Top 10 Executive Courses in Leadership Communication

Stanford, a leading academic institution in California, runs an executive education program called Sharpen Your Communication Skills. The program, which participants can complete at their own pace, leverages research in behavioral science to highlight the best approaches to communication, including how to mitigate biases. Participants in this hands-on course are introduced to specific leadership challenges, such as offering sincere words of praise or a heartfelt apology.

New York City’s Columbia Business School offers the Persuasion: Influencing Without Authority executive education course. Delivered online for five consecutive days with live sessions, the program draws on psychological research and covers interpersonal challenges, from negotiations to how to change organizational culture. The executive course focuses on practical communication skills and immediate application of newfound knowledge in the workplace. 

The University of British Columbia, Sauder School of Business in Canada puts on the Communication and Emotional Intelligence for Managers course, which is delivered online. The program is highly interactive, with students brainstorming ideas, networking and receiving constructive feedback from peers and faculty. The participants will become more self-aware and use communication to strengthen their leadership capabilities and lead diverse teams. 

Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands runs an online Summer Course in Corporate Communication, a five-day program. Participants learn from academic faculty and visiting business practitioners and explore corporate branding, reputation management, organizational identity and strategic corporate communication. The course attracts communications professionals in addition to executives, consultants, analysts and general managers. 

The Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University in Montreal puts on a seminar entitled Communicating Effectively. The program is delivered online, over four weeks. Participants learn how to create a more productive workplace, through managing difficult conversations and building trust. They also learn to control their non-verbal communication and explore diversity and inclusion. The seminar is action-based, so the executives have numerous opportunities to practice and refine communication skills.

The Impact through Influence program at Ashridge Executive Education, part of the UK’s Hult International Business School, develops participants influencing style, and how and when to adjust their approach to generate impact on individuals and situations. Participants, mostly senior business executives, boost their ability to gain buy-in and influence stakeholders. The program is taught online and in person by leading faculty. 

UCD Smurfit School in Dublin, offers a number of executive education programs in communication, including the three-day Communication for Influence and Impact course. Participants will challenge their perceptions and develop a communication style that suits them, drawing on their strengths and personalities. Participants learn through a combination of communications theory, role-play, interactive presentations and discussions.

The Australian Graduate School of Management at University of New South Wales Business School has a program called The Authentic Communicator: Activating Presence. Participants in this two-day course, delivered in person in Sydney, develop presence and communication skills. They also develop an awareness of how their intent, emotion, purpose, vocal tone and physical presence can impact, influence and inspire people. 

The Communication 4.0 program run by University of Stellenbosch, USB Executive Development focuses on the communication skills needed to thrive during the so-called “fourth industrial revolution” with distributed teams, the rise of the gig economy and technology developments. The course, run for three days online, is for executives from all industries who want to optimize how they communicate with their stakeholders in technology-driven environments. 

The MIT Sloan School of Management offers its Interpersonal Communication: Strategies for Executives program. The six-week, online course uses research and practice-based methods to boost communication skills. Participants learn a range of techniques such as active listening and humble inquiry. They also refine their personal leadership narrative and explore cross-cultural communication techniques.