently coming up with new and fresh ideas on how to engage with their audience.

5. Self-motivation

In the fast-paced world of communications, it’s always important to stay one step ahead. Communications managers should be self-motivated and on top of current news, events, and social media trends to look for new opportunities and avenues to communicate the company’s message and create a positive image.

6. Community engagement skills

As a communications manager, you’ll likely be involved in communicating with customers and the general public via social media so you need to have good interpersonal skills. Having good community engagement skills is a must to make sure you stay at the forefront of your customer’s minds and entice new customers to interact with your brand. You’ll have to be skilled in fostering meaningful digital relationships and building an online community of loyal customers who engage and interact with you.

7. Analytical skills

How do you know if your effective communication strategies are successful? With lots of data and monitoring. To be effective in your role, you’ll need to be able to collect meaningful data and analyze how successful your communications and marketing campaigns have been. This might involve using web or social media analytics tools and being able to understand and summarize results. Using the results you’ll then have to tweak and adjust your communications strategies to optimize reach, engagement, and conversions.

What qualifications do you need to be a communications manager?

If you’re wondering how to become a communications manager , you might be thinking that a communications-specific qualification is the best way to go. But be wary of narrowing your options too soon. Many organizations value communications professionals with a broader skillset that includes business administration, marketing, and communications.

A hospitality degree, like our Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management , is a great route into communications management. You’ll gain all the specialist knowledge and expertise involved in communications and marketing, whilst also retaining the flexibility to pursue many other business-related and hospitality careers .

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49 Communication Activities, Exercises & Games

Communication games and activities

Read on to learn about how important communication is in a relationship and how you can work on improving your communication skills.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Communication Exercises (PDF) for free . These science-based tools will help you and those you work with build better social skills and better connect with others.

This Article Contains:

What are communication activities, exercises, and games, the role of communication in a relationship, how can we develop better communication skills, 18 communication games and activities for adults, 17 exercises to help improve communication in a relationship, the importance of communication in the family unit, 14 family therapy activities for communication, a take-home message.

The resources in this piece include tips, techniques, exercises, games, and other activities that give you the opportunity to learn more about effective communication, help guide your interactions with others, and improve your communication skills.

Some might feel like a chore you need to cross off your to-do list while others may make you forget you’re not just having fun with your family , but actually boosting vital life skills; however, they all have one thing in common: they will help you become a better, more effective, and more positive communicator with those who mean the most to you.

But what’s the deal with these activities, exercises, and therapy games ? Are they really that important or impactful? Do we really need to work on communicating when it seems like we’re pretty good at it already?

Communication in relationships

Check out this quote from Stephen R. Covey and take a minute to think about how vital communication really is.

The most important ingredient we put into any relationship is not what we say or what we do, but what we are. And if our words and our actions come from superficial human relations techniques rather than from our own inner core, others will sense that duplicity. We simply won’t be able to create and sustain the foundation necessary for effective interdependence.

Stephen R. Covey

As Covey notes, communication is the foundation of all of our relationships , forming the basis of our interactions and feelings about one another.

According to Australia’s Better Health Channel, communication is “ the transfer of information from one place to another ” and within relationships, it “ allows you to explain to someone else what you are experiencing and what your needs are ” (Victoria Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.).

When communication is good, we feel good about our relationships. Dr. Susan Heitler (2010) puts it this way:

When people say, ‘We have a great relationship,’ what they often mean is how they feel when they talk with one another. They mean, ‘I feel positive toward that person when we interact. I send and I receive positive vibes with them.’

Besides making our relationships easier, there are also relationship-boosting benefits to good communication:

  • Effective communication shows respect and value of the other person.
  • It helps us to better understand each other; not all communication is about understanding—some are intended to fight, dismiss, invalidate, undermine, etc.—but it should be!
  • It makes us feel more comfortable with each other and encourages even more healthy and effective communication (Abass, n.d.).

communication tasks manager

Download 3 Communication Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will equip you or your clients with tools to improve communication skills and enjoy more positive social interactions with others.

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Fortunately, all it takes to develop better communication skills is a commitment to do so and a little bit of effort.

These tips from Australia’s Better Health Channel can help guide you toward better communication with your partner or spouse (these tips can also apply to any other relationship in your life with a little tweaking):

  • Set aside time to talk without interruption from other people or distractions like phones, computers or television.
  • Think about what you want to say.
  • Be clear about what you want to communicate.
  • Make your message clear, so that your partner hears it accurately and understands what you mean.
  • Talk about what is happening and how it affects you.
  • Talk about what you want, need and feel – use ‘I’ statements such as ‘I need’, ‘I want’ and ‘I feel’.
  • Accept responsibility for your own feelings.
  • Listen to your partner. Put aside your own thoughts for the time being and try to understand their intentions, feelings, needs and wants (this is called empathy ).
  • Share positive feelings with your partner, such as what you appreciate and admire about them, and how important they are to you.
  • Be aware of your tone of voice.
  • Negotiate and remember that you don’t have to be right all the time. If the issue you are having is not that important, sometimes let the issue go, or agree to disagree (Victoria Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.).

If you’re experiencing high levels of conflict in your relationship(s), the Better Health Channel has some specific recommendations for you:

  • Avoid using the silent treatment.
  • Don’t jump to conclusions. Find out all the facts rather than guessing at motives.
  • Discuss what actually happened. Don’t judge.
  • Learn to understand each other, not to defeat each other.
  • Talk using the future and present tense, not the past tense.
  • Concentrate on the major problem, and don’t get distracted by other minor problems.
  • Talk about the problems that hurt your or your partner’s feelings, then move on to problems about differences in opinions.
  • Use ‘I feel’ statements, not ‘You are’ statements (Victoria Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.).

8 Tips on How to Teach Communication Skills

Teaching Communication

This useful framework comes from Alice Stott at Edutopia (2018):

  • Physical: How a speaker uses their body language, facial expressions, and voice.
  • Linguistic: The speaker’s use of language, including their understanding of formality and rhetorical devices.
  • Cognitive: The content of what a speaker says and their ability to build on, challenge, question, and summarize others’ ideas.
  • Social and emotional : How well a speaker listens, includes others, and responds to their audience (Stott, 2018).

Once you have a good framework for understanding communication, try these 8 ways to foster effective communication in your children or students:

  • Teach your kids empathy so they can get a sense of what the other person is thinking and feeling.
  • Teach your kids conversation skills with techniques like puppets and video modeling, which they can then apply in exercises and activities.
  • Establish listening and speaking procedures in the classroom or at home (e.g., Dr. Allen Mendler’s SLANT strategy : Sit up straight, Listen, Answer and ask questions, Nod to show interest, Track the speaker; Mendler, 2013).
  • Teach respectful vocabulary and remind students that being “cold” (passive) or “hot” (angry) will probably result in less understanding and more conflict.
  • Teach the power of pausing (e.g., encourage them to pause, think, and ask questions like “What do you mean by that?” and “Why?”).
  • Have your kids practice speaking and listening in natural settings (e.g., outside of the home and classroom).
  • Encourage introspection in your children; it will help them understand themselves better as well as those around them.
  • Practice taking turns with a talking stick or a ball, teaching your children that they can speak when they have the object but they are expected to listen when others are talking (Stanfield, 2017).

One of the most effective ways to avoid unnecessary disputes is to practice non-violent communication (NVC). According to Rosenberg (1999), non-violent communication methods can serve us in three ways:

  • It can increase your ability to live with choice, meaning, and connection
  • It helps connect empathically with yourself and others to have more satisfying relationships
  • It shares resources so everyone is able to benefit

In an effort to exemplify the various forms that communication can take, we want to share some key differences between passive, assertive, and aggressive communication styles.

  • Specifically, a passive communicator prioritizes the needs of others, even at their own expense. This often leads to being taken advantage of and having their own needs disregarded by others as well.
  • An assertive communicator mirrors the values of NVC, which is what we should aim for. This communication style emphasizes the importance of all parties’ needs and is defined by confidence and the willingness to compromise
  • Aggressive communication, also referred to as violent communication, disregards any other parties involved and consists of constant disrespect, interrupting, and domination.

Now that you are familiar with these types of communication styles, it’s time to analyze how you convey your thoughts to others (and if there is any room for improvement).

communication tasks manager

If you’re looking for some concrete ways to build communication skills in adults, you’ve come to the right place. Below are 18 games, activities, and exercises that you can use to help adults develop more effective listening and communication skills.

5 Communication Activities for Adults

To get started improving your (or your team’s, or your student’s) communication skills, give these 5 activities a try.

1. Card Pieces

This exercise from the team at MindTools is a good way to help participants develop more empathy, consider other perspectives, build their communication and negotiation skills.

First, make sure you have enough people for at least three teams of two, enough playing cards to give out between 4 and 6 cards to each person, and 15 minutes to spare.

Here’s how the activity works:

  • Cut each playing card into half diagonally, then in half diagonally again, so you have four triangular pieces for each card.
  • Mix all the pieces together and put equal numbers of cards into as many envelopes as you have teams.
  • Divide people up into teams of three or four. You need at least three teams. If you’re short of people, teams of two will work just as well.
  • Give each team an envelope of playing card pieces.
  • Each team has three minutes to sort its pieces, determine which ones it needs to make complete cards, and develop a bargaining strategy.
  • After three minutes, allow the teams to start bartering for pieces. People can barter on their own or collectively with their team. Give the teams eight minutes to barter.
  • When the time is up, count each team’s completed cards. Whichever team has the most cards wins the round.

Afterward, you can use these questions to guide discussion on the exercise:

  • Which negotiation strategies worked? Which didn’t?
  • What could they have done better?
  • What other skills, such as active listening or empathy, did they need to use?

2. Listen and Draw

This game is easy to play but not so easy to “win.” It requires participants’ full attention and active listening.

Gather your group of participants together and hand out a piece of paper and a pen or pencil to each player. Tell them you will give them verbal instructions on drawing an object, one step at a time.

For example, you might give them instructions like:

  • Draw a square, measuring 5 inches on each side.
  • Draw a circle within the square, such that it fits exactly in the middle of the square.
  • Intersect 2 lines through the circle, dividing the circle into 4 equal parts.

As the exercise continues, it will get progressively harder; one misstep could mean that every following instruction is misinterpreted or misapplied. Participants will need to listen carefully to ensure their drawing comes out accurately. Once the instructions have all been read, compare drawings and decide who won.

For added engagement, decide in advance on what the finished product is supposed to represent (e.g., a spiderweb, a tree).

3. Communication Origami

This is a great exercise to help people understand that we all hear and interpret things differently, even if we are given the exact same information.

Here’s how it works:

  • Give one sheet of standard-sized paper (8.5 x 11 inches) to each participant.
  • Tell your participants that you will be giving them step-by-step instructions on how to fold their piece of paper into an origami shape.
  • Inform your participants that they must keep their eyes and mouths closed as they follow instructions; they are not allowed to look at the paper or ask any clarifying questions.
  • Give the group your instructions on how to fold the paper into the origami shape of your choice.
  • Once the instructions have all been given, have everyone open their eyes and compare their shape with the intended shape.

You will likely find that each shape is a little bit different! To hit the point home, refer to these discussion points and questions:

  • Make the point that each paper looks different even though you have given the same instructions to everybody. What does this mean?
  • Ask the group if you think the results would have been better if they kept their eyes open or were allowed to ask questions.
  • Communicating clearly is not easy, we all interpret the information we get differently that’s why it’s very important to ask questions and confirm understanding to ensure the communicated message is not distorted.

4. Guess the Emotion

Another useful exercise from the Training Course Material website is called “ Guess the Emotion .” As you might expect, it involves acting out and guessing emotions. This helps all participants practice empathy and better understand their coworkers or group members’ reactions.

Follow these instructions to play this engaging game:

  • Divide the group into two teams.
  • Place on a table (or put in a box) a packet of cards, each of which has a particular emotion typed on it
  • Have a participant from Group A take the top card from the table and act out (pantomime) the emotion for his/her group. This is to be done in a fixed time limit (such as a minute or two).
  • If the emotion is guessed correctly by Group A, they receive ten points.
  • Now have a participant from Group B act out an emotion; award points as appropriate.
  • Rotate the acting opportunities between the two groups.
  • After 20 to 30 minutes of acting and guessing, call time and announce the winning team based on its point total.

If you have a particularly competitive group, consider giving a prize to the winning team!

5. The Guessing Game

Finally, another fun and engaging game that can boost communication skills: “ The Guessing Game. ” You will probably recognize this game, as it’s similar to what many people know as “ Twenty Questions ,” except there is no hard limit on the number of questions you can ask.

To start, separate the group into two teams of equal (or roughly equal) size. Instruct one player from each team to leave the room for one minute and come up with a common object that can be found in most offices (e.g., a stapler, a printer, a whiteboard).

When this person returns, their teammates will try to guess what the object is by asking only “Yes or No” questions (i.e., questions that can only be answered with “yes” or “no”). The team can ask as many questions as they need to figure it out, but remind them that they’re in competition with the other team. If there’s time, you can have multiple rounds for added competition between the teams.

Take the last 10 minutes or so to discuss and debrief. Use the following points and questions to guide it:

  • Tell the group that obviously it took a long time and effort for us to find out the object in each round, but what if we didn’t have time and only had one question to ask to find out the object, what would that question be?
  • The question would be “What is the object?” which is an open-ended question.
  • Open-ended questions are an excellent way to save time and energy and help you get to the information you need fast, however, closed questions can also be very useful in some instances to confirm your understanding or to help you control the conversation with an overly talkative person/customer.

5 Listening Activities for Adults

If you’re intent on improving listening skills, in particular, you have lots of options; give these 5 activities a try.

1. Telephone Exercise

This classic exercise from Becky Norman (2018) at Sift’s Training Zone illustrates why listening is such an important skill, and why we shouldn’t ignore any opportunities to improve it.

Split your group into two even lines. At opposite ends of each line, whisper a phrase or short sentence to the person on the end and tell them to pass it on using only whispers, one person at a time. They can only repeat the phrase or sentence once.

While participants are busy passing the message along to the next person in line, play music or engage them in conversation to create some white noise. This will make it a bit more difficult but it will mimic real-life conditions, where distractions abound.

When the messages have made it to the end of each line, have the last person to receive the message in each line report out on what they heard. Next, have the first person to receive the message in each line report the original message and compare it to the final message received.

