Business Communication workshops are offered on a wide variety of subjects, e.g. etiquette, conflict resolution, decision making skills, negotiation skills, presentation skills (public speaking), self esteem & assertiveness, and writing skills.

SAQA Aligned Studies

1.  US 110506 – Effective Communication

Effective Communication is a 2-day workshop aimed at SMME Entrepreneurs, and the first level of management  who has employees reporting to him/her.  The contents of the course is aimed at NQF Level 4, and the course is complimented with four credits.  The four modules empower delegates to:  a) Identify and explain the key factors used to understand the target audience of effective communications; b) Identify the core components of effective verbal communication; c) Identify the effective elements of effective written communication;  and d) Communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders.

2.  US 252027 – Maintain Workplace Relationships

This 2-day workshop on NQF Level 5 with six credits, empowers delegates to a)  Liaise and network with internal and external stakeholder;  b) Devise and apply a strategy to establish constructive relationships with team members in a unit;  c)  Devise and apply a strategy to establish constructive relationships with managers; and d) Identify and minimise personal conflict in the workplace.

3. US 252042 – How to Improve Organisational Culture

This workshop is aimed at SMME Entrepreneurs, and first line management with employees reporting to him/her.  The workshop is aligned to NQF Level 5 and is registered with five credits.  The four modules focus on:  a)  The relationship between values, ethics and organisational culture;  b) The concept of corporate ethics;  c)  The principles of corporate ethics; and d)  Formulating recommendations for promoting organisational values, the code of conduct and ethical practices within a unit and entity.

4.  US 252026 – Decision Making Skills, Today!

This 2-day course on NQF Level 5 is aimed at SMME entrepreneurs, managers of small business, junior managers of organisations, team leaders, section heads, supervisors, and any person who has employees reporting to him/her.  The workshop will empower participants in terms of knowledge, understanding, and application on the following four subject matters:

• The application of critical and analytical skills
• Engaging with stakeholders with the goal to develop solutions
• Using a systems approach to select feasibility solutions
• Drafting budgets according to operational plans of the unit
• Formulating and communicating decisions

5.  US 13948 – Negotiation Skills

The 2-day workshop is aligned to NQF Level 4 and is registered with five credits.  SMME Entrepreneurs (NVC) and the first level of management who has employees reporting to him/her will benefit from the following four modules:  a)  The need for negotiation skills in business;  b)  The steps in the negotiation process;  c) The application of the negotiation process to authentic situations;  and d) How to use the different negotiation strategies.

6.  US 8973 & 119467 – Experiential Learning & Communication

Knowledge is power. But trying to further your education after not studying for a while can prove to be a challenge. This workshop will enable the learner to make use of useful learning and study strategies and skills that will promote successful progression.  Accessing and using suitable learning resources and strategies, managing occupational learning programme materials, conducting basic research and presenting findings, functioning in a team as well as reflecting on how characteristics of the workplace and occupational context affect learning are just a few of the key points the workshop addresses.

7.  US 252031 – Emotional Intelligence

Apply the principles and concepts of David Goleman’s five domains of emotional intelligence to the management of self and others in your own life and your workplace environment.  This NQF Level 5 workshop is registered with four credits and runs over a 2-day period.  The workshop is action-packed with practical exercises to analyse interpersonal as well as intrapersonal relationships.  The impact of EI and your own level of EI will be analysed.  The workshop ends off with the development of your own EI Personal Development Plan (PDP).

---

Non-Credit Bearing Studies (International range)

1.  Building Your Self-Esteem and Assertiveness Skills

Building your self-esteem is essential for confidence and success, and it all begins with you. Of all the judgments you make in life, none is as important as the one you make about yourself. Without some measure of self-worth, life can be enormously painful. During this one-day workshop you will discover some simple techniques that dramatically change how you feel about yourself. You will learn how to recognize the importance of learning self-acceptance and nurturing your sense of self.

