Communicating Strategically from edX

This course from Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth equips future leaders with the skills to communicate strategically within a business context. Through theoretical understanding and practical exercises, learners will effectively practice aligning communication strategies with organizational goals. The course will delve into problem-solving using strategic principles and the importance of crafting hierarchy statements to convey messages with clarity and impact.

By the end of the course, learners will be adept at determining the most effective ways of delivering messages, analyzing the results, and revising strategies as necessary to ensure organizational objectives are met. This course is essential for professionals who aspire to lead with strategic insight and communicate with impact in the corporate world.

This course was designed to be the first in the Strategic Corporate Communication professional certificate. You will get the most out of the contents and assignments for this course if you complete it before Corporate Brand and Reputation, Crisis Communication and Management, and Corporate Responsibility.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Review strategies for the hierarchy of statements, strategic principle, mission statements, and credos
Diagnose an organization’s reputation
Analyze four key constituencies

Draft messages using analog and digital methods for internal and external constituencies
Apply practices to evaluate the success of communication strategies

Review strategies for the hierarchy of statements, strategic principle, mission statements, and credos
Diagnose an organization’s reputation
Analyze four key constituencies
Draft messages using analog and digital methods for internal and external constituencies
Apply practices to evaluate the success of communication strategies

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops skills in aligning communication strategies with organizational goals, which is essential for professionals in leadership roles

Provides practical exercises for crafting hierarchy statements, enabling learners to convey messages with clarity and impact in a business context

Teaches methods for analyzing the results of communication strategies and revising them as necessary to ensure organizational objectives are met

Designed as the first course in a professional certificate, suggesting a comprehensive and detailed approach to strategic corporate communication

Explores the diagnosis of an organization's reputation and the analysis of key constituencies, which are vital skills in corporate communication

Reviews summary

Strategic communication for business leaders

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in strategic communication principles. Many find the content highly practical, offering tools and strategies they can immediately apply in their professional roles to align communication with organizational goals. Some reviewers note that while it offers a valuable strategic framework, the depth may be basic for experienced professionals. It serves as a strong introduction, particularly as the first course in the Strategic Corporate Communication certificate.

Designed as the first course in a series.

"Planning to take the next courses in the Strategic Corporate Communication certificate."

"This course serves as a good entry point to the overall certificate program."

"Understanding it's the first course helps set expectations for the depth."

Learn tools and strategies for immediate use.

"I can immediately apply the concepts learned to my work environment."

"The course offers practical tools for crafting and analyzing messages."

"Really appreciated the focus on applying theory to real-world business scenarios."

Provides a solid base for strategic communication.

"I gained a comprehensive understanding of strategic communication principles."

"The structure provided, like the hierarchy of statements, is highly applicable."

"This course laid a great foundation for thinking strategically about messaging."

May be too basic for experienced professionals.

"As someone experienced, some parts felt like a review of basics."

"I was hoping for more advanced techniques or case studies."

"Good for beginners, but might not challenge those with prior comms strategy background."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Communicating Strategically with these activities:

Review 'Strategic Communication for Leaders'

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Familiarize yourself with core concepts in strategic communication to build a strong foundation for the course.

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Obtain a copy of 'Strategic Communication for Leaders'.
Read the chapters on message framing and audience analysis.
Take notes on key concepts and examples.

Review Mission Statement Best Practices

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Refresh your understanding of what makes a strong mission statement to better understand its role in strategic communication.

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Research examples of effective mission statements.
Identify common characteristics of successful mission statements.
Reflect on how mission statements align with organizational goals.

Analyze a Company's Communication Strategy

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Apply course concepts by analyzing a real-world company's communication strategy and identifying areas for improvement.

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Choose a company with a publicly available communication strategy.
Analyze their mission statement and key messages.
Evaluate their communication channels and target audiences.
Write a report summarizing your findings and recommendations.

Four other activities

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Craft Hierarchy Statements

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Practice crafting hierarchy statements to improve clarity and impact in your communication.

