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In this lesson, we’ll walk through the agenda and explain why mastering communication, clear expression, and compelling storytelling is essential for DevOps professionals.
Before you begin, take the quick quiz: “Are you a great communicator?” This helps you gauge your starting point.
  • If you didn’t hit the target score, you’re in the right place to build foundational skills.
  • If you did, this course will refine and elevate your existing techniques.
The image is a slide titled "Communication, Expression, and Storytelling – Pre-Assessment" featuring a checklist graphic and a question about being a great communicator. There's also a small video thumbnail of a person speaking.

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Why Communication and Storytelling Matter

People conceive, implement, and maintain technology—and they rely on clear communication to stay aligned. Strong storytelling bridges gaps, speeds delivery, and reduces friction. Without it, projects stall and teams misinterpret requirements.
The image is a presentation slide about the importance of communication, expression, and storytelling in DevOps, featuring a quote by Grant Fritchey and a diagram illustrating the combination of communication, people, and DevOps. There's also a small video frame of a person speaking in the bottom right corner.

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What You’ll Learn in This Section

You’ll master four core communication competencies critical to DevOps success:
Skill CategoryKey Focus
Verbal SkillsThe 7 C’s of clear, concise, and courteous speech
Non-Verbal SkillsTone, facial expressions, posture, and micro-expressions
Written SkillsEmails, documentation, code comments, and formatting
ProfessionalismManaging distractions, stress, and workplace challenges

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1. Verbal Skills

Discover the 7 C’s of Effective Verbal Communication:
  • Clear
  • Concise
  • Correct
  • Coherent
  • Complete
  • Concrete
  • Courteous
Use this checklist for every conversation: Is it clear and accurate? Is it structured and respectful?
The image is a presentation slide about verbal skills, highlighting the "7 C's of effective verbal communication" with a list including Courteous, Concrete, Complete, Coherent, Correct, Concise, and Clear. There's also a small video call window showing a person speaking.

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2. Non-Verbal Skills

Learn how tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language reinforce—or contradict—your message. We’ll cover interpreting micro-expressions and leveraging posture to project confidence.
The image is a presentation slide about non-verbal communication skills, featuring icons representing tone and body language, and a person speaking in the bottom right corner.

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3. Written Skills

Tailor your writing for different audiences and mediums. You’ll practice email etiquette, technical documentation, and concise code comments—knowing when to adapt tone and structure.
The image illustrates writing skills in communication, expression, and storytelling, highlighting different mediums like email, text, and code, and categorizing them into non-technical and technical writing. There's also a small inset of a person in the bottom right corner.

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4. Professionalism

Focus amid distractions—internal (stress, triggers) and external (notifications, social media)—is key. We’ll explore strategies to stay impartial, handle conflicts gracefully, and maintain a client-centric mindset.
The image is a presentation slide titled "Communication, Expression, and Storytelling – Professionalism," featuring icons representing distractions and focus, with a person at a desk. It includes a caption about professionalism and impartiality in the workplace.

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Assessment and Next Steps

After completing this section, retake the communication assessment to measure your improvement. This module is the first of six core sections—each dedicated to a critical non-technical skill. Coming up: collaboration, leadership, and more. The closing video, “Information versus Story,” will demonstrate how to craft a narrative that resonates—rather than just reciting facts.
The image is a summary slide for "DevOps Scenario and Story Videos," outlining three sections with a person speaking in the bottom right corner.
If you have questions, join the forums or contact me at michael.kodekloud.com. See you in the next lesson!

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