In this practical summer school on Effective Communication, a social entrepreneur and former diplomat share 20 years of insights for greater impact at work and more fulfillment in relationships. In this highly practical course you will learn to listen more deeply, express needs clearly, manage emotions, navigate conflicts, and connect across differences. Past participants rated this course with a 9.2 out of 10.
Effective communication is the backbone of trust, collaboration, and sustainable results in organizations. Research shows that breakdowns in communication account for a very large share of workplace failures and cost organisations dearly worldwide. At the same time, strong communication and emotional intelligence are consistently linked to higher performance and job satisfaction. Studies on leadership show that these interpersonal skills strongly predict who succeeds in guiding teams and navigating change.
For leaders—formal and informal—communicating well is not just a “soft skill”, but a core leadership capacity. It is what allows you to articulate a clear direction, listen beneath the surface of what people say, create psychological safety in groups, and turn tension or disagreement into learning and better solutions instead of stalemates. In a fast-moving and sometimes polarised world, the ability to connect across differences with clarity, empathy, and presence is what turns authority into genuine influence.
In this practical summer school on Effective Communication, you spend five days actively practising how to communicate more clearly, confidently, and empathetically—both in everyday conversations and in leadership situations such as guiding a team, collaborating on complex projects, or dealing with conflict. Whether you lead a formal team, a project, or simply take initiative in your studies or community, you will practice communication as a concrete leadership act in everyday moments.” A social entrepreneur and a former diplomat share the most important lessons they have learned about communication over the past 20 years, translating their international experience into practical tools that strengthen your influence, deepen collaboration, and bring more ease and clarity to your conversations.
Instead of long lectures, each day centers on short pieces of theory followed immediately by concrete exercises, role plays, and structured feedback rounds. You continuously work with real examples from your own professional and personal context: conversations you postpone, boundaries you did not set, or feedback you found difficult to give. This way, you turn abstract concepts like emotional intelligence and empathy into visible, repeatable behaviors you can start using at work.
And as a bonus, effective communication doesn’t just help you at work; it enriches your personal life as well. Managing emotions skilfully and engaging in relationships with care brings greater confidence, fulfillment, and well‑being for you and the people around you.
Ways of working
We blend trusted methods into hands-on exercises that let you discover what works best for you. Drawing on Nonviolent Communication, you practice speaking honestly while keeping connections strong. Deep Democracy invites every voice to be heard, especially the quieter ones. Systemic Work reveals patterns in groups and relationships so you can navigate complex emotions; constellation and spatial work help you access unconscious feelings and needs and see the interdependence within a system. And Theory U guides you through sensing the present moment more deeply, connecting to your inner knowing, and stepping into fresh, creative action.
What previous participants say:
Last year’s UU Summerschools by Jan Reinder and Henrik received a 9.2 out of 10 score by more than 50 participants.
"Being primarily exercise based, this course was highly effective for me. I expected I would be on my own to construct situations but this was infinitely better."
"I really appreciated how in-depth we went on an emotional level, how caring the teachers both are and how they managed to create a safe space and how this affected in a positive way to the connection of the group. I will remember the exercises we did for a long time."
"I learned how to express my feelings, how to stay rational during conversations, to present myself better, to be understanding, to negotiate and tools for presentation and most of all to connect to people on a new level."
"I thoroughly enjoyed the course and how it was presented. Top marks to the facilitators for their energy and professional experience which pulled an incredibly diverse group together. Most enjoyable."
As the European Debate Champion, Jan Reinder made his way into the world of training. He founded a company and published The Debate Guide. Yet he feared spending the rest of his life focused only on persuasion and debate, so he became a diplomat. In that role, he served the Netherlands and the European Union, working in places such as Turkey and Brussels. There, he discovered the power of connection.
When he made peace with his family’s history during the Second World War, he no longer felt the need to save the world. That’s why, in 2019, he returned to guiding teams and individuals—this time with a focus on empathy and finding better ways forward together. Transformational work, systemic practice and empathic communication have been essential in Jan Reinder’s personal development, and he now loves sharing some of his insights with others.
Henrik is dedicated to hosting safe and brave spaces for learning, regenerative strategy development, and empathic communication processes.
This can be supporting an international bulk trader developing participatory-decision making processes in their supply-line, developing innovation labs, or facilitating ‘the good talk’ around a campfire. Experiential learning, fun and blended methods are always ingredients of the ‘soup’ when you work with him. Preferably with a touch of nature.
Henrik holds a Research Master of Science in Human Geography and Planning, with a specialisation in International Development Studies. He also holds a coaching degree and is serial social entrepreneur.
On average two thirds of participants to this course are professionals and one third are masters' students.
Every day, we will start at 10.00 hours and we will finish around 15.00 hours. Every day, there will be around one or two hours of homework to prepare for the next day.
The housing costs do not include a Utrecht Summer School sleeping bag and pillow. These are separate products on the invoice. If you wish to bring your own bedding, please deselect or remove the sleeping bag from your order.
