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Professional Academy Diploma in Effective Business Communication

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Unlock your potential by harnessing the power of effective communication. This comprehensive course will equip you with all the essential tools needed for success in the workplace, from designing and delivering impactful meetings to developing effective networking strategies and mastering the nuances of written communication. Additionally, you will explore cutting-edge AI tools that enhance business communication, helping you streamline processes, and improve overall efficiency.

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Choose Your Start Date

Browse our upcoming live online classes. Download your brochure to learn more.

Secure your place by paying in full or availing of our payment plan. For Part-time, on demand and on campus courses, pay in three equal interest-free instalments. For full-time Bootcamps enrol with a 50% deposit and the rest at the course start date. T&C's apply.

Why UCD Professional Academy?

  • Valuable, trusted certification
  • Industry expert lecturers
  • Flexible learning options

Effective Business Communication Course Modules

This interactive course provides you with a practical and comprehensive toolkit for effective communication in business. With globalisation, distributed teams, and the virtual/hybrid model becoming a workplace norm, it is more important than ever to be able to grow trust, collaboration, and impact in your team and organisation. This course covers the who, when, where, why, and how of communication, allowing you to hone your written, verbal, and non-verbal skills.

Or browse our wide range of expert-led online courses and grow your career potential today.

1. Communication: Setting The Context

Uncover insights into the future of communications and learn to identify necessary attributes, skills, and knowledge for effective communications.

  • Orientation
  • Powerful communicator: role model
  • Goal-setting strategies
  • SWOT analysis

2. Your Communication Style: Understand It, Adapt It

Learn to diagnose and analyse communication styles. Understand the psychology of feedback as you practice giving and receiving feedback.

  • The DISC personality assessment tool
  • Introversion and extraversion
  • Wellbeing for different personality types

3. Essential Non-Verbal Communication: Body Language & Emotional Intelligence

Discover the power of body language as well as the concept of digital body language and how to apply it. Understand and assess emotional intelligence.

  • Emotional quotient (EQ) assessment
  • Micro-expressions
  • Clarity and effectiveness

4. Written Communication: Let’s Get Technical

Learn how to plan and structure your writing for better communication. Learn and practice the technical tools of spelling and grammar.

  • The competency of written communication
  • Grammar bootcamp
  • Five-step report writing process

5. Working Relationships: The Tools Of Rapport & Networking

Understanding the attributes, skills, and knowledge of effective relationship-building. Learn how to develop effective networking strategies and practice the five tools of rapport building.

  • The most effective professional relationships
  • How to audit your network

6. Multicultural Teams: Culturally Aware Communication

Learn about bias and culturally aware communication. Discover the Lewis Model, and understand the different stages of team development. Learn to apply multi-generational thinking for inclusive and productive teams.

  • Cultural miscommunication experiences
  • Multi-generational working
  • Collaborate confidently

7. Impactful Meetings: Designing & Delivering Engaging Meetings

Learn to analyse your current meeting SWOTs and assess different meeting techniques and roles. Discover how to plan and structure inclusive meetings.

  • Meeting self-assessment
  • Meeting summarising and challenge
  • Advice from Tom Peters

8. Influencing And Persuasive Delegation

Learn to understand others and how influence works, including different influencing styles. Gain insights on building credibility and practice how to communicate clearly to delegate.

  • Credibility and influence
  • The willing and able quadrant
  • Delegation assessment

9. Managing Conflict: How To Disagree 'Agreeably'

Learn the sources and causes of conflict and reflect on your personal conflict style. Discover how to redefine conflict as you explore and practice conflict resolution strategies.

  • Assess conflict style
  • Crucial conversations model

10. Powerful Presentations: Delivering Your Best

Understand how to structure your presentations by identifying and preparing for audience needs and challenging questions. Practice your delivery and learn to handle your nerves, body language, and voice.

  • Lessons from TED Talks
  • Presentation workshop model

11. The Science & System Of Effective Goal Setting

Define your personal and professional development – looking at your learning journey and CPD priorities for the future. Learn how to make long-lasting change happen.

  • Best practice thinking setting priorities
  • Review of action learning journal

12. Skills Demonstration: Presentation, Reflection & Feedback

Demonstrate everything you have learned so far by giving a presentation and receiving feedback.

