680 Business Communication courses

Duration 2 Days 12 CPD hours This course is intended for Professionals involved in internal and/or external negotiations will benefit from this course. Overview Develop the necessary skills to negotiate like a pro Prepare for a negotiation applying best practices Utilize industry-standard tools and techniques Create your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA) Build common ground and consensus in your negotiation strategies Negotiate with experts to develop your skills for success Students will learn the essential strategies and techniques needed to guide negotiations from opening discussions through to a positive result. Students will leave with practical solutions to negotiating effectively. Private classes on this topic are available. We can address your organization?s issues, time constraints, and save you money, too. Contact us to find out how. 1. Negotiation Introduced Identifying Integrative and Distributive Negotiation Types Understanding the Three Phases of Negotiation Strengthening Negotiation Skills 2. Preparing for Your Negotiation Establishing Personal Boundaries Deciding on Your WATNA and BATNA and Negotiating Based on Them Preparing and Sticking to Your Plan Negotiation Strategies 3. Negotiation Process for Success Setting the Time and Place Avoiding Negative Environments Establishing Common Ground and Building Momentum Creating a Negotiation Framework, Agreeing on Issues, and Maintaining a Positive Framework Working through the Five Steps of Negotiation 4. Best Practices Starting Off on the Right Foot What to Share and What to Keep to Yourself Knowing What to Expect Utilizing the Top Ten Negotiation Techniques Managing an Impasse 5. Negotiation Tools & Techniques Reviewing the Three Ways to See Your Options Creating a Mutual Gain Solution Agreeing on Wants - Working with What You Want and What They Want 6. Consensus & Agreement Building Consensus Consolidating and Finalizing an Agreement Controlling Your Emotions and Dealing with Personal Attacks Walking Away When Necessary

Duration 1 Days 6 CPD hours This course is intended for This course is intended for individuals who want to improve their phone skills. Overview Upon successful completion of this course, students will be more confident in handling the phone, resulting in new customers while retaining current clientele. In this course, students will learn about different types of calls and the etiquette associated with them. Getting Started Housekeeping Items Pre-Assignment Review Workshop Objectives The Parking Lot Action Plan Aspects of Phone Etiquette Phrasing Tone of Voice Speaking Clearly Listen to the Caller Case Study Using Proper Phone Language Please and Thank You Do Not Use Slang Avoid Using the Term ?You? Emphasize What You Can Do, Not What You Can?t Case Study Eliminate Phone Distractions Avoid Eating or Drinking Minimize Multi-Tasking Remove Office Distractions Do Not Let Others Interrupt Case Study Inbound Calls Avoid Long Greeting Messages Introduce Yourself Focus on Their Needs Be Patient Case Study Outbound Calls Be Prepared Identify Yourself and Your Company Give Them the Reason for the Call Keep Caller Information Private Case Study Handling Rude or Angry Callers Stay Calm Listen to the Needs Never Interrupt Identify What You Can Do For Them Handling Interoffice Calls Transferring Calls Placing Callers on Hold Taking Messages End the Conversation Case Study Handling Voicemail Messages Ensure the Voice Mail Has a Proper Greeting Answer Important Messages Right Away Ensure Messages are Delivered to the Right Person When Leaving A Message for Others... Case Study Methods of Training Employees Group Training One-on-One Training Peer Training Job Shadowing Case Study Correcting Poor Telephone Etiquette Screening Calls Employee Evaluations Peer Monitoring Customer Surveys Case Study Wrapping Up Words From The Wise Review Of The Parking Lot Lessons Learned Recommended Reading Completion Of Action Plans And Evaluations

Duration 1 Days 6 CPD hours Overview In writing, it is important to make sure your message is easy to understand, that you have included all the necessary information, and that the points are expressed clearly. In business writing, it is also essential to convey information in a professional and courteous manner using proper formatting. Learn how to perfect your business writing in this one-day workshop. This one-day workshop will help you teach participants how to: Write and proofread your work so it is clear, concise, complete, and correct. Apply these skills in real world situations. Use language that is courteous. Understand the proper format for memos, letters, and emails. Determine whether your writing can be easily understood by your intended audience. Learn how to perfect your business writing in this one-day workshop.While there are many types of business writing, this workshop will provide tools to write effective memos, emails, and letters, as well as briefly touch on reports and proposals. The 4 C?s: Clear, Concise, Complete, and Correct Good writing must be clear, concise, complete, and correct. In this session, learn how to write with these principles in mind. Manners and Courtesy Courtesy is an important part of good business writing. During this session, participants will learn ways to make their writing respectful and polite. Writing Memos Memos are another challenge that many writers face. Participants