2. Stop Listening Exercise

This exercise , also from Becky Norman’s piece (2018), will show participants the emotional consequences of not listening and—hopefully—encourage them to practice better listening skills.

Split your group into two smaller groups of equal size and take one group outside the room. Tell them that they are instructed to stop listening to their partner after about 30 seconds, and to be open in showing their disinterest. Tell the other group to think of something that they are passionate about and be prepared to tell their soon-to-be partner a meaningful or personally relevant story about this topic.

Bring the other group back in, put all the participants into pairs, and tell them to get started. Observe the behavior from the listeners and the reactions from the speakers until you’re sure each speaker has picked up on what’s happening. Stop the conversations at this point and explain the instructions that were given to each group.

Facilitate a group discussion on the importance of listening, how to use active listening, and what indicates that someone is truly listening.

3. Listener and Talker Activity

The “Listener and Talker” activity is another good activity for showing the importance of active listening and giving participants a chance to practice their skills.

Divide your group into pairs, with one partner assigned to the talker role and the other assigned to the listener role. The talker’s job is to describe what he or she wants from a vacation without specifying a destination. The listener’s job is to listen attentively to what is being said (and what is not being said) and to demonstrate their listening through their behavior.

After a few minutes of active listening, the listener should summarize the three or main criteria the talker is considering when it comes to enjoying their vacation. Finally, the listener should try to sell the talker on a destination for their vacation. After a quick debrief on how well the listener listened, the two should switch roles and try the exercise again.

This exercise gives each participant a chance to practice talking about their wants and needs, as well as an opportunity to engage in active listening and use the knowledge they gained to understand and relate to the speaker.

4. Memory Test Activity

This great activity from TrainingCourseMaterial.com is called the “Memory Test” activity.

  • Tell participants that you are going to read them a list of words to test their memory.
  • Instruct them to listen carefully, as they cannot write down any of the words. Tell them you will test them later to see how many of the words they can remember.
  • When you finish reading the list of words, distract your participants by talking about something else for at least one full minute.
  • Once you have finished talking, have each participant write down as many words as they can remember from the list.

You (and your participants) will find that it’s pretty difficult to remember a list of somewhat-random words, especially when there is a break in time and another discussion in between hearing them and recalling them! Relate this to real-life listening by emphasizing the importance of paying attention to people when they are speaking to you, especially if it’s an important conversation.

5. Just Listen Activity

This activity comes from the folks at MindTools.com and offers participants a chance to communicate their feelings and provide a recap or rephrasing of another person’s feelings on a subject.

To get started, you will need an even number of people to pair off (or prepare to partner with one yourself) and eight index cards per pair. These index cards should have one topic written on each card; try to make sure the topics are interesting but not too controversial, as you don’t want listeners to dislike the speakers if they disagree with their viewpoint (e.g., you should probably avoid politics and religion).

Use these instructions to conduct the activity:

  • Have the team members sit down in their pairs.
  • Give each pair eight of the index cards.
  • Instruct one partner to choose a random card and then speak for three minutes on how he or she feels about the topic.
  • Instruct the other partner to stay quiet while the first partner talks, just listening instead of speaking.
  • After the three minutes is up, the listener has one minute to recap what the speaker said (not agree, disagree, or debate, just recap).
  • Have each pair switch roles and repeat the exercise so both partners get a chance to speak and to listen.

After each participant has played both roles, end the activity and guide a discussion with the following questions:

  • How did speakers feel about their partners’ ability to listen with an open mind? Did their partners’ body language communicate how they felt about what was being said?
  • How did listeners feel about not being able to speak about their own views on the topic? How well were they able to keep an open mind? How well did they listen?
  • How well did the listening partners summarize the speakers’ opinions? Did they get better as the exercise progressed?
  • How can they use the lessons from this exercise at work?

You will find this activity at this link , exercise #4.

6 Nonverbal Communication Activities for Adults

Nonverbal communication activities for adults

Nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication, if not more so!

Use these 6 activities to practice reading and “speaking” effective nonverbal messages.

1. Power of Body Language

This activity from TrainingCourseMaterial.com will help your participants work on their body language skills.

  • Tell the participants that you are going to give them a series of instructions and you want them to follow them as fast as they can.
  • Put your hand to your nose.
  • Clap your hands.
  • Touch your shoulder.
  • Stamp your foot.
  • Cross your arms.
  • Put your hand to your mouth (but while saying this one, put your hand to your nose).
  • Observe how many participants copied what you did instead of what you said.

Share this observation with your group and lead a discussion on how body language can influence our understanding and our reactions. It can reinforce what we hear or it can interfere with the verbal communication we receive. The more aware we are of this possibility, the better communicators we become. It’s vital to keep your own body language in mind, just as it’s vital to notice and understand others’ body language.

2. Clap and Follow

The “Clap and Follow” activity is a great way to practice using your body in conjunction with verbal communication.

It works like this:

  • Tell your group that this is a game that requires their full concentration.
  • When they hear one clap from the leader (you), tell them this means they should stand up.
  • When they hear two claps from the leader, they should hop once in place.
  • When they hear three claps, they should rub their belly.
  • When they hear four claps, they should do a 360-degree turn on the spot.
  • When they hear five claps, they should pat their head.
  • Begin the activity! Start with one clap, then two claps, and so on until you have given the group each instruction once.
  • Now, mix it up! Switch between the five different instructions and begin to pick up the pace. This is when the eliminations begin.
  • Each time a participant engages in the wrong activity, eliminate them from the game. Continue until there is one clear winner.

If you have a competitive group, you may want to bring a prize to ensure active engagement with the exercise. It will give participants a chance to practice nonverbal communication in a fun context.

3. Wordless Acting

This activity from Grace Fleming (2018) at ThoughtCo will show your participants how much we “speak” with our body language and facial expressions.

Here are the instructions:

  • Separate your group into pairs.
  • Assign one participant in each pair to be Partner A and the other to be Partner B.
  • Give each participant a copy of the script (copied below).
  • Instruct Participant A to read his or her lines out loud, but instruct Participant B to communicate his or her lines in a nonverbal way.
  • Provide Participant B with a secret emotional distraction written on a piece of paper (e.g., Participant B is in a rush, is really bored, or is feeling guilty).
  • Have each pair work through the script.
  • After each pair has finished working through the script, have the “A” participants guess what emotion their partner was feeling.

This is the script you will give each participant:

A: Have you seen my book? I can’t remember where I put it. B: Which one? A: The murder mystery. The one you borrowed. B: Is this it? A: No. It’s the one you borrowed. B: I did not! A: Maybe it’s under the chair. Can you look? B: Okay—just give me a minute. A: How long are you going to be? B: Geez, why so impatient? I hate when you get bossy. A: Forget it. I’ll find it myself. B: Wait—I found it!

After the activity, guide a discussion on how much information we can pick up from nonverbal communication and how important it is to regulate our bodies and our facial expressions when communicating, even if we’re also using verbal communication.

4. We Have to Move Now!

Another great exercise from Grace Fleming (2018) is called “We Have to Move Now!” and it will help your participants learn how to express and detect several different emotions.

These are the instructions for this activity:

  • Cut several strips of paper.
  • On each strip of paper, write down a mood, feeling, or disposition, like guilty, happy, suspicious, paranoid, insulted, or insecure.
  • Fold the strips of paper so you can’t see what is written on it and place them in a bowl or jar. These are your prompts.
  • Have each participant take a prompt from the bowl or jar and read the exact same sentence to the class, but with the emotion the prompt specifies.
  • The sentence everybody will read is: “We all need to gather our possessions and move to another building as soon as possible.”
  • Have the participants guess the emotion of each reader by writing down what they think the speaker is feeling (or what they are supposed to be feeling).

After each participant has had a chance to read the sentence based on one of the prompts, run through the emotions displayed and see how many each participant guessed correctly. Finally, lead a debriefing discussion on how things like tone and body language can impact the way a message is received.

5. Stack the Deck

All you’ll need for this exercise is a deck of playing cards, a blindfold for each participant, and some space to move around.

Here’s how “Stack the Deck” works:

  • Shuffle the deck of cards and hand one out to each participant.
  • Instruct the participants to keep their cards a secret; no one should see the suit or color of another participant’s card.
  • Tell the participants that they will not be allowed to talk at all during this exercise.
  • Instruct your participants to assemble into four groups according to their suit (hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades), but using only nonverbal communication.
  • If you have the time and your participants have the inclination, try blindfolding each participant and giving the same instructions—it makes it much more difficult and more time-consuming!
  • Once participants have all gathered into one of the four groups, have them line up according to their rank (Ace is the lowest, King is the highest); again, they cannot speak or show their cards to anyone during this part of the exercise.
  • The group that lines up in the right order first wins!

As always, you can offer a prize to the winning team to motivate your participants.

This exercise will show how difficult it is to communicate without words, but it will also show your participants that it is not only possible, it gets easier as they start to pick up on one another’s nonverbal cues.

You can find this exercise at this link (Activity #3).

6. Silent Movie

Finally, facilitate this activity to really drive home the importance of effective nonverbal communication.

Divide your participants into two groups. For the first half of the activity, one group will be screenwriters and the other group will be actors. In the second half, the two groups will switch roles.

Instruct the screenwriters to write a silent movie, but to keep these things in mind:

  • Silent movies tell a story without words. It’s important to start the scene with the actor doing an obvious task, like cleaning the house or rowing a boat.
  • The scene must be interrupted when a second actor (or several actors) enter the scene, and their arrival should have a big impact. The character(s) could be anyone (or anything), including burglars, salesmen, children, or even animals.
  • A physical commotion must occur.
  • The problem that is caused by the commotion must be resolved by the end of the scene.

Give the screenwriters time to write out their script, then have the actors perform the script. Once the scene is finished, have the groups switch roles.

The communication game – Asgar Hussain

2 Communication Group Activities

Other great activities for group communication include the “Square Talk” and “Follow All Instructions” activities.

1. Square Talk Activity

For this activity , you will need one blindfold for each participant, one long piece of rope for each team (teams should be composed of around 5 participants each), and 25 minutes.

Follow these steps to give this activity a try:

  • Divide your group of participants into groups of about 5 each.
  • Clear the room so you have as much space as possible.
  • Blindfold each participant and tell them their objective: to make a square from a rope (i.e., stand in the shape of a square with their team).
  • Disorientate each participant by moving them a bit, spinning them around, etc.
  • All team members are blindfolded and must remain so for the duration of the activity.
  • The rope you are holding is approximately ___ feet in length.
  • The role you are holding is knotted together to form a circle; it must not be undone.
  • You must not let go of the rope.
  • You will be told when you have 5 minutes remaining.
  • Allow the teams to work on the activity and inform them when they have 5 minutes left.

Once the teams have given this activity their best shot, use these 5 discussion questions to review the importance of good group communication:

  • Do you feel as a group you communicated effectively?
  • During the Activity, what communication skills did you use effectively?
  • During the activity, what communication skills could you have used to improve performance?
  • How important is communication in the workplace? Why?
  • What key points have you learned about communication from this activity, that you wish to apply in the workplace?

2. Follow All Instructions Activity

This activity from TrainingCourseMaterial.com is a great one for young people, but it can be used with participants of all ages. All you’ll need is a set of instructions for each participant.

  • Write all of your teams initials at the top right-hand corner of this sheet.
  • Write your first name on your sheet of paper.
  • Write the total of 3 + 16 + 32 + 64 here: __________________
  • Underline instruction 1 above.
  • Check the time by your watch with that of one of your neighbor’s.
  • Write down the difference in time between the two watches at the foot of this page.
  • Draw three circles in the left-hand margin.
  • Put a tick in each of the circles mentioned in 6.
  • Sign your signature at the foot of the page.
  • On the back of the page, divide 50 by 12.5.
  • When you get to this point in the test, stand up, then sit down and continue with the next item.
  • If you have carefully followed all these instructions, call out ‘I have’.
  • On the reverse of this page, draw quickly what you think an upright bicycle looks like from overhead.
  • Check your answer to Item 9, multiply it by 5 and write the result in the left-hand margin opposite this item.
  • Write the 5th, 10th, 9th and 20th letters of the alphabet here: ___________________
  • Punch three holes with your pen here: o o o
  • If you think you are the first person to get this far, call out ‘I’m in the lead’.
  • Underline all the even digits on the left-hand side of the page.
  • Draw triangles around the holes you punched in Item 15.
  • Now you’ve finished reading all the instructions, obey only 1, 2, 20 & 21.
  • Stand up and say, “We’re the greatest team in the World!”

As you can see, the instructions include lots of silly directives (e.g., “When you get to this point in the test, stand up, then sit down and continue with the next item.”) that will identify who is following the directions and who is not—but the person that stands is actually the one not following directions!

The first and only verbal instruction you will give participants is to read all the written instructions first before engaging in any of the directives. The first person to complete the list will be declared the winner of the activity. You can offer a prize to the winner if you think the group would be motivated by it.

This exercise is a fun way to see who is paying attention and who is skipping the most vital instruction—to read everything before acting.

Communication in Relationships

7 Communication Games for Couples

Defeating Divorce shares the following three games aimed at improving communication in a romantic relationship.

This game is goal-directed, meaning the couple is working towards a common goal, and that goal requires effective communication.

  • The couple sits back to back with an identical set of building blocks in front of each of them.
  • One partner uses their blocks to create some sort of building or structure.
  • The builder partner then relays a series of instructions to the other partner to help him or her build the exact same structure.
  • The listener partner must try to build the same structure based on the speaker partner’s instructions.

This game takes some serious teamwork and good communication, and it can be repeated as needed to help a couple build their skills.

2. Minefield

“Minefield” is a physical game that will not only get both partners up and moving, but it will also require a great deal of trust and communication to complete the challenge.

You will need a blindfold for one partner, some space to navigate, and some objects with which you can create a minefield or obstacle course. Once the course is ready to go, blindfold one partner and bring them into the room.

The challenge here is for the non-blindfolded partner to guide the blindfolded partner through the obstacle course using only verbal communication. The couple will only succeed if the blindfolded partner has trust in their partner and the non-blindfolded partner is an effective verbal communicator.

Feelings of frustration are common in this game, but it can be a great way to highlight issues in communication or, alternately, highlight the couple’s communication strengths.

3. Give Me a Hand

This game is another one that can be frustrating for the couple but ultimately provides a great opportunity to build effective communication skills and unite the two in a common goal.

