Communication skills for business: how to be clear, concise and impacting when you write (level 2)

What is the course about?

This course will enable you to improve your internal and external business writings. You will focus on how to write appropriately to colleagues in different parts of the work hierarchy altering the formality and tone and successfully conveying instructions and ideas You will examine how your writing varies when writing to customers or other stakeholders and how your style and choice of language can impact your brand. You will work on how to organise different types of business writing such as ordering your ideas and points and how to introduce pace and sentence flow to your texts. You will practise summarising ideas effectively and making words count. You will also examine how precise writing, note-taking and planning, and careful editng can lead to more effective problem-solving and decision-making.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

• organising and structuring different types of business writings - from internal memos and emails to proposals and reports
• writing internal and external business communications appropriate to the reader including up, down and across the company's hierarchy, and different types of texts to customers and stakeholders
• adopting the right tone, style and formaility
• ensuring the writing meets the company's brand ideals
• introducing pace and flow to your writings
• summarising information and conveying instructions effectively
• avoiding repetition and gaining maximum effect from minimal words
• planning, preparing and editing your writing
• conveying complex ideas simply and effectively
• solving problems and making decisions through your writing.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• organisie and structure different types of business writings - from internal memos and emails to proposals and reports
• write nternal and external business communications appropriate to the reader including up, down and across the company's hierarchy, and different types of texts to customers and stakeholders
• adopt the right tone, style and formaility
• write according to the company's brand ideals
• introduce pace and flow to your writings
• summarise information and convey instructions effectively
• avoid repetition and gain maximum effect from minimal words
• plan, prepare and edit your writing
• convey complex ideas simply and effectively
• solve problems and make decisions through your writing.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is course is aimed at those who work in business or wish to do so. You will already have a reasonable level of English, but you need to make your writing more effective.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will learn in a supportive and welcoming environment with an emphasis on your discovering how to do and complete tasks, with guidance from the tutor. You will work on your own and with other students on different tasks so you are always practising important in-demand life and work skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, prioritising, negotiating, collaborating and independence. You will learn in a step by step manner so you can complete challenging tasks in enjoyable and relaxing ways. Your tutor will also work with you individually so you know how to improve and how to work in a way that improves your learning. You will need to do work outside the classroom and use Google Classroom to help you.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will need a pen, some lined A4 paper and a file to keep your work in. Your tutor will provide handouts and a code for Google classroom so you can communicate with classmates and access materials, videos etc. online.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

There are many courses you can do before, at the same time or after this course. These include:

• Communication skills for business: using drama to communicate with impact (level 2)
• Communication skills for business: how to tell a story with data in your writing and presentations (level 2)
• Core management skills: leading and building teams (introduction)
• Core management skills: organising, delegating, decision-making (introduction)
• Core management skills: developing your coaching skills (introduction)
• Business administration with digital skills: communication skills in a business environment (advanced level 2)
• Communication skills: grammar foundation (level 1-2)
• Communication skills: develop your English for social media - blogs, vlogs and TikTok (level 1-level 2)
• Communication skills: develop your English for social media - podcasting (level 1-level 2)
• Communication skills: develop your English for social media - website writing (level 1-level 2)
• Digital skills for business: how use Teams and SharePoint for collaboration (intermediate)
• Digital skills for business: how to use SharePoint for collaboration (intermediate)
• Digital skills for business: analysing, handling and presenting data with Excel (intermediate)
• Digital skills for business: visualising data with Excel - from column charts to scatter plots (intermediate)
• Digital skills for business: creating impacting business presentations with PowerPoint (intermediate)
• Digital skills for business: presenting and managing professional-looking documents with Word and Excel - from reports to newsletters (intermediate)
• Maths for business: the essential skills to run a company and make a profit (level 1-2)
• Maths for business with Excel: the essential skills to run a company and make a profit (level 1-2)

For more information, contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423.