---
title: "COMM 180 · Communicate at work"
publisher: Maestro College (Maestro Open)
lessons: 44
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work
full: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/llms-full.txt
---

# Communicate at work (COMM 180)

Handle conversations, feedback, conflict, emails, meetings and presentations with one simple loop: read the situation, choose your approach, deliver, then check how it landed.

Communication here is a practical decision-making skill, not a set of theories. You'll use one simple loop, Read, Choose, Deliver, Check, to handle conversations, feedback, conflict, emails, meetings, presentations and video calls, and to adjust when a message doesn't land.

## Course objectives
- Professional business writing
- Effective presentations and visuals
- Digital communication platforms
- Interpersonal communication and rapport
- Responsible AI-assisted content creation

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## Lessons
### Unit 1: Foundations of human communication
- [Why communication matters](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/why-communication-matters.md)
- [Communication as a two-way process](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/communication-as-a-two-way-process.md)
- [The Read → Choose → Deliver → Check loop](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/the-read-choose-deliver-check-loop.md)
- [Why messages succeed or fail](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/why-messages-succeed-or-fail.md)
- [Choosing the right communication model](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/choosing-the-right-communication-model.md)
- [Active listening](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/active-listening.md)
- [Verbal clarity and word choice](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/verbal-clarity-and-word-choice.md)
- [Nonverbal communication](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/nonverbal-communication.md)
- [Challenge: giving and receiving feedback](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/challenge-giving-and-receiving-feedback.md)

### Unit 2: Connecting with people
- [Building rapport](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/building-rapport.md)
- [Trust and credibility](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/trust-and-credibility.md)
- [Asking better questions](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/asking-better-questions.md)
- [Empathy](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/empathy.md)
- [Adapting communication styles](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/adapting-communication-styles.md)
- [Difficult conversations](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/difficult-conversations.md)
- [Collaboration and team communication](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/collaboration-and-team-communication.md)
- [Building long-term relationships](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/building-long-term-relationships.md)
- [Challenge: relationship communication scenario](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/challenge-relationship-communication-scenario.md)

### Unit 3: Managing conflict and leading
- [Understanding conflict](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/understanding-conflict.md)
- [Conflict management styles](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/conflict-management-styles.md)
- [Negotiation basics](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/negotiation-basics.md)
- [Giving constructive feedback](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/giving-constructive-feedback.md)
- [Receiving feedback professionally](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/receiving-feedback-professionally.md)
- [Leadership communication](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/leadership-communication.md)
- [Motivating others](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/motivating-others.md)
- [Ethical communication](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/ethical-communication.md)
- [Team decision making](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/team-decision-making.md)
- [Challenge: workplace conflict resolution](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/challenge-workplace-conflict-resolution.md)

### Unit 4: Professional and digital communication
- [Professional communication standards](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/professional-communication-standards.md)
- [Email and business writing](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/email-and-business-writing.md)
- [Meetings](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/meetings.md)
- [Presentations I: Planning](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/presentations-i-planning.md)
- [Presentations II: Designing](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/presentations-ii-designing.md)
- [Presentations III: Using visuals and data on slides](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/presentations-iii-using-visuals-and-data-on-slides.md)
- [Virtual communication](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/virtual-communication.md)
- [Cross-cultural communication](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/cross-cultural-communication.md)
- [Professional networking](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/professional-networking.md)
- [Digital communication ethics](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/digital-communication-ethics.md)
- [Challenge: professional communication simulation](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/challenge-professional-communication-simulation.md)

### Unit 5: Communication strategy in practice
- [Communication strategy vs. communication tactics](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/communication-strategy-vs-communication-tactics.md)
- [Matching communication to the situation](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/matching-communication-to-the-situation.md)
- [Adjusting when communication doesn't go as planned](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/adjusting-when-communication-doesn-t-go-as-planned.md)
- [Challenge: Communication strategy case study](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/challenge-communication-strategy-case-study.md)
- [Challenge: Integrated professional communication simulation](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/communicate-at-work/challenge-integrated-professional-communication-simulation.md)

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.
Start with lesson 1 unless the learner asks for a specific lesson. Keep track of which lesson you are on.

## When a lesson is done
Teach one lesson at a time. A lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed for it; check each with a small task or question.
When it is complete:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson N complete: <lesson title>." (use the lesson's number and title).
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, say "Lesson N+1 of 44: <title>", and ask if they're ready to start it. Start it only when they say yes.
After the last lesson, congratulate them on finishing the course.