In this game, the couple will be given a seemingly easy task to complete, such as buttoning a shirt or tying a shoe, but with a catch—each partner will have one arm tied behind their back. The couple will find that the lack of one arm makes the task much more difficult than they might expect!

To complete the task, the couple will need to communicate effectively and coordinate their movements. It will be tough, but immensely satisfying to successfully complete this challenge!

4. Twenty Questions Times Two

If you remember the game “Twenty Questions”, you’ll recognize this game. It can be used to help couples communicate, share important details, and strengthen their connection.

Here’s how:

  • The couple should schedule some time alone, without distractions.
  • Before playing the game, each partner should come up with a list of 20 detailed personal questions to ask the other partner. The couple should feel free to get creative here!
  • Both partners take turns asking each other one question at a time.
  • When they’ve finished asking each other their questions, they should reverse them! Instead of asking questions like, “What is your favorite color?” each partner will ask, “What is my favorite color?”

This fun twist on a familiar game will result in greater knowledge and understanding of your spouse and, hopefully, better communication skills.

5. Eye-to-Eye

This game is a good way for couples to work on communicating and improving their connection, and all you need is your eyes!

Here’s how to do it:

  • The couple sits facing each other, close enough to hold hands.
  • Each partner looks directly into the other partner’s eyes.
  • Each partner should take a minute to notice the feelings they are experiencing at this point.
  • One partner begins talking about something simple and easy to discuss, like what happened that day, what they had for lunch, or something they are grateful for.
  • The other partner reciprocates with a similar conversation, all while holding eye contact.
  • The couple continues sharing things one at a time until each partner has shared at least three or four times.
  • The couple discusses what the experience was like.

Many people find this game uncomfortable at first, but with practice, it can greatly enhance your sense of intimacy with your partner.

6. The Top Three

Similar to the “three good things” exercise, this game’s aim is to boost a couple’s gratitude for one another and give them both a chance to practice expressing it. Couples should schedule a time for this game every day, but the good news is that it doesn’t take long—just a few minutes will do.

To play “The Top Three”, couples should follow these instructions:

  • At the end of each day, take some time to reflect on your day. Think about what your partner has done for you today.
  • Take turns sharing those three things with your partner and tell them what each thing meant to you.
  • Don’t forget to say “thank you” or otherwise verbally express your gratitude to your partner!

This game gets couples to practice vocalizing their appreciation and expressing gratitude, two things that are not necessarily in everyone’s daily communications but can have a big impact on a relationship.

7. Make a Playdate

Playdates are not just for kids or puppies—they are a great idea for couples as well! A play date is not your average, regularly scheduled programming sort of date, but something that is different, spontaneous, unique, and/or just plain fun!

Here are the three ground rules for the playdate:

  • It has to be something for just the couple to do and they cannot include the kids or discuss mundane things like chores or bills.
  • It has to be something that requires both partners to be present in the moment; think sailing, rock climbing, or dance lessons rather than seeing a movie or going out to dinner.
  • The couple should take turns picking the activity and try to surprise their partner with something new.

Planning this date will not only make it easier to feel connected and closer to one another, but it also provides couples with an opportunity to communicate their love for one another through their actions. Depending on the date activity, it can also provide some much-needed time for the couple to talk.

5 Exercises and Activities for Married Couples

These exercises , also from Defeating Divorce, are not just for married couples, but for anyone in a committed relationship.

1. Fireside Chats

This communication exercise is based on President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “fireside chats,” in which he addressed the American people with the intention of making it feel as if he was speaking directly into their living room, carrying on a calm and rational discussion of important issues.

The intention of this exercise for couples is similar: to make the couple feel more connected, more aware of what is going on in each other’s lives, and to maintain a pulse on how the relationship is going.

The two partners should schedule a 15 to 30-minute “fireside chat” each week to practice their ability to speak calmly, respectfully, and effectively about important and relevant issues. They should minimize the chances of distraction (turn off the TV, put their phones on silent, etc.) and focus only on one another for these chats.

What the couple discusses is up to them, but if there are salient relationship issues, this is a good time to talk about them. If the issues are very serious, it may be a good idea to start out this exercise talking about less intense, less emotional topics before moving on to the problem areas.

2. High-Low Activity

The high-low activity also aims to help couples feel more connected and in touch with one another, which requires measured and thoughtful communication. Engaging in this exercise daily will give the couple a chance to practice their communication skills on a regular basis, as well as their active listening skills.

Here’s how the exercise works:

  • Wait until the end of the day (e.g., at the end of dinner, around bedtime) to put it into practice.
  • The couple will then “check-in” with each other about the other’s day.
  • Each partner will ask the other to share their “high” of the day or the best part of their day.
  • Next, each partner will ask the other to share their “low” of the day or the worst or most disappointing part of their day.
  • As one partner is sharing, the other should practice active listening techniques, conveying their empathy and understanding to their partner.

This simple activity will result in a more intimate and understanding relationship between the two partners, all for just a few minutes a day.

3. Listening Without Words

If a couple wants to practice both their verbal and nonverbal communication, this is a great way to do it. The “Listening Without Words” activity allows each partner to apply both verbal and nonverbal communication skills, as it involves switching between only speaking and only listening.

This is how to practice it:

  • The couple will schedule some time for themselves without kids, work, or other responsibilities interrupting them.
  • They set a timer for somewhere between 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Until the timer goes off, one partner acts as the speaker and the other acts as the listener. The speaker will talk about any subject they’d like to talk about.
  • While the speaker talks, the listener will attempt to show the speaker compassion, empathy, and understanding through nonverbal communication only (e.g., smiling, nodding, taking their partner’s hand).
  • When the timer goes off, the partners will have a chance to process what they experienced and discuss any thoughts or feelings that came up.
  • Finally, the partners switch roles and repeat the exercise.

This exercise is a great way to boost your bond and your skills at the same time.

4. Eye See You

Similar to a previous exercise (“Eye-to-Eye”), this exercise relies heavily on eye contact; however, unlike the previous exercise, this one does not allow talking until the end.

Here’s how to give it a try:

  • The couple should be in a quiet and relaxing environment, with as few distractions as possible.
  • They sit in two chairs facing one another, near to one another but not touching.
  • The couple sets a timer for five minutes and settles in their respective seats, making and holding eye contact with one another. They will hold eye contact but refrain from speaking or touching until the timer goes off.
  • Both partners should be encouraged to note any thoughts, feelings, or sensations that come bubbling up during these five minutes.
  • Once the timer goes off, the two should try to guess what the other person was thinking and feeling during the five minutes. Once they have a chance to guess, they should discuss these things that bubbled to the surface as they maintained eye contact.

It might surprise some people to hear what their partner was thinking and feeling during the activity, but a strong relationship depends on understanding and empathizing with one another, making communication like this a necessity.

5. Send Me a Postcard

Although we’ve mostly focused on verbal communication and communications via body language, facial expressions, and touch, there is another form that we haven’t mentioned: written communication. This activity guides the couple in developing more effective written communication skills.

Both partners should have two blank postcards and something to write with for this exercise. On one postcard, each partner will write down a message to the other partner communicating a frustration, a feeling, or a desire. They should take a few minutes to create a thoughtful message to their partner.

Once they have their postcard ready to “mail” each partner will deliver their message to their partner without any verbal communication. They will both read their partner’s message and take a few moments to process. When they feel ready, they will use their remaining blank postcard to craft a response to their partner’s message.

When both partners have finished writing their response, they will deliver those messages to one another as well. After they have both read the response postcards, the couple can debrief and discuss their messages to one another.

5 Communication Exercises for Couples Therapy

If you’re hungry for more couples’ communication exercises, maybe these five exercises will hit the spot!

1. Active Listening

Active listening is not the easiest skill to master, but it is an important one to develop. This exercise from marriage counseling expert Racheal Tasker will give you a chance to practice it with the person closest to you.

The next time you and your partner are talking about something important or sensitive, put these tips and techniques into practice:

  • The speaker should remain focused on a single thought or idea.
  • The listener should listen attentively to the speaker, concentrating on understanding their perspective and attempting to gain new insights into their thoughts and feelings.
  • The speaker and listener should switch roles after a while to allow each to practice both types of communication.
  • Both partners should practice speaking and listening with patience and love, allowing their feelings for their partner to guide them toward true understanding rather than just reacting (Tasker, n.d.).

2. Sharing Emotions Freely

It can be tough to be truly open with our emotions, but it’s vital for effective communication and a healthy relationship. Try this exercise to work on this skill.

The couple should agree to try this exercise together and follow these instructions:

  • Decide on a specific time and place to put this exercise into practice.
  • Let your partner know what you need to feel safe sharing your feelings, and listen to what your partner needs to feel safe sharing his or her feelings.
  • Be sure to also ask your partner what would make him or her feel more comfortable as you share your feelings, as it can be just as difficult to hear as it is to share.
  • Share with your partner! If it helps, use a timer to limit how much sharing can occur and to ensure equal time to share feelings.
  • Listen to what your partner tells you and discuss what, if any, concrete steps you can take based on the information you’ve both shared. Commit to using the information you gained to improve your communication skills and your relationship in general (Tasker, n.d.).

3. Use Positive Language

Another great exercise from Racheal Tasker is focused on using positive language with one another. It can be surprisingly easy to slide into a pattern of mostly neutral or even negative language with your partner, but you can use this exercise to counter that tendency.

Here’s what to do:

  • Commit to using positive language when you communicate with your partner.
  • Ask your partner to make the same commitment to positive language.
  • Avoid being overly critical or negative when communicating with your partner.
  • Use a positive and encouraging tone when you speak to your partner.
  • Keep an eye on the words you use; try to incorporate words like “love”, “feel”, “appreciate”, and ditch words like “fault”, “never”, and “hate” (e.g., “I hate it when you do X!”).

As partners continue to practice this exercise on a regular basis, they will find that their communication style grows more positive with less effort, and their relationship will flourish (Tasker, n.d.).

4. Take a Trip Together

There’s nothing like traveling with someone to work on your communication skills! Making a trip successful requires tons of communication, coordination, and clear expectations, but it can also open you up to fun new experiences and relaxation. To practice communicating with your partner, try planning and taking a trip together.

Plan your trip with a focus on doing things you both like, going to a place you’d both like to visit, and trying new food, activities, and other experiences together. Getting out of your routine and into a novel environment can do wonders for your communication—not to mention your overall mood.

Use some of the other tips and techniques mentioned in this article when you are planning your trip and while you are enjoying your trip; you’re sure to see some improvements to your communication with your partner (Tasker, n.d.).

You can find this exercise at this link , second exercise from the bottom.

5. I Feel (Blank)

The final exercise from Tasker is called “I Feel _____” and it’s a simple one.

We often have trouble sharing our feelings, even (or especially) with those we are closest to. A great way to work on communicating your feelings more often—and more effectively—is to practice saying “I feel (blank).”

The next time you are experiencing strong emotions or discussing a sensitive or difficult subject with your partner, try beginning your sentences with “I feel…” and continue from there. So, if you’re upset with your partner for forgetting about an important appointment or canceling plans at the last minute, instead of saying “You don’t respect my time,” try “I feel like you don’t respect my time.”

Framing your discussion in this manner—as a statement of your feelings rather than a personal attack or blaming session—is not only conducive to greater understanding, it also shows your partner that you care about having a constructive conversation and that your intentions are not to hurt them but to help them see from your perspective.

Communication in the family

According to researchers Peterson and Green (2009), family communication is so important because:

“…it enables members to express their needs, wants, and concerns to each other. Open and honest communication creates an atmosphere that allows family members to express their differences as well as love and admiration for one another.”

The benefits of high-quality communication make spending time on improving the way family members relate to one another a task that is well worth the time spent on it. If you’re interested in working on your communication skills as a family, give the following activities and exercises a try.

These 14 activities are great tools to use in family therapy, but you can also try them at home.

4 Group Exercises for the Family

These four group exercises are a great introduction to communication skill-building as a family. They’re fun, engaging, and good for all ages!

1. What If?

The best time to work on communication skills is when families take the time to just sit and relax together. This simple game is a great way to do that, allowing families to improve how they communicate with one another while laughing together and putting their imagination to good use.

You will need strips of paper, a pencil or pen for each family member, and two bowls.

  • Get two slips of paper and something to write with for each family member.
  • On the first slip, have each family member write a question off the top of his or her head; it can be silly, serious, or anywhere in between. Put all the questions in one of the bowls and give them a good mix.
  • On the second slip of paper, have each family member write an answer to the question they came up with. Place these slips in the second bowl and mix them up.
  • Pass each bowl around the room and have each family member take one question slip and one answer slip.
  • Have each family member read the question and the answer that they have in their hand. The questions and answers might fit well together or they may result in absurd combinations!
  • Continue the game with two more slips of blank paper. It may take a few rounds for everyone to get the hang of the game, but family members will get more comfortable with the game and enjoy it more as they go along.

Use the following questions to guide your discussion as a family:

  • Did the activity spark your imagination?
  • Why did the questions and answers get funnier after several rounds?

2. Expressing Individuality

Although families usually share values, norms, and beliefs, that doesn’t mean all family members will see things the same way. It can be hard for some family members to communicate their thoughts and feelings when they feel like the odd one out or a “black sheep” in the family.

To make sure your family is a safe space for everyone to share their thoughts and feelings, give the “Expressing Individuality” activity a try. It will help each family member understand that they are a valuable part of the family and that they are always free to share their unique perspective.

You’ll need about an hour for this activity, 15 minutes to make the dough and 45 minutes for the activity itself. Use one of the recipes below to make your own play dough as a family.

If you want to make reusable play dough, mix together:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup water (add food coloring to water if you want colored clay)
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 tablespoon oil

After mixing these ingredients together, put over low heat and stir slowly. When the dough has formed into a small ball, remove it from the heat and knead while still warm. Store the clay in a sealed container.

If you plan on baking your designs at the end of this activity to preserve them, mix together:

  • ½ cup water
  • Food coloring (if desired—you can also paint the figures after you bake them)

Follow these instructions to encourage each family member to express their individuality:

  • If you love Boy Scouts, you may want to mold the image of a person sitting on a log by a campfire.
  • If you received an award as the “Employee of the Month,” you may want to mold the image of something that represents hard work, or dependability.
  • If friendliness is a personal characteristic that you value, you may want to mold a face with a pleasant smile, or if you have a great love for animals, you may want to mold several of your favorite animals.
  • After creating your unique design, you can preserve it by placing it on a cookie sheet and baking it in the oven on warm for several hours (until hard). This will harden the clay hard so that it maintains its shape. If you did not use food coloring to color the clay, or if you like to paint, you could paint the hardened figure. Once everyone has completed a mold, display these molds in the home.

