Business Fundamentals

Professional Writing & Speaking Skills

INTRODUCTION

In today’s business environment, it is essential that the writing and speaking skills are of the highest professional standard. How well you communicate can make or break your own professional image as well as perceptions of your organization. It directly influences how others view your work and performance, as well as your prospects for career advancement and mobility.

This training course has been specifically designed to develop the competency of professionals to equip them with the necessary skills and confidence to achieve excellence in spoken and written communication. There is a wealth of practical guidance on improving the effectiveness of various forms of spoken and written communication. If you want your reports, memos, letters and e-mails to be read with interest and acted upon and if you want to be able to present your ideas with impact and effectiveness, this is the right training course for you.

This training course will feature:

• Excellent interpersonal skill learning
• The importance of professional levels of written and spoken English
• Proven ways to improve the effectiveness of various forms of written communication
• Power language to improve persuasiveness and impact
• Presentation skills to persuade even the most hostile audience
• How to convey a credible message and create concise messages using a structured process

OBJECTIVES

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

• Know techniques to write clearer, more effective and professional e-mails, letters and reports
• Meet the needs of their readerships/audiences enabling them achieve their own objectives
• Improve your listening skills
• Have greater confidence in speaking in front of a group
• Develop your spoken presentational skills and the ability to build professional rapport with your audience and colleagues
• Confidently use the right techniques, tools and skills for a wide variety of communications challenges

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

This training course uses a variety of proven highly interactive adult learning techniques to ensure maximum understanding, comprehension and retention of the information presented. This includes facilitated group and individual exercises, case studies, role-play, videos.

Under the guidance of a professional speaker, broadcaster and writer, you will learn key techniques, try them for yourself and receive feedback. You will discover how to plan and structure documents, how to choose an appropriate style and how to speak and write clear, accurate English.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

This training course is for a wide range of professionals whose work requires them to communicate with others:

• New & Experienced Supervisors
• Team Leaders & Line Managers
• Specialists
• Marketing, HR and PR professionals

SEMINAR OUTLINE

DAY 1

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail in Written or Spoken Communication

• What is Successful Business Communication?
• Establishing a Clear Brief by Careful Listening and Questioning
• Barriers to Effective Communication and How to Overcome Them
• Interpersonal Skills and Building Strong Working Relationships: formal and  informal contexts; teamwork
• The Types of Communication to Meet the Needs of Brief and Audience
• The Differing Skills of Written and Spoken Communication

DAY 2

Achieving Professional Speaking and Writing Skills

• Sources of Information and Research Techniques
• Structuring an Argument Coherently and Logically to Persuade and Influence
• Generating Ideas – Mind mapping and Brain Storming
• Effective Meeting Skills
• Exercises in Written Communication and Speech Scriptwriting
• Making a Short Presentation: Dealing with Shyness – Confidence and Nerves

DAY 3

Mastering the Language of Business Persuasion

• Writing and Presenting for a Target Audience and Specific Purpose
• Constructing a Strong Opening and Powerful Conclusion
• Structure – Why clear structure helps decision-making?
• Writing an Effective Report
• Be able to Draft Professional e-mails, memos and letters
• Professional Proofreading

DAY 4

Professional Spoken and Written Presentation

• Characteristics of Effective Writing
• Using Tables, Diagrams, Figures and Graphs
• Improving Clarity with Headings and Sub-headings
• Avoiding Clichés, Jargon and Management-speak
• Key Plain English Techniques and How to Apply Them
• Presenting Your Ideas In-person

DAY 5

Developing Your Career as a Speaker and Communicator

• How to Control Your Nerves and Manage Stress
• A Process to Marshal Support for Your Ideas
• Public Speaking Do’s and Don’ts
• Body Language and Posture for Success
• Rehearsal: Giving and Receiving Feedback to Increase Performance
• Course Evaluation and Action Planning