  • Skills demonstration
  • Presentation and feedback
Exclusive

Access to thousands of journals, articles and papers. Free of charge.

Students taking part in this course will now have access to the EBSCO Online Library, free of charge, for the full duration of the course. Here you can browse thousands of relevant journals, articles and other reliable academic and commercial texts like the Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg Businessweek and Forbes Magazine, to supplement your learning and assignments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is this course right for me?

This course is for those interested in human behaviour and learning the tools of communication. Aiming to provide an engaging and collaborative learning environment, it blends theory and practice, individual reflection, and group discussion. Some professional understanding and experience of the course themes is recommended. In addition to the live online lectures, it is expected that you will also put in two hours per week in self-study plus additional time keeping a learning journal and preparing your final presentation.

How is this course assessed?

This course is assessed through an action learning journal (60%) and a video presentation skills demonstration (40%).

The action learning journal consists of worksheets completed each week, referencing the content and ideas covered during the sessions. The final length should not exceed 3,500 words. The video presentation (pre-recorded, five minutes long with a maximum of eight slides, plus a two-minute Q&A) can be on a topic of your choice that relates directly to a subject covered during the course.

What is the learning experience like?

Many of our courses are now available in a variety of formats. All formats cover the same course content. You now have more choice in how you learn with us:

Live Online

Our online experience is designed to be just as interactive, supportive, and inspiring as the UCD Professional Academy campus experience.

Online courses can be accessed from any computer or laptop with an internet connection.

Live lectures are delivered using Zoom. During these lectures, your teachers will use technology interactively to ensure an engaging learning experience. When appropriate, students will be encouraged to activate their microphones so that they can ask questions and communicate with other students.

On Campus

UCD Professional Academy is delighted to welcome learners back on the UCD Belfield Campus. On Campus courses are delivered in-person with our industry experts in the O'Brien Science building.

On Demand

On Demand courses enable you to complete your course on your own schedule. Course modules are delivered in the form of one “lesson”. The lesson is broken up into short videos followed by activities designed to put the new information and concepts into practice through exercises, quizzes, forum participation and other activities.

What is the student experience like?

Student care is a high priority at UCD Professional Academy, which is why our Student Services team is on hand to support you throughout your time with us. They will respond to any queries you have, help you with any technical issues, and facilitate your learning experience at every point. All students are given access to our Student Portal, where you can see your timetable, access all your study materials, and manage your account.

How will this course help with my career?

Anyone can benefit from improved communication skills, no matter their role, level, or industry. Proving your communication abilities can help you progress in your career. But with increased responsibility, communication ‘blind spots’ can become apparent. By proactively developing your understanding and skills in this area, you can help reduce the gap between your intentions and your outcomes. You will be more confident, more effective in leadership roles, better able to diffuse conflict, and more impactful for your organisation.

What are the benefits of a Professional Academy Diploma?

UCD Professional Academy Diplomas and Certificates are designed to give your career an advantage. Developed in conjunction with industry thought leaders our courses teach practical, applied skills to support you to achieve your career and business goals. Professional Academy Diplomas are suitable for career minded learners wishing to advance their professional skills and prospects rather than their academic credentials.

The Professional Academy is an independent wholly owned part of UCD designed to address the need for skills development in the workforce. Courses tend to be short, designed and delivered by industry practitioners, and are not part of nor do they lead to a traditional University award such as a degree or a masters. They are widely accepted by employers and many students are sponsored to study by their organisation.

For full details of UCD Professional Academy’s Certifications & Governance please visit https://www.ucd.ie/professionalacademy/governance/

How do I get my Professional Academy Diploma?

Your UCD Professional Academy Diploma will be issued electronically on a secure platform, with a link that you can share with employers and others wishing to verify your credentials. You can also add this certificate to your LinkedIn profile.

What payment options are available?

You can secure your spot on most of our Live Online, On-Campus, or On-Demand courses with a low 30% deposit. The remaining balance can be paid in two equal instalments (30 and 60 days later).

For full-time Bootcamp courses, you can secure your spot with a 50% deposit, with the remaining balance due prior to the start of your course.

Please note that standard terms and conditions apply, which you can review here: https://www.ucd.ie/professionalacademy/terms-and-conditions/

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