To continue working on communicating your individuality as a family, ask these questions and discuss your answers together:

  • Why did you choose to make what you did?
  • What does it mean to you?

If the idea of creating a figure out of play dough doesn’t appeal to you, you can also try these two alternatives:

  • You could draw pictures using plain white paper and colored pencils/crayons. Drawing may allow you to express more ideas than if you use clay. Make sure that you do not place an emphasis on artistic abilities. It is okay to draw simple stick figures that represent people or other objects.
  • You could cut pictures out of old magazines and paste them on a poster board. After each person has completed a mold, picture, or collage, allow each family member to explain how their collage, picture or mold represents them.

3. Hints of Anger

Anger is a normal human emotion, and we will all get angry at some point. Instead of trying to avoid or deny anger, it’s vital that families learn how to manage their anger and communicate it to others in a healthy way. This activity will help family members identify their anger cues (the signs that indicate they are getting angry) and help them regulate their emotions to ensure they don’t say or do something they will regret.

Here’s how to do this activity as a family:

  • Tell family members to think about a time when they were angry or upset, and consider how they felt.
  • Were your hands relaxed or clenched in a fist?
  • Was your heart rate normal or beating fast?
  • Were your muscles relaxed or tight with tension?
  • What kind of thoughts was going through your head?
  • As a family, discuss any discrepancies between what you think about your anger cues and what other family members think.
  • How did your body feel during this period of time?
  • In which scenario did you feel more comfortable, angry, or happy?
  • Discuss the importance of knowing when you are getting upset and might need to take a break and think.

After the activity, discuss these questions as a family:

  • Why is it important to recognize the signs that you are angry?
  • Why is it important to control your anger?
  • What do you feel like specifically, when you are upset?
  • What are the things you are going to do to manage your anger so it does not hurt your family relationships?
  • Can recognizing anger cues help in managing your anger?

4. Family Meetings

Family meetings are a good idea for a lot of reasons, but yet another benefit of these get-togethers is the potential for building and developing better communication skills as a family. Regular family meetings can help family members learn how to:

  • Make joint decisions
  • Plan together
  • Accept responsibility
  • Show concern for others
  • Spend some quality time together

Pick one night of the week when your family can consistently get together for a weekly family meeting that lasts 30 to 60 minutes, and make sure it’s scheduled on everyone’s calendar.

Here’s how to conduct good family meetings:

  • Set a regular time. Setting a regular time and place gives the family council a position of importance and results in it becoming a permanent part of family operations. If everyone knows that the family is meeting together regularly, they find that most problems can wait a few days to be discussed. For this reason, some families like weekly meetings.
  • Use an agenda. Post a paper during the week where family members can list concerns they want brought up (possibly, the message center). Discuss things in the order listed. This also reduces problems between meetings when parents can say, “List it on the agenda and we’ll discuss it at the meeting.”
  • Attendance is voluntary . All members of the family are invited to attend — but attendance is voluntary. However, if a member is not present, he/she is still expected to abide by any decisions made by the family council.
  • Each person has an equal voice . Everyone should be encouraged to contribute ideas and suggestions. All members must be treated the same, regardless of age. Using the steps of negotiation to (1) introduce the problem, (2) discuss solutions, and (3) vote on a solution. This gives everyone a chance to be involved. Councils do not always run smoothly. Teenagers are often suspicious that the new program is just another way for parents to gain compliance with their demands. In the first council meetings, rebelliousness may be exhibited to deliberately test whether parents are sincere about including them in family decision-making.
  • Use rules of order . If participation is to be equal, then some type of order must be maintained. If a person has the right to express himself, then he also has the right to be heard — which implies that others have the obligation to listen. Rules of order help this situation.
  • Rotate chairmanship . If the same person conducts all meetings, that person eventually begins to assume an air of superiority. To help maintain a feeling of equality, family members should take turns conducting the councils. This allows each person to experience the privileges and the responsibilities of this position.
  • Accentuate solutions . Family council should not be “just a gripe session” — a time to get together and complain. In order to prevent this, you may decide that the person presenting a problem must also suggest one possible solution. Family members could then discuss alternate solutions or modify the one presented. In practice, some solutions do not work as well as anticipated. As family members begin to live with a decision, they may decide it needs to be changed. This change, however, must wait until the next regular meeting. Children soon recognize a need for better solutions and they learn by experience to make wiser choices. When family council is held regularly, each member learns to project ahead and anticipate problems. When this occurs, the emphasis at council meetings shifts from problem-solving to problem prevention and planning. Family council can also be a time to plan fun things like vacations or family outings. Families can talk about different places to visit and how they want to spend the time available.
  • Decide on the authority level . The family council can be the final authority for the family, or a family can have a modified version of decision making. For it to be effective, however, most decisions made by the council need to be binding. If parents always overrule the council, children will soon lose interest.
  • Keep a record . There sometimes develops a difference of opinions as to who conducted the last meeting, what matters were discussed, and what plans were agreed upon. For this reason, a secretary to record minutes is most helpful. The secretary can rotate with each meeting.

After your first family meeting, discuss these questions as a family:

  • How did your first family meeting go?
  • What about the meeting was good? What was bad?
  • What do you want to incorporate in future meetings?

4 Active Listening Exercises

Active listening is a vital part of communication and can greatly improve relationships between family members. These four active listening exercises are a great way to boost your skills.

1. Precision Communication

Another activity that can help your family build and continue to develop good communication skills is called “Precision Communication.” It’s focused on active listening, which is a vital part of communication and conducive to better understanding and stronger, healthier relationships.

Here’s how to put this activity into practice:

  • Set up a maze in your home using furniture, such as kitchen chairs or other pieces of furniture that can act as a barrier.
  • Tie string or yarn between the furniture to create a clear path through the maze.
  • Select a family member that will try to walk through the maze blindfolded. This person must not see the maze prior to being blindfolded.
  • Have someone give voice instructions so the family member can be directed through the maze.

This activity’s aim is to see if the family member giving instructions can help the blindfolded family member get through the maze without bumping into the furniture, walls, or string. This means that not only must the speaking family member communicate clear and detailed instructions, but the blindfolded family member must also use their active listening skills to receive the instructions and implement them effectively.

Use these discussion questions to debrief and maximize this learning opportunity:

  • Why was clear detailed communication necessary for this exercise?
  • How important was it to listen carefully to the one giving instructions? Why?
  • What were some of the difficulties associated with helping a family member complete this exercise?
  • Using some of the ideas from this exercise, how can you, as a family, improve your communication skills?

If you want more from this activity, try this follow-up:

Draw a simple picture or pattern on a piece of paper. Without letting family members see the diagram, tell them what they need to do to make a copy of your picture that matches as closely as possible. After giving detailed instructions, see how accurately the pictures match up.

2. End of the Word—Beginning of the Next

This is a fun game on the Encourage Play website that can keep your kids actively engaged in building their listening skills.

Here’s how to play:

  • One person (probably an adult) starts the game by giving out one word—it can be any word, it just needs to be one that every family member knows how to spell.
  • The next family member must listen to the word the previous person said, then come up with a word that starts with the letter the last word ended with.

This is an easy game to play since you don’t need any materials, just a few minutes and the ability to hear one another! That makes it a great game for car rides, waiting in restaurants, or standing in a long line. To make it more challenging, give it a bit of complexity by limiting the words to a category, like animals or cities.

3. Red Light Green Light

Another exercise from the Encourage Play website is a familiar one. It’s based on the classic “Red Light, Green Light” game in which the leader gives instructions by color: saying “red light” means stop and saying “green light” means go.

To make the game a bit more challenging and really emphasize the importance of active listening, incorporate these three variations to the game:

  • Different colors refer to different types of movement; for example, yellow light could mean skipping, purple light could mean crab walking, and blue light could mean hopping.
  • Pretend to be a different animal for different colors (yellow = lion, green = bunny, purple = frog, etc.).
  • Use words that rhyme with red or green to see if the players catch the difference (e.g., “Bread Light! Teen Light!”).

4. Tell a Group Story

Group stories are a great way to practice active listening with the whole family. It also gives kids a chance to be creative and silly, which helps to keep them engaged in the activity.

  • The first person (probably an adult) starts a story with just one sentence (e.g., “Once upon a time, there was a very curious brown bunny”).
  • The next person adds onto the story with just one sentence as well (e.g., “This bunny lived with her mother and father in a cozy little burrow under a willow tree”).
  • The story continues until everyone has contributed at least a couple of sentences to the story.

This activity boosts active listening skills because it requires careful and attentive listening to what has already been said in order to make a good contribution to the story.

3 Assertive Communication Exercises

One of the best skills to teach your kids is how to be assertive instead of aggressive or passive (or passive-aggressive). Use these three assertive communication activities to help them learn this important skill.

1. Assertive Communication Worksheet

This worksheet is a great way to help older kids understand the difference between types of communication and to learn how to communicate assertively.

The worksheet first provides a good working definition of assertive communication:

“A communication style in which a person stands up for their own needs and wants, while also taking into consideration the needs and wants of others, without behaving passively or aggressively.”

It also outlines the traits of people who are assertive communicators, including:

  • Clearly state needs and wants
  • Eye contact
  • Listens to others without interruption
  • Appropriate speaking volume
  • Steady tone of voice
  • Confident body language

Next, it shares four tips on communicating assertively:

  • Respect yourself—your wants and needs are as important as everyone else’s.
  • Express your thought and feelings calmly rather than using the silent treatment or yelling and threatening.
  • Plan out what you’re going to say before you say it.
  • Say “no” when you need to, say it clearly, and do it without lying.

After some examples of assertive communication, we get to the active part of the worksheet. It’s geared toward adults, but the scenarios can be tweaked to fit kids as well.

There are four situations presented and space to write out your own assertive response to each. These situations are:

  • Your partner says, “ I know you have plans for the weekend, but I really need you to watch the kids. I have a friend coming to town, and we made plans .”
  • Situation: You’ve just received your food at a restaurant, and it was prepared incorrectly. Your sandwich seems to have extra mayo, instead of no mayo.
  • Your friend says, “ Hey, can I borrow some money? I want to buy these shoes, but I left my wallet at home. I’ll pay you back soon, I swear. It won’t be like last time .”
  • Situation: Your neighbor is adding an expansion to their house, and the crew starts working, very loudly, at 5 am. It has woken you up every day for a week.

Working through these scenarios as a family can help your kids see what healthy assertive communication looks like and show them that it’s okay to say “no” sometimes.

2. The Aggressive Alligator

The Aggressive Alligator is a great tool from Kristina Marcelli-Sargent, for teaching assertiveness over-aggressiveness or passiveness. It makes what can be a dry and boring subject more interesting and engaging.

Start by giving simple definitions to the terms “passive,” “aggressive,” and “assertive.” Next, show them a list of animals or a bin of small stuffed animals and allow them to choose an animal that they feel represents each definition. The aggressive animal doesn’t need to be an alligator, it can be anything that makes sense to your children.

After your kids have chosen an animal for each term, describe some social situations and instruct your kids to act them out with their animals. Each animal should act according to the definition it represents (e.g., the aggressive alligator should act aggressively, the passive panda should act passively, and the assertive anteater should act assertively).

Once all scenarios have been acted out, talk to your kids about how the outcomes differed between the three animals. Point out which one(s) resulted in a positive outcome and which one(s) should probably be avoided. In the future, you can refer back to the assertive anteater to remind your kids to be assertive instead of passive or aggressive (Sargent, 2015).

3. Keeping Cool

A great lesson for kids to learn is that assertive communication is about being firm and direct without being angry or upset. This activity will help you teach healthy assertiveness to your kids or students.

Here’s how to go about it:

  • First, ask your kids how people might feel when they are bullied. If they have trouble coming up with answers, talk about how people might feel angry, scared, sad, upset, embarrassed, or confused.
  • Next, ask your kids what kinds of things people want to do when they feel this way. If they can’t think of things people might do when they feel upset, angry, or sad, mention that they might yell, throw something, hit something, hide, cry, or do something else to make another person feel as bad as they feel.
  • Ask your kids if they think these are good or helpful things to do. Explain how everyone has strong, negative feelings like this sometimes, and that it’s okay to feel them. These feelings have a purpose; they tell us that something is wrong or that something needs to be fixed, but they can also encourage us to do the wrong thing unless we learn how to keep a cool head.
  • Close your eyes and take several slow deep breaths
  • Count to ten
  • Relax the muscles in your face and body
  • Talk silently to yourself and repeat a soothing phrase, such as “Keep calm” or “I control my feelings”
  • Get a drink of water
  • Go sit by a person you trust

Discuss these options with the whole group and decide together on what the best techniques are, then practice using them together.

Click here to read about this exercise from the Education Development Center’s Bullying Prevention program.

3 Nonverbal Communication Exercises

Finally, although verbal communication is generally the focus of skill-building exercises and activities, nonverbal communication is also a vital skill to develop.

Use these 3 exercises to help your kids build their nonverbal skills.

1. Understanding Non-Verbal Communication

Things like tone of voice, facial expressions, body posture, and hand gestures are all non-verbal, but they are hugely important in our communication with others. If we say one thing with our words and another with our face or body, we can end up giving mixed messages and confusing others.

To make sure we are saying what we want to say with our words and our face, body, and tone, help your kids learn how to understand and “speak” non-verbal communications.

Here’s s description of this activity:

“As a family, make a list of different non-verbal actions. For example, folding your arms, snorting, frowning, etc… Select a TV program or a segment of a video. Watch about 5 to 7 minutes of the program with the volume off. While watching the program without volume, identify the different non-verbal messages, especially the feelings that are expressed. After 5 to 7 minutes, turn off the TV and discuss what you observed. You could even carry on the discussion as the program continues.”

