Professional Writing and Speaking Skills Training Course

Duration 5 days 10 modules · 33 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Managers and team leaders, Project managers and others
Fee from USD 1,100 KSh 95,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 16 Nov 2026 Course code SD-CS-157

Before you join: Participants should have experience writing workplace emails, reports, briefing notes or presentation materials and should be comfortable contributing to discussions in English.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Professional communication often fails not because the writer or speaker lacks subject knowledge, but because the message is unclear, poorly structured, mistimed or aimed at the wrong audience. A decision request buried in background detail, an ambiguous email, an unsupported recommendation or an unfocused presentation can delay approvals, create operational risk and weaken professional credibility. Managers, specialists and client-facing staff need reliable methods for turning complex information into messages that prompt the right action.

This course develops practical writing and speaking skills for everyday professional communication. Participants learn to analyse audiences, define communication purpose, structure recommendations, write concise emails and reports, explain data, handle sensitive messages and speak with greater authority. The course applies the Pyramid Principle, SCQA, MECE grouping, Plain English principles, BLUF openings, SBAR briefings and assertion-evidence slide design. Participants build confidence in communicating with senior leaders, colleagues, clients, regulators and project teams.

Teaching combines short instructor briefings, case work, group exercises, writing reviews, speaking simulations and structured feedback. Participants work with realistic messages such as approval requests, incident updates, executive summaries, stakeholder briefings and meeting interventions. They leave with a personal communication toolkit containing reusable planning, drafting, editing and speaking templates, plus an application plan for improving priority workplace communications. The five-day instructor-led course is available in classrooms across 50+ cities or live online. Each participant receives a certificate of completion.

The course is particularly suitable for professionals whose role requires frequent written recommendations, stakeholder updates, client correspondence, reports, meetings or presentations. It is designed for people who already communicate regularly at work and need more disciplined methods for making messages clear, credible and action-oriented.

What you will be able to do

  • Analyse audiences and define communication purpose, decision criteria and response requirements
  • Structure executive messages using the Pyramid Principle, SCQA and MECE grouping
  • Draft concise emails, reports and recommendations using Plain English principles
  • Write BLUF openings, actionable requests and professionally calibrated sensitive correspondence
  • Present data, options, risks and recommendations with clear evidence-based reasoning
  • Plan and deliver structured presentations with persuasive messages and readable visual aids
  • Facilitate meetings, handle questions and record decisions using SBAR and action logs
  • Create a personal communication improvement plan using feedback and quality standards

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Produce clearer emails, reports and recommendations with less drafting time
  • Speak more confidently during briefings, meetings and senior stakeholder discussions
  • Gain practical methods for structuring complex information under time pressure
  • Handle challenging questions and sensitive messages with greater professional control
  • Build a repeatable personal process for reviewing communication quality

For your organisation

  • Faster decisions through clearer recommendations, requests and escalation messages
  • Fewer misunderstandings caused by vague ownership, deadlines and action requirements
  • More consistent quality in reports, executive summaries and stakeholder correspondence
  • Stronger meeting discipline through focused agendas, facilitation and action records
  • Improved client, partner and internal stakeholder confidence in staff communication

Course modules

10 modules over 5 days

Participants can plan messages around audience needs, purpose and required action.

  • Audience analysis using stakeholder needs, knowledge, attitudes and decision criteria
  • Purpose statements framed as inform, recommend, request or record
  • Communication channel selection using urgency, complexity, sensitivity and auditability
  • Message maps linking central point, supporting points and evidence
  • Reader questions anticipated before drafting high-stakes correspondence and reports
  • Tone calibrated to relationship, power, culture and communication risk

Participants can write clearer professional documents using disciplined language and editing techniques.

  • Plain English principles replacing nominalisations, jargon, vague qualifiers and clutter
  • Active voice selected when accountability and actor visibility matter
  • Concrete verbs and precise nouns strengthen instructions and recommendations
  • Sentence-length control improves readability in technical and executive documents
  • Parallel construction clarifies lists, comparisons, options and decision criteria
  • Editing passes separate substance, structure, style and proofreading

Participants can structure complex analysis into logical, decision-ready messages.

  • Pyramid Principle structures recommendations before supporting analysis and detail
  • SCQA opening frames situation, complication, question and answer
  • Top-down outlines match executive reading patterns and decision needs
  • MECE grouping prevents overlap and omission in complex messages
  • Headings signal conclusions rather than merely label subjects
  • Evidence sequencing distinguishes fact, interpretation, assumption and recommendation

Participants can write concise, actionable and professionally calibrated correspondence.

  • Subject lines state action, topic and deadline without unnecessary wording
  • BLUF openings place the decision or request before background
  • Email paragraphs use one purpose and visible response cues
  • Requests specify owner, action, deadline and completion standard
  • Escalation messages document risk, options and required decision
  • Sensitive correspondence preserves professionalism while setting clear boundaries
  • Proofreading checklist catches names, dates, attachments, links and distribution

Participants can prepare reports and briefs that connect evidence to action.

  • Report purpose, scope, methodology, findings and recommendations aligned
  • Executive summaries present conclusion, rationale, implications and requested action
  • Recommendation sections connect options, criteria, evidence, risks and owners
  • Data commentary explains trend, significance, limitation and operational implication
  • Tables and charts follow title, source, unit and takeaway conventions
  • Document signposting uses headings, transitions, cross-references and appendices

Participants can present a persuasive case while addressing objections and disagreement professionally.

