• The Open University
  • The Open University Business School

Business Fundamentals: Effective Communication

Gain a practical grounding in communication to boost your personal effectiveness, save you time, and reduce your stress levels.

121,632 enrolled on this course

A group of business professionals communicating effectively

Business Fundamentals: Effective Communication

121,632 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Learn how to improve your communication skills in a professional context

Faced with a daily deluge of information, effective communication has never been more important.

This online course offers you a practical grounding in using different types of communication media to boost your personal effectiveness, save you time, and reduce your stress levels.

You will discover the principles of how to write emails, reports, and proposals. You will find new confidence in your ability to make convincing presentations and conduct productive meetings. And you will develop communication skills that are sensitive to cultural and personal differences.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Effective communication in the workplace

    • stylised image of a meeting in modern room. There is light behind the subject and they are reflected on the polished floor.

      What is business communication?

      Business communication is defined as the written and spoken interaction that takes place between people who operate in business contexts. It may be classified as internal or external to the organisation.

    • cartoon: accountant speaking in jargon and participants not understanding anything. caption is: Does your accountant speak your language?

      Targeting your audience

      Who are your audience? What are they like? What do they think?

    • Tree decorated with country flags.

      Being aware of your context

      Each organisation has its own culture; that is, its own beliefs and assumptions which are the basis for its goals, strategies and structure.

    • Relaxed business meeting where one person is participating virtually.

      Communicating through rich media: meetings

      We all attend meetings of some description. Meetings have a purpose and offer opportunities to meet others, share information, plan projects and make decisions.

  • Week 2

    Giving successful presentations

    • audience applaud at the end of successful presentation.

      Business presentations

      Presentations are common in business contexts. Successful business presentations must be engaging and clearly organised.

    • Meeting room set up with chairs around a large table for a presentation to a small audience.

      Preparing a presentation

      Successful presentations are clearly planned and are tailored to their specific audience and context.

    • Visual diagram of the structure of Claire's presentation.

      Structuring a presentation

      Learn to deliver a clearly structured presentation that your audience will be able to follow easily.

    • Man in a shirt and tie gives a presentation

      Engaging with your audience

      Involve your audience through a range of strategies.

  • Week 3

    Online written communication

    • Image of very clear diamond.

      Key principles of business email communication

      Effective emails are clearly and professionally written and respond to their recipients’ needs and expectations.

    • Photo of a desk taken from above. Man is sat at the desk using a laptop. There are two notepads and a cup of coffee on the desk.

      Writing an effective workplace email

      When writing an email, it is important to follow a clear and logical structure.

    • Photo of a desk taken from above. Man is sat at the desk using a laptop with 'Blog' written on the screen. There are two notepads and a cup of coffee on the desk.

      Enterprise social networking

      Enterprise social networking allows users to connect with a wider range of people within an organisation to develop relationships and promote innovation.

  • Week 4

    Effective writing

    • Image of advert, 50% off super sale, special offer.

      Writing persuasive documents

      Writing a persuasive text consists of building an argument, which means putting forward one or more points of view and demonstrating that they are valid.

    • Photo of a woman preparing to run by stretching.

      Writing a report

      Learn to write a report that will help to convince readers to accept the findings of the investigation and its recommendations.

    • Mind map showing options for sources of training

      Writing a proposal

      Learn to write proposals that will persuade another person to approve a particular project or action and to support its implementation.

    • Photo of colleagues working collaboratively. They both have laptops open on a desk but have pens poised at a sheet of paper that has been heavily annotated.

      Working collaboratively

      Developments in communication and the way they are used could change our workplaces dramatically.

Who is this accredited by?

EOCCS
EOCCS:

This course is accredited by EOCCS, the first international quality benchmark for online courses in business and management education.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Apply and understand principles of effective communication in a range of media
  • Improve your writing skills for greater work and study success
  • Apply simple but powerful frameworks to get more out of email and telephone calls in less time
  • Design and create more convincing presentations and run more productive meetings
  • Develop cultural and interpersonal sensitivity in your communication behaviour

Who is the course for?

This business communication course is for anyone interested in how to improve communication skills in a workplace context.

This could range from jobseekers to those seeking internal promotions to anyone interested in communicating better day-to-day.

No prior communications skills training is necessary.

For further information about registration, the final assessment course, your eligibility and the BA in Business Management, visit the Open University website.

What do people say about this course?

"I have found many useful pieces of information, and advice from fellow learners, that I can apply in the workplace to better my skills even further."

Who will you learn with?

Hilary Collins

Hilary is a senior lecturer in executive education with research interests in the economic and cultural role of the creative industries. She researches academic identity and the future of work.

Who developed the course?

The Open University

The Open University

As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.

  • Established

    1969
  • Location

    Milton Keynes, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020
The Open University Business School

The Open University Business School

A pioneer in flexible learning for over 30 years, The Open University Business School delivers transformational, high quality business and management education which is quality assured.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 4 Mar 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

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  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

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  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
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  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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