To get the discussion started, use questions like:

  • What were the non-verbal messages that you observed?
  • How important do you think the non-verbal messages are in helping you to enjoy the movie and understand what was going on in the movie?
  • Did you observe any confusing non-verbal messages?
  • What feelings were expressed through non-verbal communication?
  • What were some of the difficulties of this activity?
  • What can you do to be more aware of non-verbal messages?
  • Did everyone think the non-verbal message meant the same thing?
  • Are non-verbal messages always obvious in real life?

If you want more from this exercise, try this follow-up activity. Seat two family members away from each other and have them carry on a conversation about giving directions to somewhere or explaining how to do something. As they talk, they should focus on trying to understand the other person’s feelings.

After doing this for a few minutes, the two should turn around, face each other, and continue the discussion—they will likely find it much easier!

Use the following questions to guide your discussion after the follow-up:

  • When you had your backs to each other, did a lack of non-verbal communication affect your ability to communicate with the other person? If so, how?
  • What feelings did you experience as you communicated with your back to the other person?
  • When you spoke to the other person face-to-face, did this improve your ability to communicate and understand the other person’s feelings? If so, how?
  • Did face-to-face communication improve your ability to understand the other person’s feelings?
  • How can you increase your awareness of non-verbal messages you do not mean to be sending?
  • How can you be aware of how we may misinterpret someone else’s non-verbal messages?”

2. Charades

Charades is a popular game with kids since it’s fun, easy to play, and can result in some seriously silly situations.

Here’s what you need to do:

  • Animals: Monkey, dog, cat, rabbit, kangaroo, snake
  • Activities: brushing teeth, playing cards, shining a flashlight, fishing, playing frisbee
  • Emotions: scared, sad, bored, angry, happy, wary, proud

Acting out these prompts will give kids an opportunity to practice communicating non-verbally, a skill that they can easily build over time (Simmons, n.d.).

This nonverbal communication activity  is available from Sue Simmons at Equinox Family Consulting.

3. Silent Snack

Finally, another activity from Sue Simmons is called “ Silent Snack ” and it gives young children a chance to have fun while building their nonverbal communication skills.

Follow these instructions to give it a try:

  • Put out a few different snacks in individual bowls.
  • Tell everyone it’s “Silent Snack Time,” meaning there’s no talking allowed!
  • Offer each person a taste of each snack.
  • Each player should take turns sharing their opinion on each snack. They can use indicators like thumbs up and thumbs down or facial expressions to communicate their opinions.

It’s a simple activity, but an effective one! Give it a try at your next snack time.

I hope you leave this piece with a treasure trove of new resources you can use to improve your own life or the lives of your clients.

Communication skills are one of the most important skills a person can have, making it well worth your while to devote some time and energy to develop them.

What are your favorite ways to work on communicating with your spouse? Do you schedule a time to talk about how your relationship is doing or do you just let it flow naturally? What do you think are the best ways to build, enhance, and maintain your communication skills? Let us know in the comments section.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Communication Exercises (PDF) for free .

  • Abass, S. (n.d.). 3 benefits of effective communication in a relationship. Lifehack. Retrieved from https://www.lifehack.org/509189/3-benefits-effective-communication-relationship
  • https://defeatingdivorce.com/communication-exercises-for-couples/
  • Fleming, G. (2018). 4 helpful nonverbal communication activities. ThoughtCo. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/nonverbal-communication-activities-1857230
  • Heitler, S. (2010). What does communication have to do with a good relationship? GoodTherapy. Retrieved from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-does-communication-have-to-do-with-good-relationship
  • Lee, T. R., & Pyfer, T. (n.d.). Helping youth succeed: Strengthening family ties: A workbook of activities designed to strengthen family relationships . Utah State University Extension. Retrieved from https://www.families-first.net/uploads/userfiles/files/FL_Youth_02.pdf
  • Mendler, A. (2013). Teaching your students how to have a conversation. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-your-students-conversation-allen-mendler
  • Norman, B. (2018). Trainers’ tips: Active listening exercises. Training Zone . Retrieved from https://www.trainingzone.co.uk/develop/cpd/trainers-tips-active-listening-exercises
  • Peterson, R., & Green, S. (2009). Helping Youth Succeed: Keys to successful family functioning: Communication . Virginia Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/350/350-092/350-092_pdf.pdf
  • Reichmann, D. (n.d.). 5 communication games guaranteed to bring you closer. Engaged Marriage . Retrieved from https://www.engagedmarriage.com/5-communication-games/
  • Rosenberg, M. B. (1999). Nonviolent communication: A language of compassion. Del Mar.
  • Sargent, K. M. (2015). The aggressive alligator: Fun ways to teach assertiveness to children. Art of Social Work . Retrieved from https://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/the-aggressive-alligator-fun-ways-to-teach-assertiveness-to-children/
  • Simmons, S. (n.d.). Nonverbal games: 10 simple activities . Equinox Family Consulting, Ltd. Retrieved from https://equinoxfamilyconsulting.com/communication/nonverbal-games-10-simple-activities/
  • Stanfield, J. (2017). 8 tips to teach effective communication skills. James Stanfield. Retrieved from https://stanfield.com/blog/2017/11/8-tips-teach-effective-communication-skills/
  • Sott, A. (2018). Teaching communication skills. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-communication-skills
  • Tasker, R. (n.d.). 6 amazing couples therapy exercises for improving communication . GuideDoc . Retrieved from https://guidedoc.com/couples-therapy-exercises-for-improving-communication
  • Victoria Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). Relationships and communications . Better Health Channel. Retrieved from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/relationships-and-communication

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What are the duties of a communications manager?

  • Career Advice , Careers Options
  • August 29, 2021

Sananda Saha

In this article, we will discuss the duties and tasks of a communications manager .

Here are 5 duties and tasks of a communications manager:

Promoting company’s mission, services, or products

Most communications managers are concerned with marketing the organization’s products, services, and mission. They collaborate closely with other team members and executives to improve their company’s ideals and image. They are responsible for spotting press opportunities and developing material for distribution via social media, newsletters, websites, press releases, and other platforms.

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A communications manager can promote the company’s mission, product, and services by using communication tactics. The manager ensures that their material is consistent with the marketing methods employed by their organization. A specialist in this field might serve as the organization’s media liaison spokesman, holding press conferences and briefings.

Conducting market research 

Communications managers conduct research on the target audience’s perceptions and attitudes before developing communication campaigns. They may make contact with audience members or conduct surveys to gather feedback from the target group. They also keep an eye on social media sites, forums, SEO data, social shares, and product review websites to gauge how people feel about their business and its competitors . Market segmentation enables these experts to communicate with smaller groups of customers/audiences in order to better understand their wants and needs.

Directing publications

Communications managers’ responsibilities include drafting and writing marketing communications content. They produce content for company brochures, bulletins, shareholder annual reports, sales leaflets, and customer magazines, among other publications. They collaborate with colleagues and partners like website managers, marketing and product managers , and web designers to gather data. They also communicate with any other external marketing agencies hired by the organization.

Building business relationships 

Research directors, analysts, portfolio managers, and heads of various institutions are among those who can influence perceptions. Communications managers work to improve the company’s understanding among key individuals or companies who can influence perceptions. They provide briefings to people and groups, as well as arranging meetings with company leaders such as senior finance officers.

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Creating websites .

For communications managers, a company’s website is a vital source of information. Brief biographies of the business’s executives, stock quotes, a corporate profile, and financial results are all available on these websites. They also produce a news archive and press releases with material that is relevant to their consumers’ needs .

Making strategies 

A communications manager advises the executive on the best communication tactics, such as nomination, subject control, termination, topic shifting, and turn-taking, as part of the management team. They do research on how customers react to their enterprises and determine the opinions of their target audiences. They gather information from analysts, financial journalists , regulators, and investors as part of their research. The person in charge of communications chooses a communication channel based on the company’s communication strategies.

The communications managers are responsible for reporting quarterly and annual financial, employment, and company progress statistics. Individuals can understand the company’s financial progress, attract candidates for this role, and outline the firm’s progress over the year by reading the yearly reports they provide. They also produce financial statements, which are necessary for investors and team members to understand. Before attending company meetings with stock analysts and journalists, they even brief and report to the CEOs.

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Marketing Communication Manager: Salary, Career Growth and Job Outlook

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The term marketing once simply referred to a business transaction in a market. Now, hundreds of years later, the concept of marketing is far greater in scope, describing the development of a host of strategies to attract customers through products and messages.

The evolution of marketing continues, thanks to changes such as advances in technology and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes have elevated the role of marketing as a driver of customer satisfaction during challenging times.

Marketing communication is a subset of marketing that uses promotional campaigns to advance marketing messaging, and it’s constantly changing too. Marketing communication professionals are always adapting to new web platforms and global business trends.

Marketing communication managers oversee and develop ever-changing marketing strategies, making it important that their education and training equip them to meet the demands of this competitive and evolving field.

Usc Mcm Topic Marketing Communication Manager 09 07 Ch V1 3.png

Marketing and Communications Management Positions

Management roles in marketing communication call for overseeing work that promotes brand awareness, encourages sales, and ensures customer satisfaction. Marketing begins with developing ideas for products and services, and continues through purchase and customer retention. The work of marketing communication managers combines the customer-centric emphasis of marketing with the broader focus of communications responsibilities.

Marketing and communications are critical to a company’s efforts to reach audiences and promote its products and build its reputation.

Marketing and Communications: Similarities and Differences

Both marketing and communications target current and potential customers to encourage them to purchase specific products and services. However, communications can go beyond this focus on customers to also convey corporate messaging to other groups that can affect marketing efforts. Employees, neighboring businesses and government officials are examples of other groups that can be the focus of communications efforts.

What Is Marketing?

Marketing is part of an overall business plan, comprising every step in moving a product or service from a business to the consumer. Its main focus is getting consumers’ attention , and then persuading them to take action and purchase a particular product or service. For nonprofit organizations, the focus of marketing often is donors, encouraging them to contribute to the nonprofit’s cause.

Marketing uses tools such as:

  • Analyzing sales competition
  • Forecasting sales volume
  • Researching the market

How Do Communications Relate to Marketing?

Another marketing tool is communications, which works to influence consumers to purchase a product or service. These efforts rely on specific messaging as well as storytelling to highlight the benefits of a company’s offerings. Marketing and communications should be strategic, using the best method for making an impact with each audience as determined through customer interviews and surveys.

A few communications vehicles are:

  • Advertising
  • Social media
  • Media outlets
  • Website content

Marketing Communication: Combining Two Focuses

Marketing communication combines messaging aimed at attracting customers — or donors, in the case of nonprofit organizations — with the content that delivers that information. Communication to promote marketing efforts often includes visuals such as photos, infographics or videos along with text that drives home targeted messaging.

Marketing Communication Manager Job Description

The typical marketing communication manager job description includes supervising marketing teams and collaborating with other managers and sales, public relations and product development staff. The work helps ensure that marketing and its messaging are in line with corporate goals.

The role focuses on attracting and maintaining a customer base by developing and implementing strategies to convey product and service value. Effective marketing requires a keen understanding of a brand’s customer demographics and target audience — and the latest trends for reaching that audience.

Usc Mcm Topic Marketing Communication Manager 09 07 Ch V1 2.png

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes skills that can help managers in marketing communication fulfill the responsibilities of the role. They include the following:

Analytical Skills

Careful analysis of consumer and industry trends is a requirement of marketing communication management. This analysis helps these professionals determine what strategies are likely to be most effective for their company and the product or service they’re promoting.

Communication Skills

Marketing communication managers should have the ability to communicate well — on projects ranging from product development to promotions — throughout the many phases of the marketing process. They should also have a knack for persuasive communication.

Creativity Skills

As individuals responsible for imaginative marketing campaigns, marketing communication leaders must generate a wide variety of new ideas. They need creativity to plan and implement approaches that draw the attention of customers.

Interpersonal Skills

Leadership in marketing communication requires working with people in various roles, internally and externally. The role calls for guiding and partnering with professionals in projects related to sales and public relations, for example, as well as working with individuals outside the organization to promote the brand.

Decision-Making Skills

A marketing communication manager job description typically includes tasks that require decision-making skills. Professionals in this role often must select from various marketing strategies to determine the most effective approach for each campaign.

Organizational Skills

The role requires strong organizational skills to perform a manager’s own tasks as well as the work of others. Marketing communication managers not only develop and lead marketing communication campaigns but also supervise a team and its many projects.

How to Become a Marketing Communication Manager

Three main steps can lead to establishing — and excelling in — a career as a marketing communication leader.

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Most marketing communication managers have at least a bachelor’s degree in a field such as communication, marketing or journalism. Courses that focus on the following topics can help prepare students for this career:

  • Consumer behavior
  • Communication research
  • Communication methods
  • Market research
  • Storytelling
  • Visual arts

2. Gain Professional Experience

The next step in how to become a marketing communication manager is to gain real-world work experience. An internship can give students experience that helps prepare them for marketing communication jobs following graduation. After earning their degrees, individuals generally start out in entry-level positions like marketing coordinator or account executive in places such as:

  • Advertising agencies
  • Marketing organizations
  • Public relations firms
  • In-house marketing or sales departments

Experience in related fields, such as public relations or sales, can also be an asset to those seeking management roles in marketing communication.

3. Develop Advanced Skills

Professionals who want to stand out in the competitive field of marketing communication often pursue master’s degrees and certifications. Zippia recommends postgraduate education for marketing communication manager job candidates. A master’s degree such as a Master of Communication Management can provide training in leadership and analysis to help propel a marketing communication career.

Certifications can also show employers that a marketing communication manager candidate has the skill set required to be a high-performing employee. Professionals in this role can earn a Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) designation as well as certifications in areas such as project management, Google analytics and social media marketing.

Marketing Communication Manager Resources

Various resources can assist those interested in pursuing a career as a marketing communication manager, providing career advice and tools as well as information about the role:

  • American Marketing Association, Marketing Career Resources — The AMA provides career advice and covers trends in the marketing field. The site also offers information about AMA’s Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) in marketing management certification — the most common certification among marketing communication managers, according to Zippia.
  • CareerExplorer, How to Become a Marketing Manager — CareerExplorer outlines ways to determine if a career in marketing management is a good fit, examining what people in these roles do, whether they’re satisfied with their jobs and what personality traits they have. The site outlines steps for pursuing the role.
  • LinkedIn, “Marketing’s Evolution: A Look at the Jobs and Training Skills in Highest Demand” — LinkedIn offers a page that shows which marketing roles are experiencing the greatest growth and the in-demand skills for those jobs.
  • ZipRecruiter, How to Become a Communications Manager — This ZipRecruiter page describes what communication managers do, links to a sample job description and offers tips for pursuing the career.