will look at parts of a memo and complete a fun exercise. Writing Effective E-mails Mostly everyone today uses email to communicate at work and at home. This session will give participants some tips on writing effective emails and managing email. Reports and Proposals Reports and proposals are two important types of business writing. In this session, an overview of the steps involved with writing these pieces is presented. Writing Business Letters This session reviews the steps for writing a business letter, types of letters, and the parts of a business letter. Participants then examine samples of business letters to determine the type and the parts of each letter. Readability Index The readability index determines the difficulty level of a written piece. Participants will apply the index to a sample and to their own work. Proofreading Participants learn about checking the grammar, spelling and punctuation in their written pieces, and then review their pre-assignment. Reviewing Your Writing In this session, participants complete a final review of their piece of writing. Workshop Wrap-Up At the end of the workshop, students will have an opportunity to ask questions and fill out an action plan.

Duration 1 Days 6 CPD hours This course is intended for This course is for anyone who finds themselves needing to improve their negotiating skills in the workplace. Overview Develop the skills necessary for successful negotiation. Identify key negotiation concepts and strategies. Learn the key elements in preparing for negotiation to help ensure success. Develop a BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement) before starting negotiation. Identify what we bring to the negotiation table that could get in the way of successful negotiation. Generate options to getting to a shared agreement Prepare for and practice negotiating in a safe environment Being able to negotiate well is critical for any project professional. You need to clarify what you hope to gain from negotiating, as well as understand the other side?s objectives to reach a mutually beneficial result. This course provides essential tips on how to prepare for negotiation, including managing emotions and understanding what all parties contribute to the process. You will also learn the difference between positions and interests and how to bargain to generate options to find the win-win. The course provides an opportunity to apply concepts taught to a real-life situation and to practice negotiating in a safe environment. Note: This course will earn you 7 PDUs. 1 - Negotiation Overview Negotiation defined Negotiation strategies 3 Negotiation approaches Negotiation Process 2 - Preparing your Negotiation Mindset Mental models Personal values Forms of power Managing emotions Identifying your personal hot buttons Cooling down techniques 3 - Prepare for Negotiation Determine if negotiation is your best path Determine negotiation goal Collect relevant information Identify your BATNA Identify your interests under your position Build an effective environment Prepare your opening statements 4 - Negotiation Tips to Remember Before you Begin Negotiating Present your opening statement Exchange information - identify interests Bargain and generate options for mutual gain Finalize agreement & conclude negotiation Overcoming negotiation challenges

The 'golden rule' of negotiation is simple - don't! But life's rarely that simple and very often we do have to negotiate, particularly if we want to win the business and especially if we want to win it on our terms. Such negotiations are crucial. We need to prepare for them. We need a strategy, and the skills to execute it. Does your team have a structured approach? Is it flawlessly executed, every time? Or is there room for improvement? This programme will help them master the six fundamentals of closing better business: Manage all these elements well and you will win more business, more profitably. This course will help participants: Negotiate from a position of partnership, not competition Deal more effectively and profitably with price objections Identify and practise successful sales negotiating skills Identify strengths and weaknesses as a sales negotiator Understand different types of buyer behaviour Learn to recognise negotiating tactics and stances Apply a new and proven structure to their business negotiations Identify and adapt for different behavioural styles Be alert to unconscious (non-verbal) communication Prepare and present a proposal at a final business negotiation stage Project confidence and exercise assertiveness in all sales negotiations 1 Planning for successful business negotiations This session introduces the concept of business negotiation and looks at its importance in the context of the participants' roles and activities. It briefly examines why we negotiate and the dynamics involved. Session highlights: What kind of a negotiator are you? Negotiation skills self-assessment and best practice How to establish roles and responsibilities for both parties How to identify and set objectives for both buyer and seller How to research and establish the other person's position (business negotiation stance) 2 How to structure your negotiations This module presents an eight-step framework or structure for use in negotiations and considers how best to prepare and plan your negotiations within the context of a supplier/customer relationship or business