Go like Silk
Connect like Silk
Communicating without stress in German for your job
Professional communication
in German that flows like silk.
Table of contents
- What is Connect like Silk?
- Who is it for?
- What will I learn?
- How is it organised?
- What do we actually do?
- Your coaches
- Location and venue
- Prices
- Dates and registration
What is Connect like Silk?
The success of every team depends on the quality of its communication culture. But communication is not always easy – we all know that things sometimes go wrong. We misunderstand each other or even get irritated. This can interfere with our work and workplace dynamics.
Communication works best when we expect the unexpected. We need to be able to adapt to the dynamics of each individual moment. Perpetual harmony is neither possible nor productive. What counts is what we do when things don’t go according to plan.
Our workshop Connect like Silk will show you how to navigate even difficult moments in your daily professional communication and focus on what you really want to say. You will discover new ways to communicate as part of a team and learn how to create a productive communicative space for your own goals as well as those of your communication partners.
When you’ve learned how to Connect like Silk for your professional communication:
- You will get across what’s important to you.
- You will be able to combine being professional and being authentic into your own communicative profile.
- You will no longer compare your communication style to other people’s. You will find your own way of saying what you need to say.
- You will be able to adapt spontaneously to the requirements of the moment and reach your communicative goals with flexibility and focus.
We offer Connect like Silk workshops for both English and German.
Please note that Connect like Silk is not mediation and does not offer conflict-management techniques for resolving specific disagreements.
Who is it for?
Connect like Silk is designed for companies and organisations that know that a good communicative climate is essential for success.
The workshop engages with both in-house communication between colleagues and partners as well as external communication with customers, clients and others. It addresses people who …
- … feel that what they say does not always come across the way they mean it.
- … feel stressed if they have to speak spontaneously or present their ideas in front of a group.
- … are sometimes at a loss for words in the face of criticism.
- … would like to develop strategies that help them keep cool in difficult conversations and express themselves clearly and convincingly?
- … want to engage with colleagues, business partners and clients in a way that is both authentic and professional.
- … would like to be able to trust their own communicative intuition and not have to rely on AI tools for producing good texts.
- … would like to develop a communication profile that conveys authenticity and conviction in any setting.
Connect like Silk is suitable for groups of colleagues, departments and office teams as well as for employee training. The workshop provides participants with the know-how they need and the tools to put it into practice.
If you are looking for personalised coaching tailored to your individual communication needs and goals, you can also book Connect like Silk as individual sessions.
What will you learn?
When you’ve learned how to Connect like Silk , you will:
- communicate with clarity and efficiency in any professional setting.
- keep a cool head and say what you want to say even when things get tough.
- learn how to identify what people really mean and not just focus on the words they say or write.
- You will navigate the ups and downs of real-life communication with calm and confidence.
- be able to express authenticity and trust when communicating with your customers and clients.
How is it organised?
Connect like Silk comprises 5 half-days, which can be organised to meet your requirements. One half-day is 3½ hours including a coffee break.
Examples for workshop formats:
- 1 half-day per week over 5 weeks
- multiple half-days per week over 2 or 3 weeks
- 2½ consecutive (full) days
The workshop can be adjusted in regard to content, length and structure to find a format that suits your requirements. Please get in touch for a tailor-made offer.
We speak English or German during the workshop; all teaching materials and discussions will be in the chosen language. Upon completion of the workshop, you will receive a certificate on paper confirming your successful participation.
The workshop is designed for 6 to 10 participants.
What do we actually do?
The content for the workshop consists of the following:
- Part 1: introduction, basic communication principles; one-to-one activities; authentic communication; accent; differences in speaking styles (dialects, pronunciation etc.); making sense of ‘mistakes’; body language.
- Part 2: defining successful communication; active listening; understanding without words; influence of non-verbal factors on communication (proximity/distance; status and hierarchy; spatial awareness etc.); communicative agency in specific situations.
- Part 3: cooperation, not competition; speaking spontaneously; paraphrasing and letting go of the ‘right’ word; presentations with individual feedback.
- Part 4: writing requests and refusals using Kindness Communication; possible interpretations and different reaction patterns; role-playing specific communication situations based on your input.
- Part 5: the role of empathy in communication; practising persuasive communication; improvisation activities; speaking under pressure; discussing individual questions and concerns. Workshop feedback and certificates.
Your coaches
Your coaches for the workshop will be Michèle Cooke, PhD and Michael En, MA.
Michèle Cooke, PhD
Michèle studied literature and languages, multilingual terminology management, translation and intercultural communication in Britain, the USA and Austria. She taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level in English and German at the University of Vienna for over 30 years. Her teaching included transcultural communication, academic and creative writing and Global English as well as scientific and technical communication. She was instrumental in developing the curriculum for Transcultural Communication at the University of Vienna and also taught seminars for English and communication in the public and private sector for many years.
Read more about Michèle.
Michael En, MA
Michael has studied, among others, linguistics, transcultural communication and critical sociolinguistics in Vienna and London. He is teaching lingua-franca communication and critical approaches to professional text design at the University of Vienna, for which he received the Univie Teaching Award 2025. He has been a language teacher for companies and doctors and also works as a translator, copy-editor and layout designer. In his research, he is interested in power relations in communication, processes of stereotyping and the effects of nonverbal factors on perception and comprehension.
Read more about Michael.
Location and venue
For our workshops, we invite you to our office in Vienna, Austria. Read more about where we work.
Prices
Our coaching prices are calculated per half-day, that is, 3½ hours including a coffee break.
| Coaching package | Companies and organisations | Private individuals without ext. funding | Reduced rates (learn more) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 half-day coaching | € 324 € 270 plus VAT | € 198 € 165 plus VAT | € 120 € 100 plus VAT |
|
Connect like Silk 5 half-days |
€ 1.620 € 1.350 plus VAT | € 990 € 825 plus VAT | € 600 € 500 plus VAT |
The price includes:
- your own piece of silk in a Go like Silk box so you can continue to practise flowing at home
- ‘How to Go like Silk’ folder with summary and further reading recommendations
- coffee, tea and non-alcoholic drinks when the workshop is held at our office
- your certificate upon completion of the workshop
You can find more details about coaching costs under ‘Our prices’.
Dates and registration
We offer Connect like Silk on fixed dates throughout the year as well as on request. We would be happy to discuss a workshop format that suits your requirements and look forward to hearing from you:
Call us, drop us a line or book an appointment for a free preliminary consultation – in English or German.
Our next regular dates for Connect like Silk are the following. To register for a specific date, please get in touch.
-
Connect like Silk – German (5 half-days)
- : 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- : 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- : 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- : 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- : 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Please note our terms and conditions for participating and our information on accessibility.
To be fluent means to flow.
Go like Silk