Marketing Communication Manager Salary

Marketing communication manager salary figures show that the position pays well above the national average for all careers. Expertise in certain skills and marketing communication tools can enhance the salary and advancement opportunities.

Salaries for Marketing Leaders

BLS data indicates that the median annual salary for marketing managers was $142,170 as of May 2020, with the top 10% of earners receiving annual pay of more than $208,000. The highest median salary went to marketing managers in professional, scientific and technical services and to those in finance and insurance. For marketing communication managers, PayScale listed a median annual salary of approximately $67,000 as of October 2021, with the top 10% of earners making nearly $100,000 plus income from bonuses, profit sharing and commissions.

Top-Earning Cities

PayScale reported that marketing communication managers in a dozen metropolitan areas had median annual salaries that were at least 25% above the national average for the position in September 2021. The areas were:

  • Arlington, Va.
  • Boulder, Colo.
  • Lansdale, Pa.
  • McLean, Va.
  • Newport Beach, Calif.
  • Palo Alto, Calif.
  • Pleasanton, Calif.
  • Princeton, N.J.
  • Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
  • San Francisco, Calif.
  • San Jose, Calif.
  • Virginia Beach, Va.

Skills for Advancement

Some key task-related knowledge and skills can help marketing communication managers to not only perform their jobs better but also be well positioned for more pay and advancement opportunities. The following are among those skills that can bolster marketing communication manager salaries:

  • Campaign planning
  • Marketing strategy
  • Budget development
  • Marketing automation
  • Public relations
  • Social media management

Additionally, the ability to use certain marketing tools can help marketing communication leaders find jobs and earn more money. Experience using platforms such as Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress and Mailchimp, for example, are helpful to job seekers.

Marketing Communications Job Outlook

The outlook for marketing communications includes projections for strong job growth and a host of changes to the field.

Expectations for Growth

The marketing communications job outlook is positive, with the BLS projecting 10% growth in jobs for marketing managers between 2020 and 2030. This anticipated growth is favorable compared with the 8% projected increase for jobs overall. The BLS predicts that companies will increasingly call on marketing managers’ expertise in expanding market share and reaching potential customers.

Usc Mcm Topic Marketing Communication Manager 09 07 Ch V1 1.png

Trends in the Industry

Other factors, including those related to technology and the COVID-19 pandemic, are guiding the marketing communications job outlook and trends for the future. The following are among the changes driving the marketing field:

Expansion of E-Commerce

The elevated reliance on e-commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic has led consumers to expect online options in all facets of the customer experience. Effective marketing should include an emphasis on digital outreach to accommodate this customer expectation, while also embracing hybrid approaches that allow for in-person interaction when possible.

Commitment to Social Issues

The social upheaval of 2020 bolstered consumers’ commitment to brands that espouse the values they support . The EY Future Consumer Index in 2021 showed that 43% of consumers wanted to buy products that were in line with their beliefs, even if they cost more . To successfully reach their target audiences, brands will need to promote their social stances, perhaps by partnering with nonprofit organizations.

Presence on Social Media

The use of posts and paid ads on social media continues to grow in popularity. Marketing communication is relying on social media outlets as a forum for influencers and brand advocates and for the growing use of videos. By 2020, HubSpot reports, video had become the most commonly used format in marketing communication. Meanwhile, influencer marketing business was expected to grow to $15 billion by 2022, according to a Business Insider report.

Use of Personalization

Consumers increasingly expect that products and services will offer them what they want, when they want it. Technological tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning can help marketers determine customers’ specific needs, and then personalize communication to meet those needs. Marketers develop content for multiple audience segments and tailor their messaging to each targeted group.

Emphasis on the Customer Journey

Elevated consumer expectations are also leading marketers to expand their focus on the entire customer experience , with an integrated process from sales to service that’s seamless to buyers. The experience should include a transparent and secure method for gathering consumer data to maintain customer trust.

Need for Agile Marketing

The rapidly changing global landscape during the pandemic called for the ability to quickly pivot to accommodate those changes. Automation can assist marketers in research and outreach even as companies often are doing more with less.

Marketing and Communications: An Important and Evolving Field

Marketing communication managers play a critical role in promoting products and services, attracting customers, and building companies’ reputations — and their work has added prominence in a time of shifting consumer priorities and technological advances.

The career offers a strong job outlook as well as a median salary that outpaces the average pay, making it a great option for anyone with an interest in data analysis, communication and leading a marketing team.

Infographic Sources:

Forbes , “15 Top Marketing Trends to Keep an Eye on in 2021”

HubSpot, “The Ultimate Guide to Marketing Trends in 2021”

PayScale, Average Marketing Communications Manager Salary

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers

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InterviewPrep

20 Communications Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Common Communications Manager interview questions, how to answer them, and sample answers from a certified career coach.

communication tasks manager

As a communications manager, you know the power of words. You also know that in order to get your dream job, you need to ace the interview.

But what are some of the questions you might be asked? To help you prepare for the big day, we’ve put together a list of common communications manager interview questions—and advice on how to answer them. Read on, and start prepping!

  • What strategies do you use to ensure effective communication between departments and stakeholders?
  • Describe a time when you had to manage a crisis situation in the public eye.
  • How do you handle difficult conversations with media outlets or other external parties?
  • Explain your experience developing and executing successful communications campaigns.
  • Are you familiar with the latest trends in digital marketing and social media?
  • What is your approach to creating content that resonates with different audiences?
  • How do you measure the success of a communications campaign?
  • Tell me about a time when you had to communicate complex information to a wide audience.
  • What strategies do you use to stay informed about industry developments and news?
  • How do you ensure consistency across all channels of communication (e.g. website, email, print)?
  • Do you have any experience working with influencers or other third-party partners?
  • How do you handle feedback from customers or other stakeholders?
  • What techniques do you use to create compelling visuals for presentations or reports?
  • How do you ensure accuracy and clarity when writing press releases or other documents?
  • What are your thoughts on using data to inform communications decisions?
  • How do you handle competing demands from multiple stakeholders?
  • What would you do if you noticed an error in a piece of content before it was published?
  • How do you develop relationships with journalists and other media contacts?
  • What strategies do you use to engage employees in internal communications initiatives?
  • How do you ensure compliance with legal requirements such as GDPR or CCPA?

1. What strategies do you use to ensure effective communication between departments and stakeholders?

Communications managers are responsible for coordinating communication between departments, stakeholders, and other external parties. The interviewer wants to know that you have experience in setting up and maintaining communication channels and that you understand the importance of open and effective communication. They are also interested in your ability to identify any potential barriers to communication and how you plan to address them.

How to Answer:

Start by discussing your experience in setting up and maintaining communication channels. Talk about any strategies you have used to ensure effective communication between departments, stakeholders, and external parties. You can also mention the importance of open and honest communication and how it can help foster collaboration and trust among teams. Finally, discuss any potential barriers that could arise due to language or cultural differences and how you plan to address them.

Example: “I understand the importance of effective communication between departments and stakeholders to ensure successful projects. I have experience setting up and maintaining communication channels, such as email or Slack, that allow for real-time collaboration and feedback. Additionally, I believe in open and honest communication to foster trust and collaboration within teams. To ensure all parties are on the same page, I also like to hold regular check-in meetings to review progress and address any potential issues. Finally, I am aware that language and cultural differences can be a barrier to effective communication and plan on addressing this through clear and concise messaging.”

2. Describe a time when you had to manage a crisis situation in the public eye.

Communication managers are expected to be able to handle crisis situations in a calm, professional manner, often with the eyes of the public on them. This question allows the interviewer to get a sense of how you handle the pressure of difficult situations, as well as how you handle the media. Your ability to stay on message and provide a consistent narrative is key to mitigating any damage done to the company’s reputation.

To answer this question, you should provide a few examples of how you have handled difficult situations in the past. Talk about how you were able to assess the situation and develop a plan for communicating with stakeholders, as well as any methods or strategies that you used to ensure that everyone was on the same page. You can also discuss how you monitored media coverage and responded to inquiries from journalists. Showing that you are organized and can think quickly on your feet is key here.

Example: “I was once tasked with managing a crisis situation for a previous employer when the company’s social media accounts were hacked and malicious content was posted. I quickly assessed the situation, developed a plan of action, and worked with our IT team to regain control of the accounts. I then drafted an official statement that was released to the public, while also working to ensure that all stakeholders were informed. I monitored the media coverage closely, responding to inquiries from journalists in a timely manner. In the end, we were able to successfully manage the situation without any major damage to the company’s reputation.”

3. How do you handle difficult conversations with media outlets or other external parties?

As a communications manager, you’ll be expected to handle difficult conversations with media outlets or other external parties, such as potential customers, vendors, or even community members. It’s important to be able to stay cool and collected, and to be able to think on your feet and come up with creative solutions to difficult problems. This question is designed to help the interviewer assess your ability to handle these types of conversations.

Start by talking about how you approach difficult conversations. Talk about your ability to stay calm and collected, even when faced with challenging questions or requests. You can also talk about the steps you take to prepare for these conversations – such as doing research on the other party’s interests and needs, coming up with creative solutions to potential problems, and practicing responses in advance. Finally, share an example of a successful outcome from one of these conversations that you were involved in.

Example: “I understand how important it is to handle difficult conversations with media outlets and other external parties in a professional, yet approachable manner. My first step is always to do my research on the other party’s interests and needs so that I have a better understanding of their perspective. From there, I take time to brainstorm potential solutions to any challenges or issues they might bring up. Additionally, I practice responses in advance so that I can remain composed during the conversation. For example, recently I had a difficult conversation with a local newspaper about an upcoming event we were hosting. After doing my research, I was able to come up with creative solutions that satisfied both our needs, and the outcome of the conversation was successful.”

4. Explain your experience developing and executing successful communications campaigns.

Communications managers are responsible for crafting and delivering messages to a variety of audiences. They must be able to craft and execute successful campaigns that are both creative and effective. This question allows the interviewer to assess your experience in this area and get an idea of how you could contribute to the team.

To answer this question, you should provide examples of campaigns that you have created and executed. Explain the objectives of the campaign, how it was implemented, what results were achieved, and any lessons learned. Make sure to include details such as the platform used, target audience, budget, timeline, etc. If possible, provide quantitative data or metrics to show the success of the campaign. This will help demonstrate your ability to create and execute successful communications campaigns.

Example: “I have seven years of experience developing and executing successful communications campaigns. Most recently, I developed and implemented a social media campaign for an international NGO that raised awareness about their work in underprivileged communities around the world. We used Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to reach our target audience and were able to generate over 10 million impressions within two months. Additionally, we saw an increase in website visits by 30% and donations by 25%. From this experience, I learned the importance of understanding your target audience, creating engaging content, and tracking results.”

5. Are you familiar with the latest trends in digital marketing and social media?

Communications Managers need to understand the latest trends in the industry. They need to be able to use those trends to create effective digital marketing and social media campaigns. This question helps the interviewer understand if you have the necessary knowledge and experience to be successful in the role.

You should be prepared to discuss the latest trends in digital marketing and social media. Talk about what platforms you are familiar with, how you use them for marketing campaigns, and any success stories you have from previous roles. Be sure to highlight any certifications or courses you’ve taken that relate to this topic as well. Finally, make sure you demonstrate your knowledge of analytics tools such as Google Analytics and explain how you use data to inform decisions.

Example: “I’m very familiar with the latest trends in digital marketing and social media. I have experience creating campaigns on multiple platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For example, I recently ran a successful campaign on Instagram that increased brand awareness by 20%. I also keep up to date on analytics tools like Google Analytics, and use data to inform my decisions and adjust campaigns accordingly. Additionally, I am always looking for ways to stay ahead of the curve and recently completed a certification course on advanced digital marketing strategies.”

6. What is your approach to creating content that resonates with different audiences?

Communication managers need to be creative, strategic, and organized. They must understand the wants and needs of a wide range of audiences and be able to tailor messages in a way that resonates with them. This question helps interviewers gauge how well you can do this, as well as your ability to develop content that is both informative and engaging.

Start by talking about your process for understanding the target audience. Explain how you research and analyze their interests, preferences, and behavior to create content that will resonate with them.

Next, discuss how you use data from analytics tools or surveys to measure the success of your efforts. Demonstrate your ability to adjust strategies based on results.

Finally, talk about any creative tactics you’ve used to make content more engaging. For example, you can mention if you’ve ever incorporated interactive elements like polls, quizzes, videos, or infographics into your campaigns.

Example: “My approach to creating content that resonates with different audiences is rooted in research and analysis. I start by getting a thorough understanding of the target audience—who they are, what their interests are, etc.—so I can create messages that will be meaningful and relevant to them. I also pay close attention to trends and industry news so I can develop content that’s timely and engaging. Once I have an idea for a piece of content, I work with my team to craft it into something that speaks to our audience’s needs. My goal is always to create content that is informative, interesting, and actionable.”

7. How do you measure the success of a communications campaign?

This question helps the interviewer understand the type of metrics you use to gauge the effectiveness of your campaigns. If you have worked in communications before, you should have a few methods you use to measure success, such as tracking media mentions, website traffic, or engagement on social media. You should also be able to explain why these metrics are important and how they help your organization reach its goals.

Your answer should include the specific metrics you use to measure success, such as website traffic, media mentions, or engagement on social media. You should also explain why these metrics are important and how they help your organization reach its goals. For example, if you’re tracking website traffic, you could explain that it helps you understand how many people are visiting your website and engaging with your content. This can give you insights into what types of content resonates with your audience and which topics need more attention.

Example: “I typically measure the success of a communications campaign by tracking website traffic, media mentions, and engagement on social media. These metrics help me understand how many people are visiting our website, engaging with our content, and sharing it with their networks. This data allows us to get an understanding of which topics resonate with our audience and areas where we need to focus more attention in order to reach our goals.”

8. Tell me about a time when you had to communicate complex information to a wide audience.

Being a communications manager requires you to communicate complex topics in a way that’s easy to understand for a wide variety of audiences. This question helps the interviewer get a better understanding of your capabilities in this area. They want to make sure that you can take complex information and distill it into something that’s understandable for everyone, regardless of their background.

