13 Best Communication Courses 2024
Strong interpersonal communication is the heartbeat of any professional setting. From business writing to meetings, how you present or communicate with your team matters.
If you’re looking to strengthen your own communication skills, taking a communication course can help you gain confidence and learn the right strategies to make a positive impact at work.
Read on for 13 communication courses perfect for taking your communications skills and style to the next level.
1. HRCI Communicating with Flair
What does it mean to communicate with flair? From overcoming public speaking anxiety to mastering business writing, communicating with flair in the workplace can set any individual apart as a leader or people manager.
The Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) provides a communication course set to help you develop your communication skills such as crafting clear and direct written emails or decks and understanding and using nonverbal communication effectively in your interactions.
HRCI is one of the most globally renowned centers for learning for HR expertise and excellence. Their courses provide the essential skills for any HR professional or people manager looking to grow and develop their skill set for the next stage of their career.
- Price: $79
- Duration: Self-paced
- Exam Required: N/A
- Online, In-Person, or both?: Online
- How many hours of instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
2. Cornell Employee Relations & Investigation Certificate
An employee’s relationship with their organization and management can positively impact their overall working experience. The Cornell Employee Relations & Investigation Certificate provides learners with the guidance and frameworks to develop powerful communication strategies with their people through problem-solving and critical-thinking scenarios.
Course objectives include skills needed to help HR professionals conduct fair internal investigations, business writing, and how to process and handle complaints and issues.
Cornell’s one of the most respected educational institutions in the US, and continuing your education through Cornell includes access to events for networking or thought leader panels for a year.
- Price: Available upon request
- Duration: Self-paced
- Exam Required: N/A
- Online, In-Person, or both?: Online
- How many hours of instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
3. UDEMY Foundations of Communications
UDEMY’s communications course provides the fundamentals to help any professional master effective human communication while they build stronger relationships and motivate those within their organization.
UDEMY’s online course approaches professional communication research with nine contexts: Informing, Confronting, Collaborating, Negotiating, Persuading, Empathizing, Resolving, Initiating and Innovating. These are where most professionals spend their time in their day-to-day and can help you communicate clearly and assertively as a leader.
This online course has no prerequisites and is perfect for anyone looking for independent study. Those in human resources and business or project management will find this course helpful as they support their people while also maintaining business objectives.
- Price: $9.99
- Duration: Self-paced
- Exam Required: N/A
- Online, In-Person, or both?: Online
- How many hours of instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
4. Open University’s Effective Communication in the Workplace
Open University’s Effective Communication in the Workplace online course provides an in-depth study on group communication for in-person or virtual teams.
It covers how to understand non-verbal communication, how to positively manage your public perception, and how to manage communication in diverse situations. You’ll also review interview skills and resume writing, perfect for elevating your Linkedin page or prepping for a job search.
The Open University has offered distance learning for over 50 years, providing over 200 qualifications to the U.K. and the world. Their mission to create an accessible learning institution to all makes their courses perfect for any learners looking for professional development while working or job searching.
- Price: Free
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Exam Required: N/A
- Online, In-Person, or both?: Online
- How many hours of instruction: 24 hours
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
5. Coursera’s Communication in the 21st Century Workplace
Coursera’s Communication in the 21st Century Workplace online course embraces how we connect to one another as inclusive, diverse workforces balancing both hybrid and remote models.
This practicum, hosted by the University of California, provides communication strategies to help professionals discover their own communication style as they connect with multigenerational and multiethnic workplaces.
Learners develop stronger awareness in communication—from listening skills to recall strategies—by diving into the social science behind successful communication.
Every person has their own style of communication, and this course will help you identify and adapt within the workplace to create stronger bonds of teamwork.
- Price: Free
- Duration: Self-paced
- Exam Required: N/A
- Online, In-Person, or both?: Online
- How many hours of instruction: 11 hours
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
6. American Management Association (AMA) Workplace Communication Training
American Management Association (AMA) Workplace Communication Training is a perfect online course to help anyone master the fundamentals of workplace interpersonal communication.
AMA provides continuing education courses to inspire and connect you to fellow entrepreneurs and leaders paving the way towards innovative practices and businesses.
In this training course, learners will develop strategies for persuasive communication and even take a crash course in mistake-free business writing. Modules include building and maintaining trust in the workplace, exploring how you can earn and develop a reputation as a credible leader, and ways to assert yourself in any meeting.
- Price: $249
- Duration: Self-paced
- Exam Required: N/A
- Online, In-Person, or both? Online
- How many hours of instruction: 5.25 hours
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
7. Intercultural Communication: Dynamics of cultural identities in global interaction
Bringing awareness, empathy, and the right practice to intercultural communication is growing in importance as organizations continue to reflect the diversity we see in our communities. This hands-on course from Future Learn is perfect for anyone, at any level, within a global organization.
You’ll gain vital insights into the nuances of cultural interactions, styles, and even your own way of communicating— which can benefit your connections in a personal setting and your personal life. You’ll look at case studies and public discourse as you navigate situations of intercultural misunderstanding and you’ll learn the benefits of bringing an equitable communication strategy to your role.
