Course Description
Internal Auditors spend most of their time communicating: speaking with clients, preparing information for distribution, and understanding information they have gathered. Good communication skills are essential for an auditor, and excellent communication skills will make auditors more effective and successful in their role. The course examines why effective communication skills are the foundation for credibility and success for auditors. This course will provide auditors with the communication skills needed in the many communication situations auditors face daily. Participants will gain an understanding of how different communication styles impact the way a message is presented and received and how to effectively navigate various communication formats.
This interactive course will use lecture, group exercises, real-life case studies, and examples to help auditors develop and implement these communication skills in interviewing situations, meetings, conference calls, presentations, and report writing. Finally, the course will address how to effectively handle difficult situations and conflict.
Learning Objectives
- Understanding the importance of credibility in Audit
- Understanding the different communication styles
- Communicating effectively with clients and stakeholders
- Improving oral and written communication skills
- Becoming a skilled interviewer—developing an effective questioning and interviewing style
- Developing skills for dealing with difficult people and situations
- Knowing when to use which forms and style of communication
- Tips, tools, and techniques for all communication formats
- Learning what builds and develops credibility in communication and relationships
This course utilizes the DiSC Assessment to evaluate participants’ communications styles.
Course Outline
Credibility
- Running Audit like a business
- Setting realistic expectations and consistently meeting them
- Owning and managing the responsibility of effective communication in audit relationships
- Evaluating all communication for “build” or “burn” regarding credibility
Communication Skills
- Listening
- Body language
- Tone and attitude
- Formal vs. informal
- Establishing rapport
- Building relationships
- Understanding your audience
Communication Styles
- Types of communication
- How style type impacts presenting and receiving messages
- Styles, behaviors, and preferences
- Identifying behaviors and working with varying behaviors
DiSC Assessments
- Styles of communication
- Receiving messages from different communication styles
- Delivering messages to different communication styles
Informal Communication
- Impromptu meetings
- Phone calls
Interviewing and Questioning
- Understanding the business
- Defining objectives and risks
- Establishing rapport
- Types, styles, and progression of questions
- Using guides and questionnaires
- Language, terminology, and colloquialisms
- Note taking
- Dos and Don’ts of Interviewing
Meetings
- Facilitating meetings
- Agendas
- Timing and location
- Formalities—length, rescheduling, follow-up, timeliness
Negotiating
- Being Prepared
- Characteristics of a negotiation
- People vs. problems
- Identifying alternative solutions
- Understanding positions
Presentations
- Determining presentation style for an audience
- Detailed vs. “Bottom-Line” and everything in between
- Visualization of data/information
- Understanding timing of presentations
- Fear of presentations—tricks of the trade
- Organization of information—telling a story
Reporting
- Getting to the point
- Readability and conciseness
- 5 Cs
- Voice—active vs. passive
- Audit “speak” and lingo
- Visualization of information
- Length and the use of appendices
- Reviewing and Editing
Challenges
- Difficult people and situations
- Conflict situations
- Audit findings
- Thinking on your feet
Additional Information
Who Should Attend
Internal auditor staff and management of all levels
Learning Level
Intermediate
Delivery
Group Live
Field
Auditing
Advanced Preparation
None
Recommended Prerequisites
None
Session Duration
On Site: 2 days
CPE Credits: 16