waddell listening

Listening and Speaking Skills for Leaders

Author(s)
Penny Joyner Waddell
Edition
1
Copyright
2025
Pages
40
Book Type
Academic
Retail

Misunderstandings and miscommunications happen often, so it is not surprising that organizations and businesses include Listening and Speaking professional development opportunities to improve deficiencies with communication skills.

The road to leadership begins by developing effective listening and speaking skills.

Are you a leader who fosters conditions for open dialogue?

Do you struggle with clever ways of responding to questions?

Do you know how to ask questions so that you receive a clear response?

Employers rank communication as the most important skill needed in the workplace. Whether you are a supervisor, manager, administrator, or someone who plans to step into one of these positions, this workbook provides the tools needed to develop listening and speaking skills that deliver results.

  • Become a more effective listener as you delve into the benefits, steps, barriers, and types of listening skills along with established methods for improvement.
  • Learn various types of speaking skills, vocal assessments, business speaking opportunities, planning, crafting, and presentation tips for communication competence.
  • Explore the leadership strategies of communication, collaboration, exploration, innovation, and discovery for promoting active discussions.

We all want to work at an organization that has high morale, increased job commitment, and productivity, but for this to happen we must become more effective listeners and speakers. When we create space so that others can feel heard and when we ask questions that inspire a clear response, or confidently respond to questions, then the road to leadership is right around the corner.

 

Penny Joyner Waddell

Dr. Penny Joyner Waddell is an author and corporate trainer for speech, communication, and leadership skills. A proud Georgia native, Dr. Waddell works with local, state, national, and global industries preparing them to become workforce ready.

Experience working with adult students in the classroom and being an administrator in one of our nation's most celebrated technical colleges have provided Dr. Waddell with an excellent background in preparing others for workplace challenges. She continues to break ground creating instructional materials to reach youth and adult audiences as well as business professionals as they develop skills to achieve personal and professional goals.

Dr. Waddell has been awarded the National Communication Association's Community College Educator of the Year, Georgia's Presidential Award from Toastmasters International, Technical College System of Georgia's Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Teaching, and SkillsUSA National Educator of the Year Award for Career and Technical Colleges.

When she is not writing books and leading workshops, Penny loves spending time with her husband, Bill, their three daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, extended family, friends, and an excessive number of pets. Bill and Penny enjoy traveling all over the world and nurturing their small apiary farm to harvest enough local honey for family, friends, and acquaintances.

Misunderstandings and miscommunications happen often, so it is not surprising that organizations and businesses include Listening and Speaking professional development opportunities to improve deficiencies with communication skills.

The road to leadership begins by developing effective listening and speaking skills.

Are you a leader who fosters conditions for open dialogue?

Do you struggle with clever ways of responding to questions?

Do you know how to ask questions so that you receive a clear response?

Employers rank communication as the most important skill needed in the workplace. Whether you are a supervisor, manager, administrator, or someone who plans to step into one of these positions, this workbook provides the tools needed to develop listening and speaking skills that deliver results.

  • Become a more effective listener as you delve into the benefits, steps, barriers, and types of listening skills along with established methods for improvement.
  • Learn various types of speaking skills, vocal assessments, business speaking opportunities, planning, crafting, and presentation tips for communication competence.
  • Explore the leadership strategies of communication, collaboration, exploration, innovation, and discovery for promoting active discussions.

We all want to work at an organization that has high morale, increased job commitment, and productivity, but for this to happen we must become more effective listeners and speakers. When we create space so that others can feel heard and when we ask questions that inspire a clear response, or confidently respond to questions, then the road to leadership is right around the corner.

 

Penny Joyner Waddell

Dr. Penny Joyner Waddell is an author and corporate trainer for speech, communication, and leadership skills. A proud Georgia native, Dr. Waddell works with local, state, national, and global industries preparing them to become workforce ready.

Experience working with adult students in the classroom and being an administrator in one of our nation's most celebrated technical colleges have provided Dr. Waddell with an excellent background in preparing others for workplace challenges. She continues to break ground creating instructional materials to reach youth and adult audiences as well as business professionals as they develop skills to achieve personal and professional goals.

Dr. Waddell has been awarded the National Communication Association's Community College Educator of the Year, Georgia's Presidential Award from Toastmasters International, Technical College System of Georgia's Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Teaching, and SkillsUSA National Educator of the Year Award for Career and Technical Colleges.

When she is not writing books and leading workshops, Penny loves spending time with her husband, Bill, their three daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, extended family, friends, and an excessive number of pets. Bill and Penny enjoy traveling all over the world and nurturing their small apiary farm to harvest enough local honey for family, friends, and acquaintances.