Communication and relationship skills · practical training

Social Skills in Practice: Trust, Conversation, and Collaboration

Practise starting conversations, listening, setting boundaries, and collaborating without pretending or trying to read other people’s minds.

Start

Social skills aren’t a set of memorised phrases or an obligation to be sociable all the time. They help us notice what’s happening, express ourselves clearly, show interest in others, and adjust our behaviour in ways that respect their boundaries too.

In this course, you’ll practise conversations in everyday personal and work situations: from making first contact to active listening and collaboration, and on to disagreement, feedback, and repairing misunderstandings.

What you’ll take into your conversations

You’ll choose a specific next step based on the situation and the other person’s response.

Start and develop a conversation

Join a conversation naturally, ask an appropriate question, and leave room for the other person too.

Listen and check your understanding

Summarise the key points you’ve heard and give the other person a chance to correct your understanding.

Express yourself clearly and set boundaries

State your opinion or capacity without attacking, pretending to agree, or making vague promises.

Build trust and collaborate

Keep agreements, share the floor fairly, and address tension by focusing on specific behaviours and needs.

How you’ll work

Each lesson presents a situation with several plausible responses.

From noticing a cue to choosing a thoughtful response

01
Notice the context
Distinguish what you know from what you’re assuming and what you need to check by asking a question.
02
Choose a next step
Consider the purpose of the conversation, each person’s boundaries, and the possible consequences of your response.
03
Think through why
Feedback explains why a response is helpful and when another option might be more appropriate.

Try one small change

In your next conversation, choose one skill: ask a follow-up question, check your understanding, or state clearly what you can do.