cycle. It also includes a brief review of legal responsibilities and what constitutes a 'deal'. Session highlights: Learn and apply a formal structure to use when negotiating How to establish short- and longer-term objectives and opportunities How best to plan, prepare and co-ordinate a major business negotiation meeting, or on-going negotiations Understanding of basic legal and organisational requirements 3 Verbal negotiation skills This session examines the human and communication dynamics inherent in any negotiation situation. It emphasises the importance of professional skills in preparing for a negotiation by identifying needs, wants and requirements accurately and by qualifying the competitive and organisational influences present. Session highlights: How to fully 'qualify' the other party's needs, requirements and constraints during the negotiation process by using advanced questioning and listening skills How to pre-empt negotiation objections by promoting and gaining commitment to options, benefits, value and solutions How best to propose and suggest ideas, using drawing-out skills 4 Non-verbal negotiation skills This module highlights how different personal styles, corporate cultures and organisation positions can influence events, and demonstrates practical methods for dealing with and controlling these factors. It also examines key principles of body language and non-verbal communication in a practical way. Session highlights: Gaining rapport and influencing unconsciously Understanding the importance of non-verbal communication; reading other people's meaning and communicating effectively as a result Ensure that non-verbal behaviour is fully utilised and observed to create maximum impact and monitor progress (eg, buying signals) Recognising that business negotiations are precisely structured and agreements gained incrementally 5 Proposing and 'packaging' This session highlights how best to present and package your proposal. It looks at how to pre-empt the need for negotiating by creating minor-options and 'bargaining' points, as well as how to manage the expectations and perceptions of the customer or buyer. Session highlights: How to identify the key variables that can be negotiated The power and use of 'authority' within your negotiations How to structure and present your proposal, ideas or quotation to best effect The importance of when and how to identify and influence buyer's objections 6 Dealing with price This module highlights how to best present and package price within your proposal or negotiation. In most cases, price has more to do with psychology than affordability and preparation and careful handling are essential. Session highlights: The three reasons that people will pay your asking price How to set price in a competitive market The key differences between selling and negotiating Ten ways to present price more effectively and persuasively 7 Getting to 'Yes': tactics and strategies There are many different tactics and strategies common to successful negotiators. This session looks at those that are most appropriate to the participants' own personal styles and situations. The importance of 'follow-through' is also explained and how to deal with protracted or 'stale-mate' business negotiations. Session highlights: How to negotiate price and reduce discounting early in the process How to recognise negotiating tactics and strategies in your customer or supplier Key strategies, techniques and tactics to use in negotiation The importance of follow-through and watching the details How to deal with stalled business negotiations or competitor 'lock-out' 8 Case studies and review This session examines a number of different situations and participants discuss ways to approach each. This will allow learning to be consolidated and applied in a very practical way. There will also be a chance to have individual points raised in a question and answer session. Session highlights: Case studies Question and answer Planning worksheet Negotiation 'toolkit' and check-list 9 Personal action plans Session highlights: Identify the most important personal learning points from the programme Highlight specific actions and goals Flag topics for future personal development and improvement

Any successful business manager will tell you that you never get the deal you deserve - you always get the deal you negotiate! This two-day workshop includes recent research and practical techniques from the Harvard Business School Negotiation Project and provides a unique opportunity to learn and practice these skills in a safe environment using up to date materials and life-like practice negotiation case studies. This course will help participants to: Understand the basics of negotiation Develop negotiating skills Increase their business acumen Develop their communication skills Learn the models, techniques and tools for an effective negotiation Identify the barriers to agreements Close the deal 1 What is negotiation? Key skills for negotiation Types of negotiation Win-lose negotiations versus Win-win negotiations Wise agreements and Principled Negotiation 2 Four key negotiating concepts BATNA - Best alternative to negotiated agreement Setting your reservation price ZOPA - Zone of possible agreement Creating and trading value 3 Business acumen Understanding pricing, gross margins and profit Knowing the key points on which to negotiate 4 A Four Phase Model for negotiation Nine steps to successful planning Discussing a deal - creating and claiming value Making and framing proposals Bargaining for the winning deal 5 Effective communication Effective questioning Active listening skills Understanding and interpreting body language Barriers to effective communication 6 Understanding influence and persuasion Influencing strategies Ten proven ways to influence people Six universal methods of persuasion Understanding why people do business with other people 7 Negotiating tactics Tactics for win-lose negotiations Tactics for win-win negotiations Effective team negotiating Understanding and using powerv What do you do when the other side has more power? 