Executive Business Communication Mastery

Month 1: Foundations of Professional Communication

• Class 1: The Communication Process: Sender, Receiver, Message, Channel, Noise. Breaking down communication barriers.
• Class 2: Professional Etiquette & Tone: Formal vs. Informal registers. The “You” Attitude (Audience-Centered approach).
• Practical/Field Work: Audit your own email inbox—rewrite 3 past emails to be more concise and audience-focused. Observe and document communication styles in a meeting.

Month 2: Effective Business Writing (Internal)

• Class 3: The 3-Step Writing Process: Planning, Writing, Completing. Drafting clear Memos and Internal Announcements.
• Class 4: Email Mastery: Subject lines that get opened, the BLUF method (Bottom Line Up Front), and managing email overload.
• Practical/Field Work: Draft a mock policy change memo for a company; practice the “Inbox Zero” method for one week.

Month 3: External Correspondence & Persuasion

• Class 5: Persuasive Writing: AIDA Model (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) for sales letters and proposals.
• Class 6: Routine vs. Negative Messages: Delivering bad news (buffers, reasons, news, closing) with empathy.
• Practical/Field Work: Write a complaint letter to a vendor; write a rejection letter to a job applicant using the “sandwich method.”

Month 4: Verbal Communication & Active Listening

• Class 7: The Art of Active Listening: Paraphrasing, clarifying questions, and non-verbal cues (nodding, eye contact).
• Class 8: Giving and Receiving Feedback: The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for constructive criticism.
• Practical/Field Work: Conduct a 10-minute interview with a colleague using only open ended questions; practice summarizing a conversation back to the speaker.

Month 5: Non-Verbal Communication & Body Language

• Class 9: Decoding Body Language: Posture, gestures, micro-expressions, and proxemics (personal space).
• Class 10: Voice Modulation: Tone, pitch, pace, and volume. Eliminating filler words (um, ah, like).
• Practical/Field Work: Record yourself speaking for 3 minutes and analyze your filler words; watch a TED Talk on mute to analyze the speaker’s gestures.

Month 6: Presentation Skills (Part 1 – Structure)

• Class 11: Presentation Structure: The Hook, The Roadmap, The Body, and The Call to Action.
• Class 12: Visual Aids: “Death by PowerPoint” vs. effective slide design (Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 rule).
• Practical/Field Work: Create a slide deck of only images (no text) to tell a story; outline a 5-minute pitch for a new product idea.

Month 7: Presentation Skills (Part 2 – Delivery)

• Class 13: Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety: Breathing techniques, visualization, and stance.
• Class 14: Handling Q&A Sessions: Techniques for difficult questions, bridging, and staying on message.
• Practical/Field Work: Deliver a 5-minute presentation to a friend or mirror; practice answering 5 “hostile” questions about your presentation.

Month 8: Business Reports & Proposals

• Class 15: Informational vs. Analytical Reports: Executive Summaries, Introductions, and Conclusions.
• Class 16: Formatting and Data Visualization: Using charts, graphs, and headings effectively.
• Practical/Field Work: Find a confusing chart in a newspaper/report and redesign it for clarity; write an Executive Summary for a hypothetical 50-page report.

Month 9: Meetings & Group Dynamics

• Class 17: Running Effective Meetings: Agendas, timekeeping, and minutes. The role of the Chairperson.
• Class 18: Team Dynamics: Tuckman’s Stages (Forming, Storming, Norming,
  Performing). Managing dominant vs. quiet personalities.
• Practical/Field Work: Chair a meeting (family or work) using a strict agenda; take formal minutes for a 30-minute discussion.

Month 10: Intercultural & Global Communication

• Class 19: High-Context vs. Low-Context Cultures: Communicating across borders. Direct vs. Indirect styles.
• Class 20: Virtual Communication Etiquette: Zoom/Teams best practices, time zones, and remote team building.
• Practical/Field Work: Research business etiquette for a specific country (e.g., Japan or Brazil); facilitate a mock video call with “connection issues” to practice patience and clarity.

Month 11: Negotiation & Conflict Resolution

• Class 21: Negotiation Basics: BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement) and ZOPA (Zone of Possible Agreement).
• Class 22: Conflict Styles: Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (Competing, Collaborating, Compromising, Avoiding, Accommodating).
• Practical/Field Work: Role-play a salary negotiation; analyze a recent conflict using the Thomas-Kilmann model.

Month 12: Employment Communication & Capstone

• Class 23: Personal Branding: Resumes, Cover Letters, and LinkedIn profiles. The Elevator Pitch.
• Class 24: Final Capstone Presentation: Students present a comprehensive business proposal or crisis communication plan.
• Practical/Field Work: Update your LinkedIn profile with SEO keywords; record a 60 second video introduction of yourself.