To answer this question, you should provide an example of a time when you had to communicate complex information to a wide audience. Talk about the situation and what steps you took to ensure that everyone understood the message. You can also talk about any feedback or results you received from your communication efforts. Be sure to emphasize how you tailored your message for different audiences, as well as any techniques you used to simplify the information.

Example: “I recently had to communicate complex information about a new product launch to a wide variety of audiences. To make sure everyone understood the message, I broke down the information into smaller, more digestible chunks and tailored the message for different audiences. I also created visuals to help illustrate the key points. As a result, I was able to successfully communicate the message to a wide variety of audiences, and I received positive feedback from the stakeholders.”

9. What strategies do you use to stay informed about industry developments and news?

The ability to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in your industry is essential to success in the communications field. You’ll need to be able to quickly assess and respond to new trends and changes, as well as be able to identify potential opportunities for your organization. Your interviewer wants to make sure you have the necessary skills and knowledge to stay on top of the ever-changing communications landscape.

You should have a few strategies that you use to stay informed. It’s important to demonstrate that you understand the importance of staying up-to-date and can articulate how you go about doing it. Talk about which publications, websites, blogs, and other sources you read regularly to stay on top of industry news. Also mention any professional organizations or networks you are part of that help you keep abreast of changes in the field. Finally, explain what methods you use to share this information with your team and colleagues.

Example: “I’m a voracious reader of all sorts of industry publications, both online and in print. I’m also a member of several professional organizations and networks, and I attend their conferences, webinars, and other events to stay informed. I also have a few trusted colleagues and contacts in the industry who I keep in touch with to get their perspectives on what’s happening. I also use Twitter and other social media outlets to follow the latest developments. And finally, I make sure to share this information with my team and colleagues on a regular basis so that everyone is up-to-date on the industry.”

10. How do you ensure consistency across all channels of communication (e.g. website, email, print)?

Consistency is key in any communication role. This question is designed to test your ability to understand how to create and maintain a consistent message and tone across all channels of communication. It also shows the interviewer that you understand the importance of collaboration, since you need to work with other teams to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Consistency is key when communicating with customers and stakeholders, as it builds trust in the brand. To answer this question, you should discuss your process for ensuring consistency across all channels of communication. You could talk about how you create a unified messaging strategy that covers everything from content to tone and style, or how you use templates and design elements that are consistent throughout each channel. Additionally, you might mention how you ensure accuracy by implementing quality control measures such as proofreading and testing before any message goes out.

Example: “I understand how important it is to ensure consistency across all channels of communication. To ensure this, I create a unified messaging strategy that covers everything from content to tone and style. I use templates and design elements that are consistent throughout each channel, and I ensure accuracy by implementing quality control measures such as proofreading and testing before any message goes out. I also work closely with other teams to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and that any content they create is consistent with the messaging strategy. By doing this, I can ensure that our customers and stakeholders have a consistent and positive experience with our brand.”

11. Do you have any experience working with influencers or other third-party partners?

In today’s digital world, effective communication is often about working with third-party partners and influencers. These individuals or groups can help you spread your message and bring more attention to your organization. This question is a way for the interviewer to understand your experience with external relationships and how you might be able to use those relationships to benefit your organization.

If you have experience working with influencers or third-party partners, be sure to highlight it. Talk about specific campaigns or initiatives that you’ve worked on and how they were successful in helping you reach your goals. If you don’t have any direct experience, talk about how you would go about building relationships with these external parties. Show the interviewer that you understand the importance of having strong partnerships and that you are willing to put in the work to make them happen.

Example: “I have worked with several influencers and third-party partners in the past, and I am very familiar with the process of establishing and maintaining strong relationships. I’ve been able to successfully launch several campaigns in collaboration with influencers and other partners, which resulted in increased reach and engagement. I am also comfortable with negotiating contracts and making sure that everyone is on the same page in terms of goals and expectations. I am confident that I can bring my experience and knowledge to this role and help your organization build a strong network of partners that will help you reach your goals.”

12. How do you handle feedback from customers or other stakeholders?

As a communications manager, you’re often the go-to person for customer feedback. You must be able to effectively assess customer concerns and find ways to address them. You’ll need to be able to communicate the feedback to the appropriate parties and ensure any changes or fixes are implemented. This question will give the interviewer an insight into your ability to handle customer feedback and how you handle difficult conversations.

You should emphasize your ability to assess customer feedback and identify the root cause of their concern. Show that you can communicate effectively with customers, stakeholders, and other departments while also managing expectations and staying on top of deadlines. You should also mention any processes or protocols you have in place for responding to customer complaints or feedback. Finally, be sure to highlight your experience implementing changes based on customer feedback and how it has positively impacted the company.

Example: “When I receive customer feedback, I strive to assess the root cause of the issue and then communicate it to the appropriate stakeholders. I have experience developing processes and protocols for responding to customer complaints, and I’m comfortable having difficult conversations with customers. I’m also able to take customer feedback and quickly implement changes or adjustments to address their concerns. In the past, I’ve been able to leverage customer feedback to make significant improvements to our product or services, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.”

13. What techniques do you use to create compelling visuals for presentations or reports?

Visuals and graphics play a huge role in communication. Whether it’s creating a presentation for a client or creating an internal report, a communications manager has to be able to create visuals that clearly convey information and engage the audience. This question is designed to see if you have the skills and experience to create visuals that will help your company communicate its message.

Before answering this question, think about the type of visuals you’ve created in the past. If you have examples of your work, this is a great time to bring them up and discuss how they helped with communication. Talk about the tools you use to create visuals, such as Adobe Creative Suite or Canva. Also explain any techniques you use to make sure that your visuals are engaging and effective. For example, if you always include an infographic when presenting data, talk about why you do this and how it helps the audience understand the information more quickly.

Example: “I use a variety of techniques to create visuals that are both compelling and effective. I’m highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and Canva, which I use to create graphics, infographics, and presentations. I also like to use visuals to break up text-heavy reports, which makes them easier to read and understand. Additionally, I’m always looking for ways to use visuals to tell a story, such as using charts to illustrate trends or using images to convey a message. I’ve found that visuals can be a powerful tool for communication, and I’m always looking for ways to improve my work and make sure that my visuals have maximum impact.”

14. How do you ensure accuracy and clarity when writing press releases or other documents?

The communications manager is responsible for making sure that the messages that a company or organization sends out to its audiences are clear, accurate, and effective. This question is designed to get a sense of how you approach writing and editing tasks to ensure that the message you’re sending is the one that you want to send.

To answer this question, you should emphasize the importance of accuracy and clarity in your writing. You can talk about how you ensure that all facts are correct before releasing a document, as well as how you double-check for any typos or grammatical errors. Additionally, you can discuss how you take feedback from colleagues to make sure that the message is clear to the intended audience. Finally, you can explain how you review documents multiple times before sending them out to ensure that they meet your standards.

Example: “I believe accuracy and clarity are essential for successful communication. Before I release any documents, I always double-check the facts to make sure that everything is accurate. I also make sure to read through the document multiple times to ensure that there are no typos or grammatical errors. I also take feedback from my colleagues to make sure that the message is clear and easy to understand for the intended audience. I always strive to make sure that the documents I produce are of the highest quality and meet my own standards.”

15. What are your thoughts on using data to inform communications decisions?

The communications field is rapidly changing with the development of new data-driven technologies. Hiring managers want to know that you understand how to use data to inform your communications decisions and develop effective strategies. They want to know that you understand how to use the data to craft communications that will resonate with the target audience and help you measure the success of your campaigns.

To answer this question, you should emphasize your understanding of how data can be used to inform communications decisions. Talk about the various types of data available and how you use it to develop targeted messages that will reach the desired audience. Discuss any experience you have with using analytics tools or software to track performance and measure success. Finally, explain how you use data to adjust strategies for maximum impact.

Example: “I believe data is essential in crafting effective communications strategies. I have experience using various analytics tools to track the performance of campaigns, measure success, and adjust strategies for maximum impact. I understand how to use data to craft targeted messages that will resonate with the target audience and ensure that our messages are reaching the right people. I’m also familiar with the various types of data available and how to use them to inform decisions and develop effective strategies.”

16. How do you handle competing demands from multiple stakeholders?

As a communications manager, you will often be in the middle of several projects at once. You’ll need to be able to manage competing demands from several stakeholders, including other departments or external groups. This question will help the interviewer understand your ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, prioritize tasks, and make sure everyone’s needs are met.

Talk about how you prioritize tasks and manage competing demands. You can explain that you make sure to set clear expectations with stakeholders, communicate regularly, and provide updates on progress. You should also emphasize your ability to be flexible and adjust plans when needed in order to accommodate changes or new requests. Finally, talk about how you strive to find creative solutions to complex problems and how you work hard to ensure everyone is satisfied with the outcome.

Example: “I understand that managing competing demands from multiple stakeholders can be a delicate balance. I’m very organized and have experience in using project management tools to prioritize tasks and track progress. I also make sure to set expectations with each stakeholder so that everyone has a clear understanding of what is expected of them. I’m very communicative and make sure to provide regular updates on progress. I’m also willing to be flexible when needed and adjust plans to accommodate changes or new requests. I’m adept at finding creative solutions to complex problems and strive to ensure that everyone is satisfied with the outcome.”

17. What would you do if you noticed an error in a piece of content before it was published?

Working in communications requires a lot of attention to detail and a keen eye for mistakes. The interviewer wants to know that you can spot these errors before they become a major issue, and that you know how to quickly and effectively resolve them. The interviewer also wants to know that you take ownership of your work, and that you’re not afraid to take the initiative to fix any mistakes.

You should demonstrate that you take ownership of your work and are proactive in finding and fixing errors. Explain that if you noticed an error before it was published, you would double check the content to make sure there were no other mistakes, then fix the error as quickly as possible and alert any relevant people who may need to be aware of the mistake. Show that you understand the importance of accuracy and detail in communications, and that you wouldn’t let a mistake slip through the cracks.

Example: “If I noticed an error in a piece of content before it was published, I would take ownership of the mistake and take the initiative to fix it as quickly as possible. I would double check the content to make sure there were no other errors, then I would fix the mistake and alert any relevant people who may need to be aware of the mistake. I understand the importance of accuracy and detail in communications, and I always strive to make sure everything is perfect before it goes out to the public.”

18. How do you develop relationships with journalists and other media contacts?

Communication managers need to know how to build relationships with journalists and other media contacts in order to help their company or organization get the most out of its communications efforts. Knowing how to develop and maintain relationships with the media is a key part of a successful communication strategy, and the interviewer wants to ensure you have the skills to do it effectively.

To answer this question, you should emphasize your experience in developing relationships with journalists and other media contacts. Talk about the strategies you have used to build these relationships, such as attending conferences or networking events, sending personalized emails, or making phone calls to introduce yourself. You can also mention any successes that you’ve had in getting press coverage for a company or organization, as well as any awards or recognition that you’ve received for your work.

Example: “I have extensive experience in developing relationships with journalists and other media contacts. I have attended industry conferences, networking events, and press briefings to build relationships with key contacts. I have also sent personalized emails introducing myself and my organization, as well as made phone calls to media contacts to introduce myself and to build rapport. I have also been successful in securing press coverage for my organization, and I have been recognized for my work with several awards and accolades.”

19. What strategies do you use to engage employees in internal communications initiatives?

Internal communications is a key part of any successful organization’s operations. To ensure that your team is on the same page and working together efficiently, you need to be able to communicate with them in a meaningful way. The interviewer wants to know that you have a strategy for engaging employees and getting them excited about your initiatives.

Your answer should focus on the tactics you use to engage employees in internal communications initiatives. For example, you could talk about how you use a combination of email blasts, newsletters, intranet posts, and social media campaigns to reach different types of employees. You can also discuss how you encourage employee participation by offering incentives such as contests or prizes. Finally, make sure to mention that you strive to ensure that all your communication is clear, concise, and relevant so that it resonates with your audience.

Example: “I use a combination of strategies to engage employees in internal communications initiatives. I send out regular email blasts and newsletters to keep everyone informed on the latest news, as well as post updates on the company intranet and on social media. I also encourage participation by offering incentives such as contests or prizes. I strive to ensure that all my communication is clear, concise, and relevant so that it resonates with the team and encourages engagement.”

20. How do you ensure compliance with legal requirements such as GDPR or CCPA?

Communications managers must be aware of and comply with all relevant laws and regulations. This question allows the interviewer to gauge your understanding of the legal landscape and your ability to ensure that your communications are compliant. They are also likely to be interested in your approach to staying up-to-date on any changes in the legal landscape and how you would respond to any violations.

To answer this question, you should demonstrate your understanding of the relevant regulations and how they apply to communications. Explain any steps you have taken in the past to ensure compliance, such as conducting regular reviews of content or implementing processes for obtaining consent when collecting personal data. Additionally, explain how you would stay up-to-date on changes in the legal landscape and what measures you would take to ensure that all communications remain compliant with applicable laws.

Example: “I understand the importance of compliance with legal requirements such as GDPR and CCPA. To ensure that our communications remain compliant, I have implemented a process for reviewing all content prior to publication. This includes a thorough review of any personal data that is being collected and obtaining consent from the individuals involved. Additionally, I regularly research changes in the legal landscape and consult with our legal team to ensure that we are up-to-date on the latest regulations. If I were to become aware of a violation, I would immediately take the necessary steps to rectify the situation and ensure that all future communications remain compliant.”

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Stanford University

Strategic Communications Manager

🔍 hoover institution, stanford, california, united states.

The Hoover Institution at Stanford University is in search of a dynamic and skilled Strategic Communications Manager to join our team on a full-time basis. This critical role entails crafting, executing, and assessing a robust strategic marketing, communications, and branding initiative for the Hoover Institution Library & Archives (L&A). This position will report to the Everett and Jane Hauck Director of the Hoover Institution Library and Archives. This position will also work closely with the Head of Engagement. 

A cover letter and resume are required for full consideration.  

About the Hoover Institution:

The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace is a public policy research center devoted to the advanced study of economics, politics, history, and political economy—both domestic and foreign—as well as international affairs.

With its eminent scholars and world-renowned library and archives, the Hoover Institution seeks to improve the human condition by advancing ideas that promote economic opportunity and prosperity while securing and safeguarding peace for America and all humanity.

