Communication Essentials

Course Overview

Most site supervisors, foremen, and project managers get promoted because they were excellent at the technical side of the job – not because anyone taught them how to lead people. This course closes that gap. It gives ICI construction leaders a practical, field-tested set of tools for reading people, communicating under pressure, and building crews that follow them because they trust them, not just because they have to.

The course blends a DiSC-based self-awareness foundation with the Fourfold Method – a simple operating rhythm for moving from reactive firefighting to proactive leadership. Every module is built around real ICI job-site scenarios – industrial, commercial, and institutional projects – not abstract theory.

Who This Is For

• Site supervisors and foremen leading crews for the first time
• Project managers responsible for client, trade, and internal team communication
• Emerging leaders identified for advancement within member companies

Focus confirmed: ICI (industrial/commercial/institutional) only – this reflects CCA’s full member base. All scenarios, case studies, and examples throughout the course are built around ICI project types and stakeholders (owner’s reps, design teams, subtrades, general contractors).

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify their own communication and leadership style (DiSC-based) and recognize how it shows up under pressure on site
2. Adapt communication to different personalities — crew, subtrades, owner’s reps/design teams, and ownership — instead of defaulting to one style
3. Run a job-site conversation (toolbox talk, correction, difficult conversation) that gets buy-in, not just compliance
4. Use a simple weekly rhythm to shift from reactive firefighting to proactive planning
5. Build trust and accountability on a crew without resorting to micromanagement
6. Navigate conflict and pushback — from crew, subtrades, or clients — constructively and without damaging the relationship

Course Outline

Four core modules, delivered as a one-day intensive (6 hours) for a cohort of approximately 20 participants.

 

This course is worth 2 Gold Seal Credits

Cancellation Policy:

Payment is non-refundable for cancellations made within 5 business days of the course, or non-attendance on the day. Complimentary substitution of another member of your company is accepted. If CCA has to postpone or cancel courses due to insufficient enrolment, CCA will refund the registration fee or, if possible, the attendee may choose to move to an identical session in the future. Unless otherwise stated, every person able to see, hear, and observe the virtual course sessions must be a paid participant. Non-compliance of this requirement will result in removal from course. Refunds will not be issued to students who are removed from the course for non-compliance of this requirement.