This chapter introduces the course and highlights how gaps in people skills uniquely affect nonprofit work, setting the stage for why these skills matter for your mission and your team.

1.1 Welcome

1.2 The Challenge for Nonprofits Today

1.3 Your Journey Starts Now

1.4 Pre-Course Reflection

1.5 Your Course Workbook

1.6 Our Team & Inspirations

1.7 Disclaimers

1. Welcome & Introduction

This chapter shows why people skills are essential through a relatable before-and-after case study that illustrates how communication tools can transform everyday workplace dynamics.

2.1 Why People Skills Matter

2.2 Your Default Reaction to Tension

2.3 Case Study: Background

2.4 Case Study: Limited People Skills

2.5 Case Study: Better People Skills

2.6 From Reactions to Needs

2.7 Chapter Takeaways

2.8 Action Invitations

2. The Case for People Skills

This chapter helps you recognize the automatic reactions and internal stories that drive repeating frustrations at work, building awareness that sets the foundation for learning new skills.

3.1 When Sparks Create Stories

3.2 Recognizing Story Patterns

3.3 The Unawareness Cycle

3.4a Instructions: Recognizing Your Own Cycle

3.4b Reflection: Recognizing Your Own Cycle

3.5 Chapter Takeaways

3.6 Action Invitations

3. How We Get Stuck in Conflict

This chapter teaches you to stay self-aware in tense moments so you can act in ways that align with what’s important to you instead of reacting in ways that undermine it.

4.1 Self-Awareness in Action Overview

4.2 Name It To Tame It

4.3 Check The Facts

4.4 Uncover Your Needs

4.5a Download Self-Awareness Inventory

4.5b Instructions: Uncovering Feelings and Needs

4.5c Practice: Uncovering Feelings and Needs

4.6 Do What You Control

4.7 The Impact of Self-Awareness in Action

4.8a Instructions: Applying Self-Awareness

4.8b Reflection: Applying Self-Awareness

4.9 Chapter Takeaways

4.10 Action Invitations

4. Building Self-Awareness at Work

Learn how to speak up in tough moments with honesty and care, raising concerns or giving feedback without triggering defensiveness, and expressing appreciation in ways that build trust and motivation.

5.1 Introduction to Feedback Skills

5.2a Instructions: Your Default Feedback Patterns

5.2b Reflection: Your Default Feedback Patterns 

5.3 The Compassionate Feedback Formula

5.4 Framing: Setting Feedback Up for Success

5.5a Observations: Sticking with the Facts

5.5b Instructions: Observation or Evaluation?

5.5c Practice: Observation or Evaluation?

5.6 Impact: Sharing Your Experience

5.7 Ask: Opening the Conversation

5.8a Instructions: Using the Compassionate Feedback Formula

5.8b Reflection: Using the Compassionate Feedback Formula

5.9 Building Trust Through Appreciation

5.10a Instructions: Write and Send an Appreciation

5.10b Reflection: Write and Send an Appreciation

5.11 Chapter Takeaways

5.12 Action Invitations

5. Expressing Yourself Effectively

This chapter helps you get better at receiving feedback by staying calm, seeking clarity, and responding in ways that strengthen trust rather than escalate tension.

6.1 Why Receiving Feedback Is Hard

6.2 How to Receive Feedback: Overview

6.3 Step One: Pause

6.4 Step Two: Reframe

6.5 Step Three: Clarify

6.6a Instructions: Reflective Listening

6.6b Practice: Reflective Listening

6.7 Step Four: Apologize

6.8a Instructions: Authentic Apologies

6.8b Reflection: Authentic Apologies

6.9 Reactions to Needs: Closing

6.10 Chapter Takeaways

6.11 Action Invitations

6. Receiving Feedback Well

Learn how to transform meetings from draining to energizing by recognizing the group dynamics that pull discussions off track and using simple tools to keep conversations organized and effective.

7.1 Meetings Are Mirrors

7.2a Instructions: Spot Your Meeting Derailers

7.2b Reflection: Spot Your Meeting Derailers

7.3 Better Agendas

7.4a Instructions: Design a Purposeful Agenda

7.4b Reflection: Design a Purposeful Agenda

7.5 Correcting The Course

7.6a Instructions: Correcting The Course

7.6b Practice: Correcting The Course

7.7 Meetings Worth Having

7.8 Chapter Takeaways

7.9 Action Invitations

7. Meetings Worth Having

This chapter helps you bring everything together by identifying your key takeaways, choosing one small habit to start right away, and using simple tools to make daily interactions smoother and more effective.

8.1 Conclusion

8.2 Final Reflection

8. Conclusion and Integration

<h2 id="b21357d7-f670-429b-998e-a1b05edb224a" data-toc-id="b21357d7-f670-429b-998e-a1b05edb224a" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2;">A Shared Skills Foundation for Every Member of Your Team</h2>A self-paced, organization-wide course that strengthens communication, builds confidence in navigating people dynamics, and supports a shared culture from onboarding onward.The course includes:<ul><li>Self-paced lessons that let staff build skills privately before using them at work.</li><li>Short videos, illustrations, and activities that engage different learning styles.</li><li>Practical tools for grounded communication, feedback, and effective meetings.</li><li>Reflections and quizzes that help the learning stick.</li><li>A downloadable workbook and templates for real-world conversations and meetings.</li><li>Four hours of content, usually taken in five sessions of about 45 minutes each.</li><li>A format ideal for onboarding and building a shared communication culture.</li></ul>

Achieving your mission is hard enough. Co-worker dynamics shouldn’t make it harder; when they do, it’s often because we never learned the communication skills teamwork requires. Build those skills here so your team can stay aligned and mission-focused.

People Skills at Work - Archive

Jo Pang

Language

Duration

What you will learn

Stay calm, clear, and intentional under pressure.

Communicate concerns clearly and respectfully.

Give feedback that strengthens relationships instead of straining them.

Receive feedback with openness and confidence.

Lead meetings that use time well and move work forward.

Course content

Course Description

FAQ

This Course Includes