Inter-Communication
Workshops
*for CUED staff and students*
Because communication is not only about language, CLIC offers interactive workshops designed to make you a more effective communicator. Each session blends awareness-building with practical strategies you can apply straight away.
We focus on four key areas:
- Emotional intelligence - knowing and managing your own emotions, understanding others, and building resilience.
- Diversity and inclusion - adapting to different cultures, recognising biases, and practising inclusive leadership.
- Collaboration skills - working effectively in teams in-person and remotely.
- Professional presence - connecting with others, using English inclusively, and making the most of non-verbal communication.
By joining CLIC workshops, you'll strengthen the skills that help you thrive at Cambridge and stand out in your future career.
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.
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 12-2pm, CLIC1 - book here
Working in teams is both one of the most rewarding and most challenging aspects of academic and professional life. While collaboration can spark creativity and innovation, it can also surface conflict, miscommunication, or unequal contributions. Understanding what makes teamwork effective is a crucial skill for your time at Cambridge and your future career.
Join our workshop to:
- Explore the dynamics of successful teamwork.
- Learn strategies for balancing roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
- Practise tools for navigating conflict and fostering collaboration in diverse groups.
Wednesday, 22 October 2025, 12-2pm, CLIC1 - book here
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.
Wednesday, 29 October 2025, 12-2pm, CLIC1 - book here
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.
Wednesday, 5 November 2025, 12-2pm, CLIC1 - book here
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! Networking isn’t only about future jobs — it’s also about making the most of conferences, collaborating effectively, and learning how to maintain and grow existing relationships.
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.
Wednesday, 28 January 2026, 12-2pm, CLIC1 - book here
Have you ever held back from asking a question or sharing an idea because you feared being judged? Psychological safety is the belief that you can take interpersonal risks - such as making mistakes, asking questions, or offering feedback - without fear of embarrassment or punishment. Research shows that psychological safety is one of the strongest predictors of high-performing teams.
Join our workshop to:
- Understand what psychological safety is and why it matters.
- Recognise behaviours that build - or undermine - trust in groups.
- Practise strategies to create environments where everyone feels safe to contribute.
Wednesday, 4 February 2026, 12-2pm, CLIC1 - book here
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.
Wednesday, 11 February 2026, 12-2pm, CLIC1 - book here
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.
Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 12-2pm, CLIC1 - book here
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.
Wednesday, 29 April 2026, 12-2pm, CLIC1 - book here
Feedback is one of the most powerful tools for growth - yet giving and receiving it can feel uncomfortable. Without it, we miss opportunities to learn; with it, we can unlock our potential and help others do the same. Constructive feedback is not about criticism, but about clear, respectful, and actionable communication.
Join our workshop to:
- Learn frameworks for giving and receiving feedback effectively.
- Practise turning difficult conversations into opportunities for growth.
- Develop confidence in creating a culture of continuous improvement.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026, 12-2pm, CLIC1 - book here
Imposter syndrome can affect anyone, especially in a world-renowned institution like Cambridge, where you're surrounded by talented people. If you ever feel like you're not good enough, this session is for you. We'll explore the nature of this phenomenon, its impact on both your performance and overall well-being, and most importantly, how your brain may be sabotaging you—and what you can do about it.
Join our workshop to:
- Gain a deeper understanding of imposter syndrome and its effects
- Share experiences with like-minded peers
- Learn actionable strategies to overcome self-doubt
Wednesday, 27 May 2026, 12-2pm, CLIC1 - 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.