- Price: $27.99/mo (Subscription based)
- Duration: 5 weeks
- Exam Required: N/A
- Online, In-Person, or both? Online
- How many hours of instruction: 4 hrs/wk
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
8. Alison Workplace Communication
Want to speak up at a meeting but unsure of how? Want to ask for a raise but need more confidence? Or maybe you want to wow your team at an upcoming presentation?
The Alison Workplace Communication course will help you with the basics from interview skills, business writing, and developing awareness and emotional intelligence for interpersonal communication. As you embrace the fundamentals, you’ll gain confidence and see the impact of successful communication at work.
With 15 years of providing 25 million learners with the skills and certificates they need, through a variety of free courses from healthcare to business, Alison seeks to provide free education to help people transform their personal journeys. This course includes Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation and a final assessment.
- Price: Free
- Duration: Self-paced
- Exam Required: Yes
- Online, In-Person, or both?: Online
- How many hours of instruction: 5-6 hours
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
9. Communication Skill Builder For HR Professionals
This course, aimed at HR professionals particularly, is designed to help learners project more confidence and assertiveness through their communication style, assessing task versus strategic communication, and how to wield more influence with how they communicate.
You’ll learn to identify challenges or needs and see how you can proctor decision-making talks when collaborating with managers and executive leaders.
The HR Certification website has helped HR professionals for almost 30 years. This communication course is available for 1.5 re-certification credit hours for HRCI's PHR and SPHR and 1.5 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP designations.
- Price: $249
- Duration: Self-paced
- Exam Required: N/A
- Online, In-Person, or both? Online
- How many hours of instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
10. Human Resource Institute Emotional Intelligence Workshop
Emotional intelligence can impact how you conduct yourself in interpersonal communication, build trust with your coworkers, and navigate challenging conversations with employees. This Human Resources Institute course can help you develop your emotional intelligence through online modules, combining practical and skill-based activities.
You’ll learn how to assess and understand the impact of emotional intelligence in the workplace, from how to create a pathway toward career advancement to exploring social awareness. Work within small groups in this one-day online course and earn 7 CEPs and 0.7 CEUs.
- Price: $455
- Duration: One-day
- Exam Required: N/A
- Online, In-Person, or both?: Online
- How many hours of instruction: 7 hours
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
11. Cornell Persuasive Communication Certificate
Perfect for any business leader or HR professional, this online Cornell course will help you develop your persuasive skills in the workplace as you look to collaborate successfully, communicate with teams, and gain stakeholder support.
From moving projects forward or getting buy-in from stakeholders, this course will help you assess your audience and craft effective messaging to sway decision-makers. Key takeaways from this course include assessing your audience and how to understand their perspective and needs.
You’ll also dive into persuasive writing and how to strengthen your objective by appealing to reason, emotions, and building evidence.
- Price: $2,675
- Duration: 3 months
- Exam Required: N/A
- Online, In-Person, or both?: Online
- How many hours of instruction: 3-5 hours a week
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
12. Lorman Communication for HR Professionals
As an HR professional, you’re there to support your people as they navigate work-life and their relationship with the organization.
This Lorman communication course provides a deeper understanding of emotional intelligence which will help you help you support your people as you proctor difficult, sensitive discussions from layoffs, mandates, and more. Learn the art of the follow-up, develop your listening skills, and understand the types of communications to utilize in the workplace.
From HR to business skills, Lorman courses are great for professionals looking for additional learning and development opportunities or ways to upskill.
- Price: $149
- Duration: Self-paced
- Exam Required: Yes
- Online, In-Person, or both?: Online
- How many hours of instruction: 66 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
13. Berkeley Executive Education Communications Excellence
The Berkley Executive Education course is ideal for senior business leaders looking to strengthen their presentation and persuasion skills to support their organizational communication.
You’ll evolve your personal communication style, gain a deeper understanding of effective communication strategy, and master presentations and crafting pitches.
Berkeley Executive Education is a world-renowned institution helping entrepreneurs and business leaders develop their skills wherever they are in their careers. Intensives like the Communications Excellence course are hosted both in-person and online and utilize small groups and coaching to help professionals pair communication theory with real-world practice.
- Price: $4,000 in-person or $2,650 online
- Duration: 2-day in-person or 3-day online
- Exam Required: N/A
- Online, In-Person, or both?: Both
- How many hours of instruction: 8.5 hours
- Eligibility Requirements: N/A
Gain The Communication Superpower
Developing the skills to communicate clearly, succinctly, and persuasively within your organization will benefit your team and boost your own career.
As a supplement, you might also want to consider trying out and subscribing to a couple of these communication podcasts.
More Ways To Invest In Yourself
Investing in yourself is the best investment you can make. If you’re looking for other ways to level up in 2024 (or help others to grow and develop), you might also consider one of these HR certifications or these learning and development certifications.
Looking to the future, changing demographics mean that diversity, equity, and inclusion are going to continue to grow in importance, so perhaps a DEI certification might come in handy.
Lastly, compensation is always a concern for organizations wanting to attract and retain the right talent for them, so compensation courses are highly useful.
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