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Quick Look Course Summary:Master Effective Business Communication & Presentation Skills (5 days)
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Length: 5 day(s)
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Price (at your venue): 1 Person R 24,340 EX VAT 3 Person R 18,428 EX VAT 10 Person R 13,286 EX VAT
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Certification Type:Non-Accredited
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Locations & Venues: Off-site or in-house. We train in all major city centres throughout South Africa.
Presentation Skills – self-paced online, 6 months’ access: R750 per learner (ex VAT); teams of 10 or more pay less.
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Master Effective Business Communication & Presentation Skills (5 days)
Managers who get the right message across – in the meetings they chair, the reports they sign and the presentations they give.
Senior managers and specialists are judged on how well they communicate: whether the board understands the recommendation, whether the client trusts the presentation, whether the meeting ends with a decision. Strong business communication skills are a core leadership competency, yet most managers have built them by trial and error. This five-day course develops them properly, in one structured programme.
Each day builds one area. Day one covers communication in a leadership role – theory, voice, body language and personal impact in a diverse workplace. Day two is business writing: emails, letters and explaining technical detail to non-technical readers, plus gathering and analysing information. Day three turns that information into workplace reports. Day four is presentation planning, design and delivery. Day five covers formal meetings, chairing and leading discussions, and ends with a final presentation.
Most of the week is spent practising. Delegates record a short baseline talk on day one, draft a workplace report, rehearse with feedback, chair a mock meeting and finish with a final presentation that is compared with their first recording – so progress is visible to them and to you.
Why this course
For your organisation
- Managers who communicate clearly with staff, clients and executives
- Reports that support decisions instead of delaying them
- Meetings and discussions that reach outcomes
- Presentations that represent the organisation professionally
- One programme in place of several separate short courses
For your delegates
- Measurable progress from a recorded baseline to a final presentation
- Confidence in front of a group, a panel or a board
- A report structure and checklist you can reuse
- Personal feedback across speaking, writing and chairing
- A personal communication development plan
What delegates will be able to do
- Apply communication models to diagnose and remove barriers to understanding
- Use voice, body language and personal presence to support their message
- Write clear emails, letters and memos, and explain technical information to non-specialists
- Gather, check and systematically analyse information for a report or presentation
- Structure and write workplace reports that suit the reader and the decision required
- Plan, design and deliver a presentation built around one clear key message
- Handle questions and challenging audiences with composure
- Plan and chair a formal meeting and lead a group discussion to a decision
Who should attend
Managers, supervisors and senior technical specialists who chair meetings, lead discussions, write reports and present to colleagues, clients or executives – and who want to lead through effective communication. Well suited to newly appointed managers and to specialists moving into leadership roles.
Course outline
Day 1 – Communication in a leadership role
Communication as a management competency
- Why communication is a core management skill
- Communication models: sender, message, channel, receiver and feedback
- Barriers to communication and how to overcome them
- Baseline exercise: a short recorded talk to measure progress over the week
Oral communication techniques
- Choosing the right channel: face to face, telephone, virtual or written
- Structuring a spoken message so it is clear and concise
- Questioning and active listening
- Assertive, passive and aggressive communication
Body language and personal impact
- Posture, gesture, eye contact and use of space
- Reading other people's non-verbal signals
- First impressions and personal presence
- Dress code and professional image for different audiences and settings
Using your voice
- Pitch, pace, pause, volume and tone
- Breathing, projection and vocal warm-ups
- Articulation, emphasis and avoiding filler words
- Practical: voice drills and short readings with feedback
Communicating across a diverse workplace
- Language, cultural and generational differences in South African workplaces
- Adapting your style to seniority and audience
- Giving and receiving feedback constructively
Day 2 – Business writing and gathering information
Principles of business writing
- Writing for the reader: purpose, key message, supporting detail and action required
- Plain language and concise sentences
- Tone, register and professional courtesy
- Common grammar, punctuation and style errors
Emails, memos and business letters
- Emails that get read and acted on
- Internal memos and notices
- Formal business letters
- Practical: rewriting delegates' own workplace emails
Communicating technical information
