Strong communication is most tested in moments of pressure — when deadlines loom, disagreements arise, or expectations run high. How you choose your words, listen to others, and project yourself in these situations can either build trust and collaboration or create unnecessary friction.

This course focuses on communication as your most powerful tool under pressure. It will help you uncover your authentic style, manage emotions (yours and others’), and use both verbal and non-verbal techniques to ensure your message is received as intended. The emphasis is on practical skills you can apply immediately to everyday conversations as well as more challenging situations — enabling you to connect with confidence, clarity, and empathy in any professional setting.

Objective

By the end of this course, participants will be able to communicate under pressure in ways that are uniquely yours by:

• Communicating with clarity and purpose when navigating conflict, disagreements, or demanding situations
• Recognising your personal conflict and listening styles — and adapting them strategically when pressure rises
• Using empathetic reframing techniques to shift tense dynamics and foster collaboration
• Projecting confidence and composure through verbal and non-verbal communication that supports credibility and connection
• Listening actively and responsively to ensure others feel heard and understood, even in tense or fast-moving discussions
• Building communication resilience so your messages stay consistent, respectful, and impactful, regardless of context

Outline

Note that the below outline provides only a topline summary of the key elements usually covered in a one-day course – it is not an exhaustive list of the full range of topics and practices included within the course. The actual course content will also be subject to further adjustment depending on duration, final group size and dynamics.

Mastering conflict under pressure

• Types of conflict
• Conflict styles and self-awareness
• Navigating conflict in the workplace
• Managing conflict and disagreements

Staying grounded when emotions run high

• Understanding anger
• Reframing and empathy
• Dealing with anger

Listening beyond words

• Types of listening
• Barriers to listening
• Tips for active and empathetic listening

Communicating with compassion and connection

• Goodwill in professional communications
• Verbal elements (including delivery, tone, choice of words)
• Non-verbal elements (including how to build presence and rapport, as well as project confidence)

There will be opportunities* during the day to put into practice what you have learnt through discussions, scenario analyses and role plays.

* Practice modes and intensity may differ depending on final group size and dynamics.

Who should attend

This course is designed for professionals at all levels who want to strengthen their communication skills and remain effective in moments of pressure:

• Individuals seeking to uncover their unique communication strengths and overcome challenges in handling difficult or uncomfortable conversations
• Professionals who want to communicate with clarity and composure when faced with deadlines, competing priorities, or demanding stakeholders
• Leaders and managers aiming to inspire trust and maintain authority by communicating with empathy and confidence under pressure
• Experienced communicators looking to refine their style, deepen their listening skills, and adapt their approach across a wide range of professional situations

Methodology

Participants will enjoy an immersive workshop that goes beyond theory as they get involved in interactive discussions and build their knowledge with a lively course peppered with personal anecdotes, corporate scenarios and relevant video examples. They will have a memorable learning session with the practical application of concepts through activities such as working on scenarios and handouts; engaging in class discussions; as well as learning by action and application.

*Depending on final group size and dynamics, role plays may be conducted individually or in groups.

Wendy Loh's Profile

“If you just communicate, you can get by. But if you communicate skilfully, you can work miracles.” – American entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker Jim Rohn

Unlock the power of effective communication with Wendy, a seasoned expert with over 20 years of practitioner experience in the communications field. Wendy blends practical skills with proven corporate training experience to offer a transformative learning experience that goes beyond theories and models.

Wendy has worked across diverse and multicultural environments spanning corporate, brand and consumer sectors (in Beijing as well where she had spent a decade). Adding to her comms practitioner expertise, she has a training background, having designed sessions, developed/updated materials and delivered/facilitated trainings for companies across the technology, finance, FMCG, hospitality, education and fashion industries.

She has also coached senior company executives in areas of communication, media and presentation skills, as well as managed and mentored high-performing teams in her leadership roles. In addition to previous speaker engagements for comms-related sharing at Singapore Management University and Nanyang Business School (NBS), NTU, Wendy was an adjunct tutor at NBS in Communication Management Fundamentals (business writing, presentation, social media).

Over the years, she has honed her communication and professional business skills ranging from content development to stakeholder/media engagement and issues management, along with critical C-suite experience providing strategic counsel to companies and senior executives for effective profiling. Going beyond such hard skills, Wendy has a passion for mentoring/coaching and talent development/management, and is always looking to enable and empower others to truly enjoy and excel at what one is doing.

Wendy adopts a refreshing and engaging training approach, ensuring classes are kept interesting, current and relevant by keeping a pulse on the industry and sharing from the depth and breadth of her extensive corporate experience in the field of communications.

Wendy has delivered or facilitated trainings for companies such as:
Accor, Applied Materials, BNY, EDHEC Business School, Johnson Controls, Marina Bay Sands, Meta, Keppel REIT, Levi Strauss, Nobel Media, P&G, SLS Bearings, ZF Group

Wendy has communications experience working on brands such as:
Adobe, AYANA, Bloomberg, BNY (in-house role), Breast Cancer Foundation, Cargill (in-house role), Dolby Asia, Fullerton Hotel, Haier, ICAEW, IMD, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), International Baccalaureate, Johnson Controls, Mastercard, Microsoft, NCS (in-house role), Netflix, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, Nobel Media, Heineken, Olay, Pratt & Whitney, Prudential Financial, Qantas, SABIC, Safeguard, Samsung, Schneider Electric, Shangri-La Hotels, Shiseido, Siemens, Standard Chartered, StarHub (in-house role), P&G, Tufts University, Visa, Verizon