About the Hoover Institution Library & Archives at Stanford University:  

Since its founding in 1919, the Hoover Institution Library & Archives has served as a platform for a vibrant community of scholars and a broad public interested in the meaning and role of history. Located in the heart of the Stanford University campus, the Library & Archives is home to more than 6000 manuscript collections and one million library volumes containing the most important materials on war, revolution, and peace, and social, political, and economic change from the late 19th century to the present day. Its mission to collect, preserve, describe and make available for research and discovery records of enduring value continues to this day through proactive care, conservation, and description practices. Access to its collections is free and open to the public in its reading room and new strategic digital initiatives are actively ensuring global access to key collections anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Visit www.hoover.org/library-archives to learn more. 

JOB PURPOSE:

Under the guidance of senior management, this position is responsible for creating, implementing, and evaluating an impactful strategic marketing, communications, and branding program for the Hoover Institution Library & Archives. Of utmost importance are outstanding writing and communication skills, a self-starter mentality, and a knack for both internal and external relationship-building. You will play a crucial role in developing and executing a vision for L&A’s marketing and communications in its second century. 

Working both independently and in partnership with senior L&A leadership, this role will oversee the planning, day-to-day production, and assessment of the marketing and communications including managing the L&A’s website, social media, publications, media relations, coordination with the Hoover Institution, and other marketing and communications products and initiatives. 

We are looking for someone who can thrive in a fast-paced work environment with shifting priorities and often under minimal direction; have a natural curiosity and interest in cultural heritage work; is highly detail-oriented, and excited about engaging, inspiring, and moving people to action. 

This candidate should also excel at building connections, have a deep understanding of current industry trends, be naturally inquisitive, and approach their work with the mindset of a journalist. While prior experience in the higher education and non-profit sectors is advantageous, it is not essential. The successful candidate will have a strategic mindset and the ability to produce captivating content that weaves history into compelling narratives, ensuring that our institution resonates with a broad audience. 

CORE DUTIES*:

 ●    Research, write, develop, execute and oversee written and multimedia communications on a diverse array of topics related to the Library & Archives, including news stories, web content, social media posts, presentations, talking points, and correspondence  ●    Manage content distribution platforms such as L&A website, a monthly newsletter and all internal or external communication.  ●    Identify, generate, and maintain professional relationships and contacts with key press sources, researchers, policy influencers, news services and community organizations to identify story themes and newsworthy events and promote and disseminate information ●    Provide public relations support for audiences that are both internal and external to the university, for a variety of channels ●    Plan and execute activities to support public relations objectives ●    Build and maintain relationships with internal and external partners  ●    Assist in developing strategies for brand managements, reputation management and issues management of moderate complexity; monitor content on all applicable sites to ensure it remains accurate, current, compliant, and reflective of the brand ●    Assist with the design and implementation of effective constituent communications programs and social media strategies; supervise the routing of materials internally and externally to ensure timely distribution of materials. ●    Serve as a project leader for public relations activities of small to moderate complexity. 

* The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities.  Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility.  Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

 • Excellent written communication skills, reporting skills, and advanced skills in conceptual editing, copy editing, and proofreading.  • Ability to work collaboratively with internal communications groups across campus.   • Demonstrated interpersonal skills in working with a variety of people.  • Capacity to write and synthesize materials and communicate information in a manner easily understood.

Preferred/Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:   • Excellent strategic planning, project management, and problem-solving skills.  • Demonstrated ability and flexibility in managing shifting demands and priorities, taking direction, meeting deadlines, and taking initiative  • Proficiency in Google suite, Microsoft Office Suite, project management tools, and customer relationship management systems, email marketing systems, Adobe Creative Suite, and Drupal  • Experience supervising and motivating diverse individuals and groups  • Ability to maintain discretion when handling sensitive information, exercise sound judgment, tact, and diplomacy  • Demonstrated interest in current events, modern history and humanities, and/or familiarity with cultural heritage institutions such as libraries, archives, museums, or other community-oriented nonprofits work strongly preferred. 

Certifications and Licenses:

 • None

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

 • Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.  • Frequently stand/walk, sit, use a telephone, grasp lightly/fine manipulation, speaking.  • Occasionally grasp forcefully, writing by hand.   • Rarely sort/file paperwork. * - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

 • Occasional work on evenings and weekends.  • On call and ability to respond 24/7.

The expected pay range for this position is $98,000 - $126,000 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

WORK STANDARDS:

 • Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients as well as with external organizations.  • Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.  • Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.

The Hoover Institution at Stanford University is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

  • Schedule: Full-time
  • Job Code: 4263
  • Employee Status: Regular
  • Requisition ID: 101162
  • Work Arrangement : On Site

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Besides its contributions to science, health, and medicine, Stanford is also the home of pioneers across disciplines. Joining Stanford has been a great way to contribute to our society by supporting emerging leaders.

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I like working in a place where ideas matter. Working at Stanford means being part of a vibrant, international culture in addition to getting to do meaningful work.

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I Tried 10 AI Project Management Tools to See if They’re Worth It (Results & Recommendations)

Published: February 14, 2024

AI project management tools simplify decision-making, keep projects rolling, and streamline communications. Pick the right project management tool, and you could save hundreds — even thousands — per year.

women use ai project management tools

I started in digital project management nine years ago, and AI project management tools were unheard of. The project management role was different than it is today.

Project managers were doing a lot of manual admin and repetitive tasks while keeping everything together and bringing those all-important soft skills to clients and internal teams who were busy getting the job done.

It was a lot. If you’re reading this, you might still be working like that: more spreadsheets than you can bear to think about, project managers stressed with deliverables and shaky briefs, leaving the team to use their best guess.

Today, my workflow relies on AI tools to keep my clients and team happy.

Sign Up to Try HubSpot's AI Tools

The tools take much of the project management, leaving me and the team with the mental capacity to do what humans do best: build and nurture relationships, send thoughtful updates, and deliver even faster than we could ten years ago.

With the right AI tool, your workflow could look more streamlined with happier staff at work.

Naturally, the AI project management tool you select will depend on how you want to use it, but this article should give you a solid guide for choosing the right AI project management tool for you.

I’ve included my review of each tool, how I found it, the AI features, the price, and who I think it’s best for.

What does AI project management software do?

Testing ai project management tools, the scenario, 10 ai project management software.

AI project management software can help manage and organize projects and teams.

They’re commonly used for automating routine tasks, managing production schedules, storing files against projects and tasks, and providing a central hub with all content related to a project.

With the rise of AI, you can automate workflows, remove decision fatigue with predictive analysis, bolster productivity, and essentially hire a digital assistant who’s there to support you every day.

Project management tools are worth every penny and will pay for themselves in productivity. But if you’re worried about budgets, plenty of brilliant free project management tools exist.

I’ve tested AI project management and many other marketing tools for years. I have to admit it: I love trying and testing tools.

It’s almost a problem because, in the digital world, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed by choice and distracted by the next amazing new development.

But I can’t see myself stopping anytime soon. In fact, I committed myself to try more tools in the future.

Embracing the development of new tools is a fast track to an easier life, a streamlined business, and a to-do list that is as satisfying as it is productive. And, in case you’re wondering, it’s not just me saying this.

Of those surveyed in Hubspot’s State of AI report , respondents estimated they save two hours and 24 minutes per day when using AI compared to not. Automating manual tasks is estimated to save two hours and 16 minutes per day.

The time saved using AI is significant. All you need to do is find the one that suits you and your needs, and I’ve run extensive tests to help you out.

When I’m testing AI project management tools, I want a tool that:

  • Feels intuitive to use.
  • Manages projects, tasks, and sub-tasks.
  • Makes my team feel happy (and not overwhelmed!).
  • Streamlines communications related to projects and/or tasks.
  • Has integration options so that my business can scale with the tool.

I judged the tools tested in this article by these factors:

  • How well the tool replicates or replaces human action.
  • AI functionality.

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communication tasks manager

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The scenario is close to my actual life as a marketer. I run many projects with fully remote teams internally and externally (my team and the client’s team).

We all need to work harmoniously in a central location.

The project needs to be well structured with some flexibility for changes. All team members need to add comments, set tasks, and have some accountability tracking to keep the project moving.

Finally, the AI project management tools must take some elements of the project. These tasks must be monotonous, undesirable for the humans involved, and safe enough for AI intervention.

AI project manager software; Asana

  • Individuals get started for free (This is all I’ve needed in the past, but now I have outgrown it)
  • Starter package is $10.99 per user a month, billed annually
  • Advanced package is $24.99 per user a month, billed annually
  • Traditional project management without customization
  • Small teams and individuals

AI project management tools, ClickUp

How I Discovered Trello

Trello was a tool I used many years ago. It was the first project management tool I was introduced to in 2011. I used Trello to manage content as part of a small marketing agency.

How Trello Supported My Project Management

I still use Trello today. It’s in my project management arsenal, even with Asana for client projects.

I like Trello because it is simple. For clients who don’t have many projects, I turn to Trello. It’s intuitive and easy to use, people get on board with it quickly, and the free package is enough for how I use it.

I don’t think Trello suits companies looking to scale, but it's perfect for small projects or teams.

Strategy AI

Tello’s Strategy AI helps with general project management and productivity. You can use the software to control who sees what project, and projects or tasks are marked with priority to keep the team working on the most important tasks first.

Trello is one of the cheapest project management tools. It is also one of the most simple.

  • Get started for free
  • Standard is $5 a user per month, billed annually
  • Premium is $10 a user per month, billed annually
  • Enterprise is from $7.38 a user per month, depending on seat quantity, billed annually
  • Small teams
  • Individuals
  • Small and few projects
  • Content management

ai project management tools, Motion

How OneCal Supported My Project Management

While OneCal isn’t managing projects, it is keeping my workload manageable and the monotony of checking multiple calendars at bay. This means I can go to any calendar for an accurate display of what’s happening in all of my calendars.

Ultimately, it saves me a lot of time and rids me of calendar anxiety.

For those who don’t use Motion, OneCal also has a booking system.

Calendar Syncing

Once you’ve integrated OneCal with your calendars, you’ll have synced calendars everywhere .

Booking Links

You can set up a booking system so your meeting guests can book a slot in your calendar at a time that suits you (and them!).

With this system, you can set buffer times and avoid back-to-back meetings, and your guests can easily see available slots in their time zones.

  • Starter is just $4 a month billed annually (this is all I needed)
  • Essential $8.30 a month billed annually
  • Premium $25 a month billed annually
  • Anyone using multiple calendars or wanting to streamline the meeting booking process

AI project management tools, Notion

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  • Washington State University
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Murrow College names news organizations to host inaugural Murrow Fellows

Washington State University logo.

PULLMAN, Wash. — More than a dozen news organizations in nine regions have been selected to host the inaugural cohort of Murrow News Fellows, a two-year appointment designed to strengthen local newsrooms and better inform underserved communities in Washington state.

A team of evaluators selected the news outlets after a review of proposals and interviews with newsroom leaders over the past two months.

“With 40 newsroom applications, it was a very difficult decision,” said Jody Brannon, Murrow News program manager. “The evaluation team worked hard work to narrow the list, given the very compelling proposals to enhance the information needs across many communities in all corners of the state.”

Fellows in the program, operated by the Murrow College of Communication, will be employed by Washington State University and live in the communities to which they are assigned.

The newsrooms include several innovative partnerships across digital, broadcast and print publications. The selected sites:

  • Inland Empire: Joint proposal from KHQ, broadcasting from Spokane, and KNDU, whose coverage area reaches residents in Tri-Cities and Yakima, to focus on housing, civic health, and agriculture. Issues facing Okanogan, Grant, and Douglas counties.
  • Long Beach: The Chinook Observer will expand coverage of economically disadvantaged rural people — particularly its immigrant and Indigenous neighbors. This will include detailed examination of housing, environmental, social, and regulatory factors that influence overall community health.
  • Spokane: Joint proposal from Spokane Public Radio and The Spokesman-Review to increase coverage of public policy on rural Eastern Washington residents, including infrastructure, rural economies, agriculture and environmental issues, healthcare and education.
  • Tacoma: Proposal from the Tacoma News Tribune to expand coverage of public policy, economy, and plights of unhoused and homeless people in Tacoma and Pierce County.
  • Tri-Cities : Proposal from the Tri-City Herald to increase coverage of the Hispanic and Latinx communities in the Mid-Columbia and Lower Yakima Valley, including civic life, agriculture, food processing industry, and other statewide issues.
  • Vancouver/Longview: Joint proposal from the Vancouver Columbian and The Daily News in Longview to expand on coverage of the Columbia River corridor including water rights, tribal issues, hydropower, and environmental issues along the 1,243-mile river.
  • Wenatchee: Joint proposal from The Wenatchee World and Northwest Public Broadcasting to increase bilingual coverage of civic and municipal issues in Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, and surrounding rural communities.
  • West Sound: Joint proposal from Gig Harbor Now and The Kitsap Sun to expand coverage of local government, including health care, drug addiction, and mental health in Kitsap County’s rural, suburban, and urban communities.
  • Yakima: Joint proposal from The Yakima Herald-Republic and El Sol de Yakima to increase coverage of municipal, county, state, and federal government issues in smaller communities in central Washington. Certain articles likely will be shared with the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and The Seattle Times, the Herald-Republic’s sister newspapers.

Through the state’s investment in the Murrow News Fellowship program, Washington has positioned itself as a national leader in creative solutions to help keep its local communities informed. The first cohort of Murrow News Fellows , currently in the interview process, are expected to be working in their assigned newsroom by April; the remaining seven reporters are likely to be placed by summer.

“We view this program as a small but critical part of maintaining the state’s news infrastructure until the financial precarity of news organizations subsides,” said Ben Shors, Murrow chair of Journalism and Media Production. “Over the past eight months, we have spoken to dozens of news organizations, journalists, and community leaders, and the responses have been sobering. From urban centers to rural communities, the need for reliable local information is clear. Our responsibility is to ensure good stewardship of this program, to engage with reporters, editors, and publishers, and to direct a program with the flexibility to be responsive to a rapidly evolving media landscape.”

The selection team for the News Fellows program comprised Shors, Brannon, and three professionals: broadcaster Enrique Cerna , television reporter  Holly Menino , and retired newspaper executive  Julie Shirley .

Media Contacts

  • Anna Wheatley , Edward R. Murrow College of Communication , 509-335-3850 , [email protected]
  • Jody Brannon , Edward R. Murrow College of Communication , 301-537-5011 , [email protected]

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