Communicating with clarity and impact
Communicating with clarity and impact
09 & 30 March 2026, 9h - 17h
General context
The general aim of effective communication is creating visibility for your messages. This is often felt to be a challenge, in communication in hierarchical contexts as well as in conversations amongst peers. Giving yourself the mandate to create this visibility, feeling yourself able to do it, and daring to actually start such conversations are core elements in communicating with impact.
- Apply solution-focused language to address problems and sensitive topics constructively.
- Communicate messages clearly, assertively, and with intent to ensure accurate understanding.
- Select deliberate and conscious responses in challenging interpersonal situations.
- Maintain interpersonal connection while aligning communication with personal values and needs.
- Navigate difficult conversations with clarity, emotional control, and professionalism.
- Demonstrate confident and respectful communication in hierarchical or emotionally charged settings.
This training supports professionals in developing more conscious, effective, and respectful communication. Through interactive exercises, role-play, and feedback, participants build confidence in handling difficult conversations, asserting themselves, and listening with presence.
They explore practical tools from the solution-focused approach, as well as techniques to increase visibility, clarity, and connection in both formal and informal communication. The training encourages experimentation with real-life cases and fosters reflection on personal communication styles and choices.
It was very well-constructed and well-prepared. Material, food, and venue were spectacular.
Edition spring 2025 - Francesca Biscu, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Lab manager
The workshop was recommended to me by colleagues and completely met my expectations. A safe environment was created so that everyone felt free to communicate openly, everyone was very interested and learned from each other's stories.
Participant edition spring 2024
For the course itself, I honestly learned a lot. The trainer has an amazing talent to make the group feel safe to share, and this was an enormous asset to the training. The two days were full of exercises and useful tips and tricks, and little dry theory (which is the way to go in my opinion for a soft-skill course).
Participant edition spring 2023
I really liked that there were so many exercises where we could use real life examples to learn about communication styles and how to tackle certain problems. The trainer was also absolutely excellent in creating a safe environment, where everyone could be very open and honest, and this created even more opportunities to learn from each other's experiences as well.
Participant edition spring 2023
Trainers
Katelijne Callebaut
After tasting 2 years of education and 14 years in the corporate world at KBC, I started in 2000 as an independent (team) coach, trainer and social mediator. I work with people from various profit and social profit organizations and on diverse themes such as leadership, collaboration, communication and change.
I find it incredibly fascinating to see what a theme does to a person, and in a specific context at that. How do human, context and the subject influence each other? What is needed to empower someone? So that he or she feels their best and thereby can also give their best?
Discovering, remembering and developing. I look for ways to do this with individuals and groups. And that makes every workday and every group surprisingly interesting and engaging.
About True Colours®
True Colours was founded on years of collaboration and a shared passion for people, development, teamwork and change. As a change consultancy, True Colours has built a strong position withing research and academic organizations (around 70% of the work is with universities and research institutes). Their approach is human-centered and context-aware. True Colours has been working with VIB for almost 20 years.
More info: truecolours.be
Program
Connective Clarity
Solution focussed approach, impact of behaviour on behaviour, active listening, assertiveness, basic communication skills
Directing Difficult Conversations
Saying no, giving & receiving feedback, bringing bad news, dealing with resistance, dealing with emotions
Practical info
09 March 2026 - 30 March 2026
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
Herestraat 49
3000 Leuven
Belgium
09 March 2026 - 30 March 2026
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
Leuven train station is approximately 4 km from the campus Gasthuisberg. Buses depart very regularly to the Gasthuisberg Campus from Leuven train station.
For tickets and up to date schedules visit website De Lijn or use the De Lijn App.
Exit at the very last bus stop ‘Gasthuisberg Campus) make sure not to exit at ‘Gasthuisberg Kliniek =
hospital)
Once you get off the bus, go to your right and go up the street until you see stairs to your left. Climb the stairs all the way up between two buildings. Look for the signs containing blue circles and white numbers and follow them all the way from 2 up to number 12. You will cross several buildings and the walk will take max. 10 minutes. When you reach number 12, you have reached O&N 5, where you can find the reception.
09 March 2026 - 30 March 2026
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
The Gasthuisberg campus is west of the Leuven ring. Our buildings are situated behind the hospital (see black arrow near ‘RING NOORD’ on the map). If you come from the city center, you will arrive on campus from the east side (taking Mgr. Van Waeyenberglaan and roundabout Het Teken). If you come from Heverlee or Campus Arenberg, you will arrive from the west side (taking the Celestijnenlaan and Taborweg). When you arrive uphill at the intersection with the Rega Institute and the Red Cross building, you need to take the road down to the bicycle parking at Rega Institute (see map) where you can park. Next, follow the ‘Onderwijs & Navorsing blue route’ description below (start point is #9).
09 March 2026 - 30 March 2026
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
You arrive via the E314 highway – EXIT 16
After 200 m, keep left to drive underneath the roundabout and into the tunnel.
Keep left and follow the arrows to Parking West.
You arrive via the Leuven ring road
At the roundabout, take the exit towards ‘Spoed / Ziekenhuis’.
Follow the ring around Campus Gasthuisberg and pass the entrance of SPOED.
Continue right until you arrive at a second roundabout.
Follow the directions for E314.
Near the Fire Brigade Station, make a U-turn and follow the directions for ‘Ziekenhuis’.
Keep left and drive downhill, underneath the roundabout and into the tunnel.
Keep left and follow the arrows to Parking West.
Next, leave the parking at level +1 using the big stairs near the vending machines.
Follow the red carpet and arrows to 'Onco Dagcentrum' to get to the O&N buildings. Take the stairs on your left after exiting Parking West. You are now in front of the O&N4 building; on the left you will find O&N5.