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Review the principles of hierarchy statements.
Choose several scenarios requiring clear communication.
Draft hierarchy statements for each scenario.
Refine your statements based on feedback.

Develop a Strategic Communication Plan

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Solidify your understanding by developing a comprehensive strategic communication plan for a hypothetical organization.

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Define the organization's goals and target audiences.
Develop key messages and communication channels.
Create a timeline and budget for implementation.
Outline methods for evaluating the plan's success.

Review 'Corporate Communication: A Guide to Theory and Practice'

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Expand your knowledge of corporate communication theories and practices to enhance your strategic thinking.

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Obtain a copy of 'Corporate Communication: A Guide to Theory and Practice'.
Focus on chapters related to crisis communication and reputation management.
Compare and contrast the book's concepts with those learned in the course.

Presentation: Strategic Communication Case Study

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Deepen your understanding by presenting a case study on a company that successfully implemented a strategic communication plan.

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Research companies known for effective strategic communication.
Select a specific case study to analyze.
Prepare a presentation outlining the company's strategy and results.
Present your findings to peers or colleagues.

Career center

Learners who complete Communicating Strategically will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Communications Director

A communications director is responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies for an organization. This course helps one to align communication strategies with organizational goals, a core function of a communications director. The course's emphasis on crafting hierarchy statements to convey messages with clarity and impact is essential for a director who must ensure that messages are effectively received. In addition, this role requires an ability to determine the most effective ways of delivering messages, analyze the results, and revise strategies as necessary, skills directly addressed by the course. Someone in the role of communications director should take this course to better understand strategic communication principles.

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Chief Communications Officer

A chief communications officer is a senior executive who oversees all communication activities within an organization The ability to align communication strategies with organizational goals, a key focus of this course, is a crucial skill. This course provides the theoretical and practical understanding necessary for a chief communications officer to craft effective communications. The topics of problem-solving using strategic principles, crafting hierarchy statements, message delivery, analysis, and revision are relevant to the chief communications officer role. This course should benefit a chief communications officer in their strategic planning.

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Corporate Communications Manager

A corporate communications manager is tasked with managing all internal and external communications for a company. The skills gained in this course, such as aligning communication strategies with organizational goals, are essential for a corporate communications manager. The course’s exploration of strategic principles and crafting hierarchy statements prepares a manager to convey messages with clarity and impact. The corporate communications manager must have the ability to revise strategies based on their effectiveness. This course helps one become an effective corporate communications manager by understanding the essentials of strategic communication.

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Internal Communications Specialist

An internal communications specialist focuses on communications within an organization. This course, with its focus on aligning communication strategies with organizational goals, is directly relevant to the work of an internal communications specialist. This course's teachings on crafting hierarchy statements to convey messages with clarity and impact are beneficial. The course covers how to deliver messages effectively, analyze results, and revise strategies as needed. An internal communications specialist may find this course pivotal to developing their skills.

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Public relations manager

Public relations managers oversee an organization's communications with the public, a role that benefits from the capacity to align communication strategies with organizational goals. This course's focus on crafting messages for both internal and external audiences will be helpful in preparing for a range of communications scenarios. A public relations manager must also be able to analyze the success of these communications, skills this course teaches. The course also explores the importance of strategic principles, which a public relations manager will use daily. A future public relations manager would find this course useful to develop their core communication skills.

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Communications Consultant

A communications consultant advises organizations on how to improve communication strategies. This course helps one align communication strategies with organizational goals, which is a core part of the work of a communications consultant. The course covers crafting hierarchy statements to convey messages effectively. A consultant must analyze the results of communications and revise strategies, which is learned in this course. A communications consultant who seeks to develop their strategic communication skill set may find this course valuable.