8 Barriers to agreement Common barriers to agreement The Negotiators Dilemma Dealing with die-hard negotiators Dealing with lack of trust 9 Potential barriers to cross-border agreements Understanding business methods and practice in other cultures Figuring out who has the power and who makes decisions Recognising and dealing with cultural differences What's OK here might not be OK there 10 Closing the deal Four steps to closing the winning deal

Duration 1.5 Days 9 CPD hours This course is intended for This course is intended for individuals who want to gain basic knowledge communicating, etiquette, professionalism and time management for the office environment. Overview Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to communicate, be professional and manage their time effectively in a business environment. In this course, students will learn how to communicate, act and manage time effective in a business environment. Getting Started Icebreaker Housekeeping Items The Parking Lot Workshop Objectives The Big Picture What is Communication? How Do We Communicate? Other Factors in Communication Understanding Communication Barriers An Overview of Common Barriers Language Barriers Cultural Barriers Differences in Time and Place Paraverbal Communication Skills The Power of Pitch The Truth about Tone The Strength of Speed Non-Verbal Communication Understanding the Mehrabian Study All About Body Language Interpreting Gestures Speaking like a Star S = Situation T = Task A = Action R = Result Summary Listening Skills Seven Ways to Listen Better Today Understanding Active Listening Sending Good Signals to Others Asking Good Questions Open Questions Closed Questions Probing Questions Appreciative Inquiry The Purpose of AI The Four Stages Examples and Case Studies Mastering the Art of Conversation Level One: Discussing General Topics Level Two: Sharing Ideas and Perspectives Level Three: Sharing Personal Experiences Our Top Networking Tips Advanced Communication Skills Understanding Precipitating Factors Establishing Common Ground Using ?I? Messages Wrapping Up Words from the Wise Review of Parking Lot Lessons Learned Completion of Action Plans and Evaluations Principles of Professional Behavior Always be Your Best Meeting and Greeting Sending Social Invitations to Business Associates Interview Etiquette Interviewing Before the Interview In the Waiting Room During the Interview After the Interview Job Fair Interviews Planning & Attending Business Meetings Office Meetings Meal Meetings Electronic Etiquette Voicemail Cell Phones Email Multiculture Etiquette Defining the Challenge Five Steps to Dealing with Diversity Guidelines for Managing Diverse Relationships Time Management Concepts Benefits of better time utilization Who controls your schedule? Your Job: What You Are Responsible for Accomplishing? Your job responsibilities Setting objectives Setting priorities How to Use Your Time Gathering data-the time log Analyzing the data Delegation: Working Through Others Why some people don't delegate Levels of delegation How to delegate Benefits of delegation Getting started Planning: Keys to Achievement Planning: Keys to Achievement Coping with Common Time Wasters Coping with self-generated time wasters Coping with environmental time wasters Personal Needs that Get in the Way of Effective Time Utilization Needs profile analysis Self-assessment questionnaire Applying needs assessment results Planning for Improvement Six tips for effective time management Planning for improved time utilization Follow-Up: Staying on Track Time savings progress report Time savings progress chart Time management progress survey Additional course details: Nexus Humans Business Soft Skills training program is a workshop that presents an invigorating mix of sessions, lessons, and masterclasses meticulously crafted to propel your learning expedition forward. This immersive bootcamp-style experience boasts interactive lectures, hands-on labs, and collaborative hackathons, all strategically designed to fortify fundamental concepts. Guided by seasoned coaches, each session offers priceless insights and practical skills crucial for honing your expertise. Whether you're stepping into the realm of professional skills or a seasoned professional, this comprehensive course ensures you're equipped with the knowledge and prowess necessary for success. While we feel this is the best course for the Business Soft Skills course and one of our Top 10 we encourage you to read the course outline to make sure it is the right content for you. Additionally, private sessions, closed classes or dedicated events are available both live online and at our training centres in Dublin and London, as well as at your offices anywhere in the UK, Ireland or across EMEA.

