Because communication is not all about language, CLIC provides workshops to improve skills that make you a better communicator by increasing awareness and developing practical skills in the areas of:
- Emotional intelligence (knowing and managing your own emotions, understanding others, building resilience)
- Diversity and inclusion (adapting to different cultures, understanding biases, inclusive leadership)
- Collaboration skills (being comfortable in teams, handling virtual teams)
- Professional presence (connecting with others, using English inclusively, using body language effectively)
You can attend these interactive stand-alone workshops throughout the year to improve your communication skills during your time at Cambridge and in your future career.
People Buy People
In today's competitive landscape for future engineers, technical skills alone won't make you stand out. Recruiters now prioritise 'soft' skills, such as collaboration, communication, time management, and resilience. These skills are challenging to teach and showcase.
Join our workshop to:
- Understand what soft skills are and why they matter during your time at Cambridge University and in your future career.
- Learn how to recognize your unique soft skills and effectively present them to future employers and within the academic context.
- Gain practical guidance on leveraging your strengths and improving areas of development in soft skills.
Unlock the potential of your soft skills to excel both at Cambridge University and in your future engineering career and join us for an interactive online session on 25th October, 12:00 - 14:00.
Embrace the Chaos: VUCA-Proofing Your Future
In today's rapidly changing world, we need a new mindset and specific skills to navigate new challenges caused by disruption. This workshop will address the qualities needed to thrive in 'the new normal'—a landscape defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). The secret is to turn challenges into opportunities, but how?
Join our workshop to:
- Gain a clear understanding of what VUCA is and explore practical ways to leverage it to your advantage.
- Identify the core skills necessary to navigate the VUCA environment successfully.
- Develop a practical plan tailored to your own growth and adaptation in this in this dynamic environment.
Learn how to navigate the complexities of today's world - join us for an interactive online session on 1st November, 12:00 - 14:00.
From Awkward to Awesome: Navigating Culture Shock
Most students and researchers will experience culture shock in some form when interacting with people from all over the world in Cambridge. While we all speak the same language, the unwritten rules of social norms can make our interactions challenging. If you have recently moved to the UK, you might feel lost or disoriented. If you come from the UK but are not accustomed to interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds, you might also struggle. International diversity is key to Cambridge's success, so embracing culture clash as part of the journey is important.
Join our workshop to:
- Gain a better understanding of the cultural integration process.
- Learn about culture shock and what you can do to navigate it.
- Discuss the positives of diverse cultures as part of your unique experience at Cambridge.
Get ready to overcome culture shock and join us for an interactive online session on November 15th, 12:00 - 14:00
Mind Myths: Cracking the Code of Unconscious Bias
Diversity, in its various dimensions, has been firmly established as a key driver of innovation. However, creating inclusive environments to harness the power of diversity requires preparation. Whether we are aware of it or not, bias towards individuals who are different from us is inherent. Understanding the origins of bias and how to outsmart them is the crucial first step toward fostering a more inclusive space at Cambridge.
Join our workshop to:
- Explore the nature of biases.
- Learn about the origins of stereotypes.
- Discover strategies to outsmart bias.
Join us for an interactive online session on 24th January, 12:00 - 14:00.
The Melting Pot Mystery: Navigating International Cambridge
Have you ever struggled with other students' or colleagues' styles of working? Have you wondered why some people seem to be more direct than others, some don’t seem to be interested in socialising, or perhaps others are more relaxed about deadlines? Culture, and not only the national aspect of it, plays a significant role in how we learn to communicate and collaborate. Adjusting to cultural communication norms is more about shared values and expectations than speaking the same language. It requires a specific set of awareness, attitudes, and skills.
Join our workshop to:
- Discuss cultural preferences for working.
- Develop self-awareness of your working preferences.
- Learn strategies for developing the right skills that will help you develop cultural intelligence.
Join us for an interactive online session on January 31st, 12:00 - 14:00.
From Luck to Strategy: Mastering Career Networking
Do you think your future career opportunities are solely determined by luck and being in the right place at the right time? Think again! Learning the art of strategic networking is one of the most crucial factors in shaping your career. It’s never too early (or too late) to start!
Join our workshop to:
- Master the optimal mindset for increasing your 'luck' through relationship building.
- Explore various strategies for growing and maintaining a powerful network.
- Create a personalized plan for elevating your networking game to the next level.
Register now and open the door to a brighter professional future – join us for an interactive online session on 7th February, 12:00 - 14:00.
Making or Breaking a Remote Team
In today's fast-paced world, remote work has become the new norm, presenting unique challenges for engineers. To excel in this environment, you need the right skills. Building psychological safety is especially challenging when working across cultures, making it crucial to learn how to create an inclusive environment where every voice is heard and valued, all while achieving your team's goals.
Join our workshop to:
- Delve into the importance of psychological safety and rapport building.
- Learn techniques to foster trust and connection among team members in a virtual setting.
- Explore the intercultural aspects of remote collaboration, as diverse teams often encounter unique communication and cultural challenges.
Join us for an interactive online session on 14th February, 12:00 - 14:00.
Everybody speaks English, right?
In today's globalised world, effective communication in English transcends the boundaries of native and non-native speakers. It's a shared journey, and English-speaking individuals—whether native or proficient—have a pivotal role to play in fostering inclusivity.
Join our workshop to:
- Engage in an experiment highlighting the challenges of using English as a universal language of communication.
- Dive into the concept of accent bias.
- Develop a heightened cultural awareness of the subtle nuances between direct and indirect communication styles, and gain valuable tips and techniques to excel in international settings.
Join us for an interactive online session on 1st May, 12:00 - 14:00.
First impression counts
Did you know that long before we developed languages, humans relied exclusively on non-verbal signals to understand each other? Even today, our unconscious brains are finely tuned to these cues, shaping our first impressions within seconds. Whether you're presenting, interviewing for a job, or working in a team, becoming aware of how you come across can be the key to success.
Join our workshop to:
- Gain a deep understanding of the fundamentals of non-verbal communication.
- Explore how non-verbal cues vary across cultures and discuss different preferences.
- Discover the art of using body language to project confidence, build rapport, and increase your presence-both in physical and virtual interactions.
Join us for an interactive online session on 8th May, 12:00 - 14:00.
Chinese: Get the name right!
“Pronouncing someone’s name correctly can make people feel valued, honoured and respected — and mispronouncing their name creates real problems.” Gerardo Ochoa
This session will explore Chinese names. How to pronounce them. What it says about the person. The stories behind names. The focus will be on pronunciation but you will also be welcome to share your own experience and tell your stories.
Workshop date: tbc
Book here
Cultural coaching
Living and working in both exciting and challenging international environments bring a certain complexity that might need to be explored further. These sessions will guide you in better understanding your communication profile and preferences, allowing you to adapt to a range of situations and contexts as well as to various interlocutors’ profiles, including intercultural aspects. Please contact Kasia (kl333@cam.ac.uk) if you are interested.
Coaching for job/placement applications
Being able to communicate your strengths to your future employers is a key ingredient for successful job applications. With the help of a coach, you can discover what your strengths are and how to demonstrate them at the different stages of the application process. Please contact Kasia (kl333@cam.ac.uk) if you are interested.