  • Aristotle's rhetorical triangle balances credibility, logic and audience concerns
  • Interest-based framing identifies shared goals before contested positions
  • Claim-evidence-reasoning links recommendations to verifiable supporting material and assumptions
  • Objection handling acknowledges concerns, tests assumptions and offers options
  • Risk language distinguishes probability, impact, mitigation and residual exposure
  • Constructive disagreement separates people, issues, evidence and decisions

Participants can plan focused presentations that support decisions and retain attention.

  • Speaking objectives define audience action, key message and success measure
  • Presentation architecture follows opening, main points, evidence and close
  • Three-message rule limits presentations to memorable decision-relevant points
  • Signposting phrases guide listeners through sequence, emphasis and transitions
  • Speaker notes support delivery without becoming a script
  • Visual aids apply assertion-evidence design and readable slide hierarchy

Participants can deliver professional messages with greater clarity, control and presence.

  • Vocal pace, pause, pitch and volume reinforce meaning and authority
  • Posture, gesture and eye contact support credible executive presence
  • Message-first openings establish relevance before detail or personal introduction
  • Transitions connect sections and restate the decision at stake
  • Timeboxing techniques protect discussion, questions and closing commitments
  • Recording review identifies verbal habits, filler words and delivery adjustments

Participants can contribute to and lead meetings with clearer decisions and follow-through.

  • Meeting purpose determines briefing, discussion, decision or problem-solving format
  • Agenda design assigns outcomes, owners, timings and pre-read requirements
  • Facilitation questions surface assumptions, alternatives, risks and commitments
  • SBAR briefings communicate situation, background, assessment and recommendation efficiently
  • Question-handling techniques clarify intent, bridge messages and answer concisely
  • Minutes record decisions, actions, owners, deadlines and unresolved issues

Participants can establish personal standards and an application plan for sustained improvement.

  • Communication audit identifies recurring documents, meetings, audiences and failure points
  • Before-and-after editing compares clarity, concision, tone and actionability
  • Stakeholder feedback criteria assess usefulness, credibility and response quality
  • Personal communication standards define review routines and quality thresholds
  • Application plan schedules workplace messages, presentations and feedback conversations
  • Certificate evidence records demonstrated writing and speaking capabilities

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. Audience and purpose planning template
  2. Pyramid Principle message structure model
  3. Professional email and request checklist
  4. Executive summary and recommendation template
  5. Presentation planning and delivery checklist
  6. Personal communication application plan

Who should attend

  • Managers and team leaders — communicate decisions, priorities and expectations more clearly
  • Project managers — secure action, report progress and manage stakeholder concerns
  • Technical specialists — translate complex analysis into decision-ready messages
  • Client-facing professionals — write credible correspondence and present recommendations persuasively
  • Policy and programme officers — prepare clear briefs, reports and stakeholder updates
  • Emerging leaders — build authority in meetings, presentations and written communication

Skills and tools covered

Audience analysisBusiness writingExecutive presentationsMessage structuringMeeting facilitationPersuasive communication

Tools and standards

Pyramid Principle, SCQA framework, MECE principle, SBAR communication framework

How the course runs

Training methodology

The course uses short instructor briefings followed by case work, group exercises, writing reviews, speaking simulations and application planning. Participants analyse audience needs, improve sample documents, structure recommendations, prepare presentations and practise meeting contributions. Facilitated feedback focuses on message purpose, logic, clarity, tone, evidence and delivery. Cases can reflect common challenges from banking, government, NGOs, project environments and corporate functions. Each participant identifies priority workplace communications and develops practical standards for applying the methods after the course.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should have experience writing workplace emails, reports, briefing notes or presentation materials and should be comfortable contributing to discussions in English. The course assumes familiarity with common office documents and routine business communication, but not formal training in writing, rhetoric or public speaking. Participants will benefit most if they can identify current communication challenges from their role, such as difficult emails, reports, stakeholder updates or presentations. No specialist software, academic qualification, advanced grammar knowledge or prior presentation coaching is required.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

You should already write routine workplace emails, documents or presentation materials. No formal writing, communication or public-speaking qualification is required.

Bring examples or descriptions of communication challenges from your role, such as a report, presentation, difficult email or stakeholder update. Do not bring confidential documents unless your organisation permits their use.

It suits managers, specialists, project staff, advisers and client-facing professionals who communicate regularly with colleagues, leaders, clients or partners. It is designed for people seeking stronger professional communication rather than basic English language instruction.

This course addresses writing and speaking together because workplace messages often move between documents, meetings and presentations. It focuses on audience analysis, message structure, persuasion, delivery and follow-through.

Participants use reusable templates and checklists for emails, reports, recommendations, briefings and presentations. The final module creates a practical plan for applying the methods to priority communications after the course.

Training runs from 08:30 to 16:30 each day, providing about 6.5 contact hours daily. Time is divided between instructor input, case analysis, group work, writing reviews, speaking simulations and structured feedback.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.

Ask on WhatsApp info@skillsetdevelopment.com

More courses in Communication Skills

Communication Skills Presentation Skills for Finance Professionals Training Course 5 days · from USD 1,100 · next 16 Nov Communication Skills Professional Facilitation Skills Training Course 5 days · from USD 1,100 · next 16 Nov Communication Skills Professional Negotiation Skills Training Course 5 days · from USD 1,100 · next 16 Nov Communication Skills Professional Storytelling Training Course 5 days · from USD 1,100 · next 16 Nov Communication Skills Public Speaking Training Course 5 days · from USD 1,100 · next 16 Nov Communication Skills Public Speaking and Debate Training Course 5 days · from USD 1,100 · next 16 Nov Communication Skills Stakeholder Engagement Management Training Course 5 days · from USD 1,100 · next 16 Nov Communication Skills Stakeholder Management and Negotiation Training Course 5 days · from USD 1,100 · next 16 Nov