How You Will Benefit:

• Learn how to create positive self-expectations
• Begin setting goals to get more of what you want from life
• Develop self-talk messages that help build self-esteem
• Identify communication tools to help you be more assertive
• Learn how to say no, and when no is the best answer
• Learn how to make a positive first impression
• Discover ways to connect with people

What you will cover:

• Building your self-esteem
• Putting others at ease
• Make positive first impressions
• Fake it ‘til you make it!
• Internal self-esteem factors
• Projecting self-confidence
• Negative vs. positive thinking
• Distorted thinking
• How to wipe out worry
• Communication skills
• Giving and receiving compliments

2.  Anger Management

Anger is a universal experience. Dogs get angry, bees get angry, and so do humans. You don’t have to be a psychologist to know that managing anger productively is something few individuals, organizations, and societies do well. Yet research tells us that those who do manage their anger at work are much more successful than those who don’t.  The co-worker who can productively confront his teammate about his negative attitude increases his team’s chance of success as well as minimizes destructive conflicts. The customer service agent who can defuse the angry customer not only keeps her customers loyal but makes her own day less troublesome. This workshop is to help give you and your organization that edge.

How You will Benefit:

• Be better able to recognize how anger affects our bodies, our minds, and our behavior.
• Be better able to use the six-step method to break old patterns and replace them with a model for assertive anger.
• Be better able to control your own emotions when faced with other peoples’ anger.
• Be better able to identify ways to help other people safely manage some of their repressed or expressed anger.

3.  Conflict Resolution – Getting Along in the Workplace

All of us experience conflict. We argue with our spouses, disagree with our friends, and sometimes even quarrel with strangers at a hockey game. At times we lose sight of the fact that all this conflict is normal. So long as people are individuals there will be the potential for conflict. Since you can’t prevent conflict, the most important thing is to learn how to handle or manage it in productive ways. What is critical for resolving conflict is developing an understanding of, and a trust in, shared goals. It requires openness, discipline, and creativity. Showing respect for other people and not blaming them enables people to work for mutual benefit. These are the skills that you will develop in this two-day workshop.

How You Will Benefit:

• Understand what conflict is and how it can escalate.
• Recognize the five most common conflict resolution styles and when to use them.
• Increase positive information flow through non-verbal and verbal communication skills.
• Develop effective techniques for intervention strategies.
• Strengthen staff trust and morale.
• Become more confident of your ability to manage conflicts to enhance productivity and performance.

4.  Telephone Etiquette

The telephone; it is part of us. What would we do without it? It is as common as apple pie and summer sunshine. As much a part of our lives as learning to walk and talk and perhaps that is why we, at most times, give it little thought. Nonetheless, we do think about it, when we have had the experience of being treated rudely or abruptly while using this mode of communication. We bristle at the idea of someone’s brusqueness to us, and most probably never take thought of the times we have shown our bad manners while speaking on the telephone. This workshop will talk about how to employ effective telephone etiquette, and answer and process calls according to organizational standards.

How You Will Benefit:

• Ways to apply telephone efficiency.
• How to screen telephone calls.
• Ways to make a positive first impression whilst following organisational standards.
• Strategies toward more efficient telephone communication.
• Learn telephone handling tips, techniques and ethics.

5.  Problem Solving & Decision Making

As an individual, facts and knowledge can only go so far. Solving tough problems requires the ability to define the true problem, analyze the possible causes, create options, select the most feasible option, and then implement it. This two-day workshop should help individuals enhance their efforts to find sustainable solutions and learn new ways to approach problem-solving to reach win-win decisions.

How You Will Benefit:

• Increase your awareness of problem solving steps and problem solving tools.
• Distinguish root causes from symptoms to identify the right solution for the right problem.
• Improve your problem solving and decision making skills through identifying your own problem solving style.
• Identify ways to think creatively and work towards creative solutions.
• Recognize the top ten rules of good decision-making.