When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Speaking and Presenting: Tact

Speaking and Presenting: Tact

This course is part of Good with Words: Speaking and Presenting Specialization

Instructor: Patrick Barry

5,818 already enrolled

Included with

Learn more

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

44 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

44 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

How to cultivate a "generosity of spirit" when speaking with someone one-on-one
How to fire someone respectfully
How to reframe your next presentation or performance as a "contribution"
How to apologize in a sincere, meaningful way

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

9 assignments

Taught in English

91%

of learners achieved a positive career outcome

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Good with Words: Speaking and Presenting Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

To be an effective speaker you don’t need to overwhelm people with your intellect. You don’t need to dazzle them from start to finish. You simply need to give them the sense that what they are receiving was especially prepared with their interests and needs in mind. This course will help you develop the judgment and dexterity needed to craft a perfectly tailored message.

Module details

What's included

4 videos10 readings2 assignments3 discussion prompts

4 videosTotal 12 minutes

It's Not About You4 minutes
Contribution2 minutes
Generosity of Spirit2 minutes
Tact3 minutes

10 readingsTotal 100 minutes

Meet Professor Barry2 minutes
Teaching Style and Resources10 minutes
Syllabus10 minutes
University Of Michigan Survey10 minutes
Speaking Stats ("The Progress Principle")5 minutes
Community Engagement Rules10 minutes
(Optional) Chapter 7—Tact15 minutes
(Optional) Class Clips3 minutes
The Transformative Power of Being Good with Words25 minutes
Edit Our Edits10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 25 minutes

Low-Stakes Practice5 minutes
Week 1 Review20 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

Speaking Stats ("The Progress Principle")10 minutes
The Transformative Power of Being Good with Words10 minutes
Recap10 minutes

The materials this week will take us from a Tony-award-winning play, to a family-owned business, and to one of the most famous cases in the history of the United States Supreme Court. Tact, we’ll see, plays a big role in a wide range of places.

What's included

3 videos2 readings2 assignments3 discussion prompts

3 videosTotal 5 minutes

The Heiress1 minute
Roe v. Wade1 minute
Factory Man2 minutes

2 readingsTotal 60 minutes

Hot Letter25 minutes
Exercise—Same, Same, Kind of Different ("Patrick Winston")35 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 25 minutes

Low-Stakes Practice5 minutes
Week 2 Review20 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

Hot Letter10 minutes
Same, Same, Kind of Different ("Patrick Winston")10 minutes
Recap10 minutes

Firing people can be hard. So can apologizing. So the “Speaking Studies” this week offer some useful tips on good ways to navigate each of these difficult situations. They’ll also touch on a related topic: forgiveness.

What's included

3 videos3 readings3 assignments3 discussion prompts

3 videosTotal 6 minutes

Firings1 minute
Apologies2 minutes
Forgiveness2 minutes

3 readingsTotal 65 minutes

Firing Fiascos10 minutes
Exercise ("Mea Culpa")20 minutes
Exercise—Same, Same, Kind of Different ("Matt Abrahams")35 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 43 minutes

Low-Stakes Practice ("Firing Fiascos")15 minutes
Week 3 Low-Stakes Practice8 minutes
Week 3 Review20 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

Mea Culpa10 minutes
Same, Same, Kind of Different ("Matt Abrahams")10 minutes
Recap10 minutes

Nice work! You’re almost done with the fourth and final course in “Good with Words: Speaking and Presenting.” We’ll close out the series with a review exercise and a nice story about one of my students building up the courage to speak to an audience at the United Nations Human Rights Council, while interning in Geneva, Switzerland. We also make time for an exercise that explores the important link between tact and tragedy.