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Change Management Specialist

A change management specialist guides organizations through periods of transition, requiring strong communication. This course, with its focus on aligning communication with organizational goals, may be useful for one looking to enter this field. A change management specialist needs to convey messages with clarity, especially in periods of transition. The course also covers message delivery as well as the analysis and revision of strategies. A change management specialist may benefit from the communication skills this course helps develop.

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Business Consultant

A business consultant advises organizations on strategies to improve their performance and solve problems. The focus of this course on strategic communication principles is important as it helps one understand how to better communicate within the business context. A business consultant also benefits from a course that delves into problem-solving using strategic principles and the drafting of hierarchy statements for clarity. The course's emphasis on determining effective messaging, analyzing results, and revising strategies helps a consultant in their work. A business consultant may find that this course deepens their skill set.

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Strategic Planner

A strategic planner is responsible for developing long-term strategies for an organization. This course, which covers how to align communication strategies with organization goals, is useful to a strategic planner. A strategic planner benefits from the course’s focus on problem-solving using strategic principles and the importance of crafting hierarchy statements. The need to determine the most effective ways of delivering messages, analyzing results, and revising strategies are all tasks a strategic planner may need to perform. Therefore, a strategic planner might find this course beneficial for their career.

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Nonprofit Development Officer

A nonprofit development officer is responsible for fundraising and engaging with donors and supporters. This role requires strong communication skills, and so this course may be useful as it helps one align communication strategies with organizational goals. The course will also help a nonprofit development officer in crafting messages effectively and using strategic principles to communicate more effectively. This course includes analysis skills, so a development officer can also track the impact of their communications. This course may help a nonprofit development officer improve their messaging and communication.

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Brand Manager

A brand manager is responsible for overseeing a company's brand and image, and needs to be able to communicate brand values effectively. This course may be useful because it emphasizes aligning communication strategies with organizational goals, which is crucial for brand management. The course provides a theoretical foundation and practical exercises, assisting a brand manager in their daily tasks. The topics of message delivery, analyzing results, and revising strategies covered in this course can help a brand manager improve the impact of their communications. A prospective brand manager might consider this course a good fit.

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Marketing Manager

A marketing manager is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing marketing strategies for an organization. This course may be useful because it emphasizes aligning communication strategies with organizational goals, which is relevant to marketing campaigns. A marketing manager needs to be able to use strategic principles and craft hierarchy statements, so the course can help prepare them for this. An understanding of how to deliver messages effectively and revise strategies based on results also benefits a marketing manager. Therefore, a prospective marketing manager should find this course insightful.

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Social Media Manager

A social media manager is responsible for managing an organization's social media presence and communications. This course may be useful because it can help a social media manager focus on aligning communication strategies with the organization's objectives. Social media managers need to craft messages clearly, which is a key component of this course. The course's emphasis on analyzing results and revising strategies would also be relevant. A social media manager will find the course helpful for strategic thinking regarding communication.

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Project Manager

A project manager plans, executes, and manages various projects, and requires communication skills. This course may be useful because it emphasizes aligning communication strategies with organizational goals. This course's teachings on how to convey messages with clarity and impact, as well as revise strategies when necessary could be valuable to a project manager. A project manager benefits from learning how to deliver messages effectively and strategically. A project manager seeking a better understanding of team communication may appreciate this course.

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Training and Development Specialist

A training and development specialist is responsible for designing and implementing training programs for employees. This course may be useful because it focuses on strategic communication, which is a foundational skill for effective training. A training and development specialist needs to understand how to deliver messages clearly and effectively, which are skills that are taught in the course. This course emphasizes message effectiveness, analysis, and strategy revision. A specialist might find the course useful for enhancing their training approaches.

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Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Communicating Strategically.

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Provides a comprehensive overview of strategic communication principles and practices, focusing on how leaders can effectively communicate to achieve organizational goals. It covers topics such as crafting compelling messages, understanding audience needs, and adapting communication strategies to different contexts. Reading this book before the course will provide a solid foundation in strategic communication concepts. It valuable resource for understanding the theoretical underpinnings of effective leadership communication.

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