- Translating technical detail for non-technical readers and listeners
- Using examples, analogies and visuals
- Writing clear instructions and procedures
- Checking that the message has been understood
Gathering information
- Defining purpose, scope and audience before gathering anything
- Interviews, questionnaires, observation, records and desk research
- Judging the reliability and relevance of sources
- Systematically analysing and organising the information
Day 3 – Workplace reports
Types of workplace reports
- Informational, analytical and recommendation reports
- Progress, incident, investigation and feasibility reports
- Short-form reports versus formal reports
- Matching the report type to the audience and the decision required
Structuring a report
- Title page, executive summary and introduction
- Findings, conclusions and recommendations
- Logical flow, headings and numbering
- Appendices and referencing sources
Presenting information in reports
- Presenting numbers with tables and charts
- Writing an executive summary that busy readers will act on
- Presenting findings logically, clearly and concisely
Report writing workshop
- Analysing a case-study data set
- Drafting a short report in small groups
- Editing for clarity, accuracy and length
- Peer review against a report checklist
Day 4 – Presentations
Planning a presentation
- Setting the objective and identifying the target audience
- Gathering and selecting relevant content
- Building one clear key message
- Structuring the presentation around the audience's issues
Designing the presentation
- Strong openings and memorable closes
- Using stories, examples and evidence
- Slide design and avoiding text-heavy slides
- Other visual aids, handouts and presenting data
Delivering with confidence
- Managing nerves and preparing the room and equipment
- Using voice, body language and eye contact in front of a group
- Working with notes and keeping to time
- Presenting online and in hybrid meetings
Handling questions and difficult audiences
- Preparing for likely questions
- Answering questions clearly and honestly
- Dealing with hostile, dominant or silent audiences
- Practical: rehearsal presentations with facilitator and peer feedback
Day 5 – Meetings, discussions and final presentations
Planning formal meetings
- Types of meetings and when a meeting is really needed
- Notices, agendas and supporting papers
- Roles of the chairperson, secretary and members
- Meeting procedure: quorum, motions and resolutions
Chairing meetings with confidence
- Opening the meeting and setting the tone
- Keeping to the agenda and to time
- Managing participants and reaching decisions
- Minutes, action lists and follow-up
Leading discussions and panels
- The role of a discussion leader or panel facilitator
- Opening, steering and summarising a discussion
- Drawing in quiet participants and managing dominant ones
- Practical: a mock meeting chaired by delegates in turn
Final presentations and development plan
- Each delegate delivers a final presentation based on their report
- Recorded feedback compared with the day one baseline
- Personal communication development plan
How it is delivered
Five days, 08:30-16:00. In person at your offices anywhere in South Africa, at a BOTI venue, or live online (the recorded presentation exercises work best in person). One delegate or a group of up to 20. Workbook, report and presentation checklists, and recorded practice sessions included. We deliver it at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and anywhere else in South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online for teams in different places.
What our clients say
“We have been very impressed with their service and rollout of the training.”
“We were particularly impressed by the quality of facilitation and the practical relevance of the content presented. The programme was delivered with professionalism, clarity, and a strong emphasis on real-world application”
“The course was efficiently organized and aligned with our schedule. We were impressed by the quality of the training and the expertise of the facilitator.”
Frequently asked questions
Can you run this course at our offices?
Yes. Most groups are trained at the client's premises anywhere in South Africa; we can also host it at a BOTI venue or deliver it live online.
How many people can attend?
From one delegate to groups of about 20. Smaller groups get more presentation practice time each.
Is it accredited?
No – it is a non-accredited short course and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Can the five days be split?
It can be run as five consecutive days or spread over several weeks, so delegates apply each skill at work before the next session. Agree the schedule with us when you book.
Are there shorter courses on these topics?
Yes. If you need one skill only, see our Professional Presentations Course, Public Speaking Training, the Business Writing Skills courses, the Reporting Writing Course or the Chairing a Meeting courses. This five-day programme combines all of them for managers.
Can you run this course in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban?
Yes. We train on site at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and across South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online so a team spread over several offices can attend together.
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Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00. After hours, we reply on the next working day – or call 011 882 8853.