Communicating with clarity and impact
Communicating with clarity and impact
9 October & 13 November 2026, 9h - 17h
General context
Clear, impactful communication is essential for building visibility and trust. Especially in hierarchical, interdisciplinary, or high-stakes environments. Yet asserting yourself and navigating sensitive conversations can feel challenging.
This training helps you find your voice, stay confident, and communicate with intent. Using proven tools and practical frameworks, you will learn how to express messages clearly, manage emotional dynamics, and maintain strong connections, even in difficult conversations.
After this training, you will:
- Communicate your messages clearly, assertively, and with confidence.
- Use solution-focused language to handle sensitive topics constructively.
- Navigate challenging or hierarchical conversations with emotional control and professionalism.
- Maintain strong interpersonal connections while staying true to your values.
- Choose deliberate, effective responses in high-stakes or emotionally charged situations.
This two-day interactive workshop focuses on practical application. You will:
- Engage in exercises, role-plays, and feedback sessions to strengthen communication skills.
- Experiment with real-life scenarios to build confidence for difficult conversations.
- Apply tools from the solution-focused approach to increase clarity, assertiveness, and connection.
Reflection on personal style is integrated to ensure long-term impact and applicability.
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 October 2026 - 13 November 2026
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Technologiepark 75
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
09 October 2026 - 13 November 2026
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
From Ghent Sint-Pieters station, you can take a bus to Technologiepark. Please check Routeplanner De Lijn for schedules.
09 October 2026 - 13 November 2026
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Looking for a custom cycling route? Try the online cycling route planner to easily and quickly identify the fastest, safest and/or most scenic route to any destination in Ghent.
Cycling route planner
Shared bicycles:
Several providers are active in the area.
Take a look at their platforms:
- Indigo Weel Pro app
- Bluebike
- DOTT
- BOLT eBikes
- Donkey Republic
There are also some public bicycle pumps at the park.
09 October 2026 - 13 November 2026
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
There is only one entrance to Technologiepark. At the entrance, please take a ticket - Parking is only allowed in regular parking spots (for instance in front of the building) and in the parking tower. Parking alongside the roads or in other places where there is no regular parking is prohibited.