This workshop will provide participants with the insight and skills to be more effective business networkers, face-to-face and online. The approach taken is to build on the strengths people already have and their successes. It is easier to develop what you already have than to try and develop skills that do not come easily. Being yourself is the most effective tool for business networking and building relationships. This course will help those attending: Appreciate the importance of networking, and different forms of networking Understand the dynamics of communication that are specific to networking Become more confident and assured when 'working' a room Improve their influencing skills, especially with people who are experts and in positions of authority 'Sell' themselves and promote their company Identify and manage their profiles using online social networking sites Use effective follow-up to maintain active contacts and connections Select the correct networking groups, clubs and events Create their own personal network 1 The importance, and different types, of networking Personal objectives and introductions Test networking session Examples of the importance, purpose and format of various types of networking, and benefits you can expect 2 How to work a room - preparation and strategy Three things to know before you attend any event Non-verbal communication and art of rapport Breaking the ice - worked examples with practical demonstration 3 Communication dynamics in networking - the power of the listening networker Why it is better to listen than talk Effective questioning and active listening Creating a natural and engaging conversation, 1-2-1 and in a larger group 4 Assumptions when networking How to use the 'instant judgement' of others to your advantage What assumptions are you making? How to keep an open mind 5 Business networking etiquette Meeting and greeting at a business networking event - approaching complete strangers and introducing yourself Socialising: joining and leaving groups easily Making a good first impression in 30 seconds The use of status when networking 6 Making connections Asking for cards, contact details and referrals Gaining a follow-up commitment Some tips and tricks 7 Business networking rehearsals Practice sessions 8 Personal business networking online Overview of different types of networking sites - there is a lot more out there than just Facebook! Examples of creating an effective profile Using social networking effectively - case studies and application 'Advanced' applications - blogs, articles, twitter, feeds, etc. Online demonstration and examples 9 Building relationships - follow-up and follow-through Maintaining a good database Developing a contact strategy with different types and levels of contact How to analyse your contact base

The need for key staff to have commercial skills is paramount, as the public sector is increasingly opened up as a commercial market, in which organisations compete against each other and the private sector for contracts. Generating additional income and being commercially aware is vital for this to be a success, and is what many public sector organisations are looking to do. This programme will help you: See commercial awareness as not just another skill-set, but as a different mind-set Use a variety of tried-and-tested commercial, analytical decision-making techniques and tools Define your commercial objectives Develop a strategic focus Start looking at service clients as market segments Analyse, in a competitive context, your service offering Plan a commercial strategy, prepare for its implementation and see it through to execution 1 What is commercial thinking? Understand what it means to be a commercial thinker Identifying commercial opportunities often involves not only a different skill set but also a different mindset; looking at the services that you provide 2 Defining strategic commercial objectives Defining your key commercial objectives Prioritising your strategic objectives Two key strategic planning tools:Resource and Competency MatrixPESTLE How to apply these tools to your particular situation 3 Developing a strategic focus Decision-making on how to compete in the markets identified by your strategic objectives requires a strategic focus Developing strategic focus A tool for helping you to make those decisions: using the Ansoff Matrix 4 Defining customer targets How to think more commercially by understanding who all your customers are and how they differ from each other how to apply the principles to your areas to identify the type of customers you have and their key characteristics - Customer segmentation Who are your customers? How do their needs vary? - Scenarios 5 The competitive market place Understanding the competitive forces at play Different types of competition Analysing your competitive environment using Porter's 5 Forces model 6 Meeting stakeholder expectations Two simple