If you ask almost any professional about the most important hard skills, communication will almost always be at the top of the list.
The ability to discuss strategies, goals, and solutions with others is paramount to any business. Communication can truly be the difference between winning and losing a company, large or small. Millions of dollars can be lost each year due to poor communication.
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For these reasons, communication skills remain highly sought after. According to Wiley’s ‘Closing the Skills Gap 2023’ report, digital communication skills are the second most in-demand technical skill, while broader communication, including written, oral and presentations, remains the top soft skill sought by companies. Included in
Additionally, the workplace landscape has changed significantly from just five years ago, with remote work and increased integration of AI, and the best ways to communicate have also changed.
“Today’s skills can typically become obsolete in about three to five years, which means we need to upgrade them very often,” says Angie Kamath, dean of the School of Professional Studies at New York University. says Mr.
Changing communication dynamics
One way to stay ahead of the curve is to consider business communication courses. Where the focus used to be on writing professional emails, creating research reports, and creating effective presentations, the field has now expanded to include data analysis, customer communications, social influence, and social media. Kamath points out that there is a growing emphasis on
Social media in particular has created new opportunities for businesses to sell their products. According to the Pew Research Center, 3 in 10 adult social media users have purchased a product after seeing it on social media, and when a content creator they follow mentions the product. That number will continue to grow.
This change has been so widespread and impactful that integrated marketing has become the most popular master’s degree program offered by New York University’s School of Professional Education, Kamath said. For those working deeply in the field of marketing and communications, upskilling through a graduate program can be a great opportunity.
For others, completing a certification program or even just taking a one-time correspondence course can be a great way to learn the latest practices, especially in the wake of new technology.
“So we’re trying to help people understand how to use technology. The flavor of the month and the flavor of the year is AI, but we’re trying to help people understand how to use technology to understand what they’re doing from a communications perspective. We want them to understand how to strengthen it,” Kamath said. luck.
At the same time, there are changes in relationships in the workforce, including gender, diversity, aging, hybridity, and Gen Z. So, in part, exiting algorithms is really important for learning new ideas and having conversations. Kamath says.
“Whether it’s our work lives or our personal lives like social media, it’s sucking us in,” she added. “We end up in an echo chamber because the algorithm tells us what to consume.”
Her advice is to find the service that best addresses your interests and desire to learn within three broad skill buckets: people skills, business enablement skills, and technical skills. In the course she can touch on all three or focus deeply on one subject.
The good news is that programs vary in length, cost, requirements, and focus, and while certificates are offered, you can also choose to enroll in individual courses. In the end, it is most important to choose the one that best suits your modern career goals and personal situation.
luck Here are some of the products on the market to help you upskill in the world of business communications.
Requirements: Two courses for qualification
Fee: $145 per course. Package $250
format: Online
Timeline: 10-20 hours to complete the entire package
Course example: Effective business writing. effective presentation.collaborative communication
Fee: $3,900
format: Online
Timeline: Three months
Course example: Intercultural Communication; Persuasive Writing.Impactful, unscripted communication
Requirements: Take 3 Business Communication Courses and Earn a Certification
Fee: $9,660 ($3,220/course)
format: Online or in person
Timeline: Within 3 years
Course exampleIn: Information Technology Finance and Communications.Grant proposal writing; negotiation and organizational conflict resolution
Requirements: Earn your certification by taking three 18-hour courses
Fee: $11,400 ($3,800/course)
format: Online or in person
Timeline: self-determined
Course example: Interpersonal communication and conflict management. Written and visual communication.public speaking for professionals
Requirements: 3 core courses + 3 electives to earn certification
Fee: ~$5,400 ($799–$999/course)
format: Online.Instructor-led or self-paced options
Timeline: Within 3 years
Course example: Digital communication in the changing workplace. Persuasion in Business: Leadership, Public Speaking, and Executive Communication.Strategic communications and corporate storytelling
Requirements: Complete 7 courses (5 required + 2 electives)
Fee: ~$6,700 (includes fees, tuition, and program materials)
format: Online or in person
Timeline: self-determined
Course example: Dynamics of interpersonal communication. Crisis management and communication: protecting image and survivability.Social media best practices for communications professionals
Requirements: 4 course series
Fee: $49/month
format: Online
Timeline: 2 months (10 hours a week)
Course example: business writing. Graphic Design; Successful Presentations Apart from these examples, platforms such as Udemy, Coursera, and edX offer a variety of courses in the field of business communication.