Advanced Business Communications

You will be introduced to the world of business communication in general and to areas that are fundamental to effective business communication today. You will learn about typical barriers to effective communication and guidelines for overcoming them. You will also learn about steps in the communication process, uses of information technology, managing, planning, and conducting executive-level meetings. In addition, you will learn about giving guidelines for creating audience-centered messages, and about the use of transitions. Students will also learn about writing reports, proposals, and case reports with the audience in mind. Students will cover how to effectively use visual support, including tables, graphs, drawings, and diagrams. In addition, students will learn about planning, preparing, and delivering business presentations and speeches. The course covers effective messages in letters and memos, intercultural communication, and crisis communication. Students will cover the guidelines for writing effective messages. Students will learn about effective intercultural communication, how to deal with cultural diversity, communicating through the media, the effective handling of press releases, press conferences, and media interviews. In addition, students will learn about the effective management and communication in times of organizational crises.  

Objectives

• Identify the guidelines for developing your communication approach.
• Identify the steps in the communication process.
• Identify the problems that may occur in executive-level groups and teams.
• Identify the ways to troubleshoot group problems.
• Identify the guidelines you can use to conduct an executive-level meeting to     enhance communication.
• Identify the steps in the writing process.
• Identify the types of transitions you can use to refine your message.
• Identify the steps involved in planning a report.
• Identify guidelines for writing an effective report.
• Identify guidelines for the effective use of visuals in business communication.
• Identify guidelines for effective planning of oral presentations.
• Identify steps for creating electronic slide presentations.
• Identify guidelines for effective delivery of oral presentations.
• Identify the steps involved in planning a report.
• Identify guidelines for writing an effective report.
• Identify guidelines for the effective use of visuals in business communication.
• Identify guidelines for effective planning of oral presentations.
• Identify steps for creating electronic slide presentations.
• Identify guidelines for effective delivery of oral presentations.
• Identify guidelines for writing effective e-mail messages.
• Identify guidelines for writing effective negative messages.
• Identify guidelines for writing persuasive messages.
• Identify guidelines for communicating with people of other cultures.
• Identify considerations for writing effective press releases.
• Identify considerations for effective handling of press conferences.
• Identify guidelines for preparing for a media interview.

Business Etiquette

Proper Business Etiquette impacts everyone within an organization. Learn to create a professional image, and use business etiquette techniques in a variety of business settings .          

Objectives:

• Create a professional image, follow cubicle and office etiquette, and maintain positive office relationships.
• Use the Internet appropriately when at work and handle ethical dilemmas and personal issues in the workplace.
• Introduce people properly, be a good conversationalist, and follow proper etiquette in meetings.
• Display courtesy on the telephone, in voice mails, and in written communications.
• Follow proper etiquette at business functions and dinners, and identify formal table settings for business dining.
• Be a courteous traveler and prepare for international business trips.

Business Writing

Basic Business Writing Skills are a must. Learn how to be more effective and efficient when writing letters, reports and proposals.

Objectives:

• Writing skills
• Writing specific messages
• Understanding Proposals
• Letter proposals
• Formal proposals

Effective Presentations

Effective Presentations skills are essential to deliver solid sales pitches. Learn how to create and deliver effective presentations.

Objectives:

• Identify and use effective presentations, use different types of presentations, plan a presentation, and determine primary and secondary objectives.
• Analyze the audience, determine the supporting material, and learn about different types of supporting material.
• Incorporate visual aids, understand the types of visual aids, display, and create visual aids.
• Handle the questions effectively, approach the question-and-answer session, responsibilities during a session, and handle challenging questions.
• Persuade a presentation, understand the goals of persuasion, organize a persuasive presentation, and use the methods of persuasion.

E-Mail Etiquette

Communicating through e-mail effectively is necessary in all aspects of business. Learn the various aspects of e-mail, use e-mail programs, decide when to write e-mail, and improve your e-mail writing skills.

Objectives:

• Communicate online, use language and punctuation, and develop efficient writing habits.
• Describe the various aspects of e-mail, use e-mail programs, decide when to write e-mail and when to avoid writing e-mail, and improve your e-mail writing skills.
• Follow company policies regarding e-mail, follow copyright laws, avoid viruses, and discuss e-mail liability.
• Use the various features of e-mail programs and secure their e-mail by using encryption, digital signatures, and passwords.
• Use proper netiquette styles and use emoticons and electronic abbreviations.

E-Mail Management

E-mail is very much a integral part of business communication today. Originally intended as a productivity-enhancing, time saving tool, e-mail has evolved into a time-consuming, productivity-draining obligation that takes up much of our time and attention during business and personal hours. E-Mail Management was written to help you stay in control or regain control if your e-mail has taken over. Learn how to use time-saving features, limit your personal use, and incorporate productivity-enhancing policies.



Grammar Skills

Students of this course learn how to use grammar effectively within their organizations. Students will learn to write effective sentences by identifying sentence elements, correctly using phrases and clauses, and understanding sentence classifications.

Objectives:

• Define grammar and discuss its importance; and correctly use different forms of nouns and verbs.
• Identify the roles of pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Define and use prepositional phrases, conjunctions, and interjections.
• Improve sentence structure by fixing sentence fragments, avoiding run-on sentences, writing in active voice and avoiding split infinitives.
• Punctuate sentences properly by using commas, parentheses, apostrophes, quotation marks, and other marks; and apply capitalization rules and guidelines for spelling out numbers and dates.

