In today's workplace, success is no longer just about what you know — but how well you connect, communicate, and collaborate with others. Whether you're leading a team, managing clients, or building relationships across departments, your ability to converse with clarity, confidence, and empathy can determine how influential and effective you are.

“Impactful Conversations” is a practical, highly interactive 1-day workshop that empowers professionals to sharpen their communication styles, build rapport quickly, and navigate workplace conversations. This course prepares participants to engage others effectively in informal, one-on-one, and small group settings.

Objective

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Build rapport and trust through active listening and responsive dialogue.
• Adapt communication styles to different audiences and contexts.
• Practice conversational frameworks that build confidence & credibility

Outline

Module 1: Laying the Groundwork for Meaningful Dialogue

• Why conversations shape workplace culture
• The spectrum of interactions: casual chats to strategic discussions

Module 2: Think Fast, Respond Spontaneously

• The role of agility in fast-paced environments
• Interactive improv practices to:
  • Strengthen spontaneous speaking
  • Build self-assurance in unplanned moments
  • Tackle curveball questions with ease

Module 3: The Intelligence of Conversations

• Listening with intent vs simply hearing words
• Crafting smarter questions that invite dialogue
• Nurturing trust and safety in exchanges

Module 4: Communication Dynamics in Action

• Discovering your preferred interaction style (DISC-based)
• Flexing your approach to connect with diverse personalities

Module 5: The Art of Intentional Small Talk

• Breaking barriers in professional settings
• Turning “casual chatter” into genuine relationship-building

Module 6: Presenting Yourself with Clarity

• Shaping an authentic introduction and elevator pitch
• Adapting your message for different audiences—networking, team, or senior stakeholders

Module 7: Productive Feedback Conversations

• Distinguishing critique from constructive input
• Making feedback clear, kind, and actionable

Module 8: Networking with Purpose

• Moving from first impression to long-term connection
• Standing out in group settings without being overpowering

Module 9: From Learning to Doing

• Role-play and practice scenarios
• Crafting a personal commitment plan for workplace conversations

Who should attend

New and mid-level professionals, team leaders and supervisors; seeking to improve interpersonal communication at the workplace

Methodology

Programmes are anchored in the A.C.T. Methodology — Action-based learning, Creativity, and Theatre Improvisation techniques. Participants spend 70%–80% of the session in hands-on activities, blending theory, skill practice, experience-sharing, and reflection. This dynamic approach ensures that learning is practical, memorable, and immediately applicable.

The result: meaningful transformation in both work and life—boosting confidence, collaboration, and performance

Hazriq Idrus's Profile

• Creative Leadership & Conversations Strategist
• Author, ‘The Stage Fright Antidote!’, ‘Creative Leadership’ + co-author of 10 other books

Hazriq Idrus is a dynamic professional speaker, author, and stage actor who helps leaders and teams unlock their creative potential, sharpen their communication skills, and lead with confidence. Known for blending the art of theatre with the science of leadership, Hazriq transforms the way people connect, collaborate, and create results.

The author of The Stage Fright Antidote! and Creative Leadership — and co-author of 10 other books—Hazriq has inspired over 10,000 professionals across industries since 2005. His engaging keynotes and workshops have impacted audiences at leading organisations including BMW, Petronas, StarHub, and numerous government agencies.

Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications & Media Management from the University of South Australia, Hazriq’s career journey spans customer service, project management, and people development. His signature approach weaves in techniques from acting and improvisation, creating training experiences that are highly interactive, practical, and immediately applicable.

A familiar face and voice in regional media such as Mediacorp Suria, The Straits Times, Radio 938Live, and The Brunei Times, Hazriq also nurtures the next generation of innovators as an Associate Lecturer in a polytechnic in Singapore, teaching courses on creativity, innovation, and design thinking. His ongoing involvement in theatre keeps his creative edge sharp—ensuring every audience he works with leaves energised, inspired, and ready to take action.


ACCREDITATIONS:

• BA Communications and Media Management, University of South Australia
• Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA) certification, WDA
• Certified Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner, IBM, USA
• Certified Practitioner of Human-Centric Design, LUMA Institute
• Certified Agile Professional, ICAgile, USA
• Certified Agile Leadership Essentials, Scrum Alliance, USA
• Certified Agile Leadership Teams, Scrum Alliance, USA
• Certified DiSC Behavioural Consultant, Institute of Motivational Living, USA
• Certificate of Educational Studies (Public Speaking), College of Teachers, UK
• Certified Service Provider (CSP), Workforce Devt Agency (WDA)
• Certificate in Creative Leadership, Cannes Lions

TESTIMONIALS

“Hazriq has changed my perspective in creative thinking and leadership. When I first attended his 30-minute talk …he made us curious on how we can incorporate creativity in a rigid work sector such as educational management and technology. He asked us to pair up and showed us a simple yet effective technique to be creative in making decisions. (Surprised) at how easy it is to apply creativity in our work. Since then, I teach my course mates and colleagues the same technique so our meetings will be much more efficient. It took Hazriq only 30 minutes to make positive changes to his audiences.”
~ Diyana Tojiman | MA Candidate | Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

“Hazriq Idrus is a great, competent and entertaining speaker. He provided an outstanding presentation at a Kaplan Singapore - University of Essex symposium earlier this year. I highly recommend Hazriq.”
~ Dr Jurgen Rudolph | Head of Research, Senior Lecturer | Kaplan Higher Education, Singapore

“As MC / Event Host at a recent Singapore conference with approximately 220 academics and working professionals, Hazriq Idrus was third speaker on our five speaker event agenda. Having watched him in rehearsals weeks before, Hazriq had a wonderful presence as a speaker who easily engaged the audience with his 'Language of Creativity' message. His timing was spot on with this TEDx style presentation which helped me as MC keep our event on track. I highly recommend Hazriq to help listeners use creativity to live happier lives and something he can speak about if you engage him to speak at your future events.”
~ Rob Salisbury | Event MC | Strategic Resources, Australia