models to help you identify the key stakeholders who could influence your commercial environment How to use your stakeholders to help you achieve your commercial objectives 7 Implementation - systems, structures and processes Effective commercial activity involves working with others to implement ideas and strategies What do you need to have in place before you implement your commercial strategy? How to health-check your organisation prior to implementation using the McKinsey 7S framework 8 Implementation - people and culture A good commercial strategy only works if the people involved buy in to the ideas and if the culture of the organisation is conducive to the effective implementation How the latest thinking in behavioural economics can help you develop your culture and people to work commercially 9 Tools and checklists Be more commercial within your sphere of influence using a commercial checklist to help you Using the checklist as a benchmark against the most commercially aware organisations Using the checklist as a health check - both corporately and individually

This highly practical one-day workshop has been designed specifically to help maximise sales where customers make contact by telephone. When customers contact us direct they have clearly already considered the possibility that they might buy from us, but we're still only half-way to making a sale. Unless we fully understand their needs and make it easy for them to buy, we may not secure the business. This workshop concentrates on the telephone skills and techniques needed to achieve the most positive outcome in any inbound customer call. A combination of excellent customer service skills and savvy sales awareness techniques will increase our chances of a successful outcome for both parties. The programme features the unique INBOUND model, to help remember the key principles for effective inbound telephone sales: Initial impressions Needs of the customer Bring them with you Open up the conversation Understand the triggers Narrow down the solutions Decision time! The programme also covers how to deal with difficult calls and challenging people - after all, every complaint is a sales opportunity! This programme will help participants: Create the perfect interaction with any customer making contact by telephone Make every call count Build rapport quickly in any situation Handle difficult calls and challenging people Create sustainable and profitable relationships Increase your sales conversions 1 The inbound sales process Each customer who contacts us will be at a different stage of the sales process. Some might be making general enquiries whilst others will be ready to commit, having made most of their decisions already. Sales and customer service people need to be ready to find out the stage the customer has reached before helping them to make the right decision for them 2 Engaging with the customer Having clarified where the customer is on their journey to making a purchasing decision, our next responsibility is to create and build a trusting relationship on both sides. This involves establishing rapport quickly to ease the communication process, thus enabling smooth transactions, both now and in the future 3 Questioning and listening skills for gathering information Developing these skills requires practice so that the communication becomes natural for the customer. This helps the customer to feel comfortable with us and work with us towards an effective solution. We discuss different types of question and how to use high-gain questions to uncover key information. Active listening will ensure that we can really help customers get what they need 4 Overcoming objections and excuses If we have followed the process properly and really understood the customer, then there should no further objections or barriers to completing the transaction. The reality is that there will still be the occasional issue that needs clarifying, so we need to prepare for possible objections and questions that customers might have. This includes probing objections so that we fully understand the customer's perspective before constructing suitable responses or solutions 5 Gaining commitment and ending the call Customers want to gain a solution to the issue they are facing and the sooner we can help them achieve that the better. Guiding the customer and helping them to believe in their own decision is part of our role. This section is dedicated to getting commitment all the way along the process, not just at the close 6 Dealing with difficult and challenging situations The realisation that everybody is different, with different personality types, different ways of looking at the world and different goals, is key to understanding sales. With this is mind we discuss these differences and how we adapt our approach to ease communication and maintain trust and understanding 7 Action plans Course summary and presentation of action plans