Interpersonal Communication

This course will help students develop the skills needed to communicate a message effectively by identifying the receiver, choosing a proper channel, and responding to feedback. Students will also learn how to overcome a variety of common forms of interference, as well as how to develop the skills needed to be a critical listener and how to respond appropriately to speakers. This course will help you develop the skills needed to project a positive image on the telephone, properly address callers, and establish good rapport. Students will be provided with opportunities to incorporate positive personal attributes into telephone interactions, employ strategies to control a conversation, and effectively handle situations with difficult callers.

Objectives

• Identify the seven elements of communication.
• Choose an effective channel based on network structures.
• Respond effectively to receiver feedback.
• Reduce verbal and non-verbal interference.
• Improve organizational communication.
• Identify the difference between hearing and listening.
• Increase your productivity by listening.
• Use critical listening skills.
• Recognize different listening problems.
• Resist distractions while listening..
• Provide efficient customer service through good telephone skills.
• Demonstrate behavior callers appreciate.
• Use screening methods.
• Distinguish between high and low priority calls.
• Take accurate messages.
• Increase your efficiency while on the telephone.

Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Advanced Interpersonal Communication offers the student guidelines for asking and answering questions, using nonverbal communication and power, and giving feedback when building relationships. This course also describes the various communication styles and offers techniques to use when communicating with them. Students will receive suggestions for communicating with individuals who hold various roles in an organization, such as peers, supervisors, subordinates, and customers/vendors. This course also offers guidelines for promoting ideas and handling human resource issues, such as negotiating raises and dismissing subordinates. Lastly, the student gets an overview of the dimensions of organizational culture and how communication perpetuates an organization's culture. This course also defines what a cultural network is and offers guidelines for using the cultural network to your advantage. Steps for empowering employees are also offered.

Objectives

• Interact with an individual who displays a specific primary communication style.
• Identify the four types of secondary communication style.
• Interact with an individual who displays a specific secondary communication style.
• Identify the types of nonverbal communication.
• Apply guidelines to establish credibility.
• Avoid using jargon when building positive relationships.
• Provide positive verbal feedback in a business scenario.
• List the steps for providing positive feedback.
• Interact with an ineffective supervisor.  
• Negotiate a raise with a supervisor.  
• Identify the order for the steps of an effective resignation.
• Take the appropriate steps to apologize to a subordinate.
• Follow the process for dismissing a subordinate.  
• Use the appropriate tactics to refuse a subordinate's request.            
• Recognize dimensions of an organizational culture.
• Recognize characteristics of a positive organizational culture.
• Use the cultural network to your advantage.
• Avoid disadvantages of using the cultural network.
• Dispense information using the cultural network.
• Follow guidelines for building a supportive climate in an organizational culture.

Listening Skills

This course highlights general benefits and misconceptions about listening as a means of introducing the concept of listening. It also teaches the student how to interpret messages and identifies three common types of listening. It provides a step-by-step process on how to become a critical listener and explains the benefits of providing feedback to speakers.  Additionally, it focuses on improving understanding of messages. This course concentrates on listening skills and how to interpret, use, and improve body language as a form of communication. It also identifies common listening styles so the student can encourage others to listen.

Objectives:

• Overcoming Listening Problems
• Listening to Communicate
• Nonverbal Communication
• An Introduction to Listening
• Understanding the listening Process
• Comprehending Messages

Organizational Communication

Learn how communication skills and leadership are related.

Objectives:

• Recognize the impact of nonverbal behavior, and barriers to effective communication.
• Identify the relational context, the factors that influence it, and the different personality types; and develop individual-organizational relationships.
• Select an environmental context; manage stress and anger; and mediate conflict.
• Identify different levels and types of power. Implement strategies to manage diversity and to communicate in different cultures; and identify the steps and guidelines for empowerment.

Telephone Skills

You will learn to effectively perform basic telephone skills while conveying a positive, professional image. In addition, you will learn to use technology to increase their efficiency. This course stresses the importance of politeness and identifies the service that callers expect over the phone. Dealing with difficult calls and complaints is also covered. Techniques for effective call time management are explained. This course teaches the skills to prepare for inbound calls and how to deal with them.  The student is also stepped through the preparation to make outbound calls including stress management. The student is guided through procedures to make persuasive calls, including calls for building relationships with prospective customers                                            30 hours

Objectives:

• Portray a positive image.
• Optimize efficiency through technology.
• Arrange the physical workspace.
• Identify and use resources.
• Portray a good corporate image.
• Implement customer care.
• Manage and deal with difficult calls.
• Increase call time efficiency.
• Screen calls.
• Deliver negative messages.
• Close a sale.

Telephone and Time Management

Improve your work day by learning to control your time on the telephone. This friendly, easy-to-use course helps you identify telephone time stresses, communicate a message more effectively, and get more done.

Objective

• Telephone time stress
• Voice tone says it all
• Handle telephone interruptions quickly
• Getting through to people
• High tech telephone etiquette
• Fast and friendly wording
• Set the stage for your success