Impactful communication: from clarity to connection
Impactful communication: from clarity to connection
6 & 24 October 2025, from 9h00 to 17h00
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.
Please note that this training is the same as 'Communication skills: Establishing connective clarity' that we previously had in our offer.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Apply solution-focused language to address problems and sensitive topics constructively.
- Communicate messages clearly, assertively, and with intent — ensuring they are understood as intended.
- Choose deliberate, conscious responses in challenging interpersonal situations, rather than reacting automatically.
- Maintain connection with others while staying aligned with their own message, needs, and values.
- Navigate difficult conversations (e.g. saying no, delivering bad news, giving feedback) with clarity and emotional control.
- Communicate with impact in a confident and respectful manner, even 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.
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
06 October 2025 - 24 October 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Technologiepark 75
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
06 October 2025 - 24 October 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
From Ghent Sint-Pieters station, you can take a bus to Technologiepark. Please check Routeplanner De Lijn for schedules.
06 October 2025 - 24 October 2025
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.
06 October 2025 - 24 October 2025
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.
06 October 2025 - 24 October 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Room L4