Start date: 13 May 2026
Duration: 2 Days, 13th & 14th May 2026, 9.30am - 5.00pm each day
Location: Cork, in-person
Certificate: N/A
Cost: Members € 200, Non-Members €300
Course code: N/A
Programme overview
Communication Skills for High Performance Teams is a practical, hands‑on programme for R&D project managers and technical team members. It focuses on the everyday conversations that drive delivery: how you listen, give feedback, influence others, resolve disagreements and handle difficult messages when timelines are tight and work is interdependent.
Across four modules, participants learn simple, engineer‑friendly tools they can apply immediately in their current projects. The emphasis is on improving how you communicate within your project team and with key stakeholders, so that issues surface earlier, decisions are clearer and collaboration is smoother.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this course, you will be able to:
• Apply active listening techniques to clarify requirements, reduce misunderstandings and avoid rework in project work.
• Adapt your communication style to different colleagues and stakeholders in technical teams.
• Give and receive feedback in a way that is specific, respectful and workable for analytical, detail‑focused personalities.
• Recognise how team dynamics affect communication, trust and accountability.
• Influence colleagues and stakeholders more effectively.
• Use specific conflict management methods to understand your own default approach to conflict and choose more effective responses.
• Structure conversations to resolve differences of opinion on technical approach, priorities or timelines.
• Prepare for and conduct difficult conversations (e.g. pushing back on timelines, recurring issues) using a simple step‑by‑step approach.
• Create and apply a basic team communication protocol covering communication channels, response times and escalation paths.
• Implement a personal Communication Action Plan to embed a small number of high‑impact communication habits in your day‑to‑day work.
Who is the course for?
• R&D project managers and project leads who coordinate cross‑functional work but may not have direct line‑management responsibility.
• Technical specialists who regularly collaborate with colleagues across locations, time zones and disciplines and want to communicate more effectively.
• Emerging technical leaders who need to influence, give feedback and handle difficult conversations as part of their role, even if they are not yet people managers.
• It is particularly relevant for engineers working on innovative projects with tight schedules, complex dependencies and high-quality expectations.
Course Outline
This programme is delivered in four modules. Content is highly interactive and based on realistic engineering scenarios.
Module 1 – Foundations of effective team communication and motivation
• Why communication is critical in R&D project teams with tight schedules and dependencies.
• Common communication challenges in electronics design environments.
• Active listening behaviours that build clarity and trust.
• Recognising different communication styles and adapting to colleagues and stakeholders.
• How communication impacts motivation, psychological safety and willingness to raise issues early.
• Drafting simple team communication protocols: which channels to use, for what, and expected response times.
Module 2 – Feedback and team dynamics in technical teams
• The role of feedback in learning, quality and speed in engineering work.
• Giving and receiving feedback across roles in 1:1 and small‑group settings.
• A clear, repeatable feedback framework for both positive and developmental feedback.
• Practising feedback language that is direct and respectful.
• Using a Team Performance model as a lens to understand trust, conflict, commitment, accountability and results.
• Identifying current communication habits that help or hinder effective feedback and collaboration.
Module 3 – Influencing and resolving differences of opinion
• Influencing colleagues and stakeholders when you do not have formal authority.
• Mapping key stakeholders on a project and understanding their priorities and constraints.
• Typical sources of disagreement in R&D projects.
• Structuring conversations to surface differences, clarify interests and reach workable agreements.
• Understanding a highly applicable Conflict Management model and how each approach shows up in technical teams.
• Reflecting on personal default conflict approaches and exploring alternative responses using realistic project scenarios.
Module 4 – Difficult conversations and communication action plans
• Exploring common and difficult communications in R&D settings.
• Preparing for a difficult conversation: clarifying purpose, desired outcome and key messages.
• A simple step‑by‑step structure for having difficult conversations.
• Language and behaviours that reduce defensiveness and keep discussions focused on solutions.
• Integrating the core Programme tools into your day-to-day: listening, feedback framework, team communication protocol, and conflict management.
• Developing a personal Communication Action Plan: specific behaviours to implement in your current team or project, with clear next steps and review points.
Trainer Profile
Jaime McGrane (Bach Commerce, Dip Executive Coaching, Dip Leadership & Management) is a highly experienced Leadership and People Development consultant and a lifelong researcher of the best strategies for enhancing workplace performance.
He designs and delivers bespoke Programmes to support leaders, teams and organisations to enhance their capability, performance and results.
Jaime spent over 15 years within Corporate/Commercial environments supporting people and leadership development, with the ability to communicate effectively being at the heart of his programmes. He delivers tailored programmes to the Engineering sector and wider Professional Services Industry.
Contact training@midasireland.ie for further queries or to book places
