Business Communication and Etiquette: When How You Speak Matters as Much as What You Say

Poor communication damages trust faster than technical mistakes. This session focuses on professional communication that protects relationships, credibility, and outcomes.

2 CPD units September 3, 2026 1 presenter

What will set you apart

By completing this course you will gain the following competencies

Why communication failures create professional risk
How tone affects trust and authority
Common communication mistakes professionals make
Handling difficult conversations professionally
Email and meeting etiquette that protects credibility
Managing conflict without escalation
Communicating clearly under pressure

Event breakdown

Purpose of professional communication
Tone and clarity
Email etiquette
Meeting behaviour
Handling difficult conversations
Managing conflict professionally
Communication under pressure
Protecting professional image

Category: Practice ManagementType: CPD CourseCPD category: Other

Description

Technical skill alone does not protect professional reputation. How messages are delivered often determines how they are received. This session focuses on business communication and etiquette in real professional environments. Poor wording, unclear tone, and rushed responses regularly damage relationships and credibility. This session explores how communication choices affect trust, authority, and outcomes. Attention is given to written communication, meetings, and difficult conversations where emotions and pressure are present. Strong communication is not about being polite. It is about being clear, respectful, and effective when it matters. This session strengthens professional presence and reduces unnecessary conflict that can undermine otherwise strong technical work.

Presenters

Nicolene Smit — Nicolene Smit is an accounting professional, academic, and education strategist with experience across professional practice, higher education, and professional body leadership. She completed her accounting articles in 2015 before moving into academia in 2017, where she served as a lecturer, subject head, and programme coordinator in Accounting Sciences. Nicolene holds a Master's degree in Taxation, a BCom Honours degree in Financial Management, and is a Chartered Business Accountant in Practice (CBAP) with CIBA. Since joining CIBA as Education Manager in 2023, she has led initiatives in academic partnerships, professional designation development, competency frameworks, and the advancement of future-focused accounting education, including the integration of artificial intelligence into finance and accounting learning

You will earn a certificate

On successful completion you will receive a certificate for 2 CPD units in Other.

Requirements

Laptop, desktop, or mobile device with internet access
Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox browser