This online course uses research and practice-based methods to improve your communication skills in a variety of contexts. Specifically, it’s built around the RELATE framework, developed at the MIT Sloan School of Management to support a scalable communication strategy. This dynamic approach will guide you in connecting and communicating with different audiences to achieve effective business practices.
In a world where digital transformation is rapidly changing businesses and how you communicate in the workplace, effective communication is becoming an increasingly important skill. Moreover, it plays an essential role in maintaining interpersonal relationships in the corporate context and navigating complexities that may arise due to the adoption of new technology. This course uses research and practice-based methods to improve your communication skills in a variety of contexts. Specifically, it’s built around the RELATE framework, developed at the MIT Sloan School of Management to support a scalable communication strategy.
You’ll learn a range of communication techniques including active listening and humble inquiry, and prepare for the challenges that arise when communicating with larger and more complex audiences. Using a blend of research and practice, this course offers you the opportunity to apply your knowledge to real-world situations by means of practical applications. You’ll refine your personal leadership narrative, explore cross-cultural communication, and outline methods for managing difficult conversations.
Taking into account the increase of technologies such as AI in the workplace, the course covers how to best communicate with — and through — machines. This includes developing an understanding of the use of algorithms in a business context as well as robots as a communication channel to maximize social media reach. You’ll also gain the comfort and confidence to discuss the use of AI in your organization.
Welcome to your Online Campus
Sharpening Your Communication Capabilities Through the Relate Framework
Navigating Interpersonal Dynamics
Managing Difficult Conversations
Communicating Across Cultures
Maximizing Your Persuasive Potential
Addressing A New Audience: Machines
Upon successful completion of your course, you will earn a certificate of completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management. This course may also count toward
MIT Sloan Executive Certificate requirements
.
This program is for you if you want to:
Improve your communication skills with a strategy created by MIT Sloan and learn practical methods that can be used in your work.
Discover your personal leadership narrative and understand how effective interpersonal communication has a positive impact on your ability to lead in business.
Develop tactics to effectively manage and participate in difficult conversations in the workplace.
Explore the role technology plays in modern communication and its strategic value in business, and identify how you can use it to your advantage.
This course is aimed at senior managers, executives, and business leaders looking to build their communication abilities to meet the needs of an increasingly complex, digitized world, both in person and online.
This includes technical leads who want to improve their interpersonal skills to match their practical expertise, as well as managers and HR professionals who want to communicate better with their teams in general. Consultants will also have the opportunity to add to their service delivery by improving their ability to communicate with diverse audiences, or via virtual or social media tools, as required by multinational companies.
This course is relevant to entrepreneurs and business owners who need to engage with a wide range of stakeholders or who are moving into a new market. It will also develop the skill set of professionals looking for ways to take on new or additional responsibilities.
This course is delivered in our Self-Paced Online format which enables you to participate at your own pace within weekly modules. This course runs over 6 weeks with an estimated 6-8 hours per week of study time
Earn a certificate of course completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management
You will learn through a variety of formats including interactive videos, practice quizzes, presentations, assignments, and discussion forums
You will have access to a Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have
"I recently completed this MIT online course designed to enhance communication skills across multiple professional contexts. The program is built around the RELATE framework, developed at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and uses research-driven, practice-oriented methodologies to help participants implement scalable communication strategies. This approach enables more effective engagement with diverse audiences, supporting optimal business outcomes. Specific Improvements Noticed: Board and Leadership Meetings: After applying the RELATE framework, I was able to structure my presentations more clearly and tailor my messaging to the interests of board members. For example, I started opening meetings with concise summaries of key points, which helped set the agenda and focus discussions. This led to more productive conversations and quicker decision-making. Peer Interactions: I adopted active listening techniques and clarified my intent before responding to questions. This reduced misunderstandings and fostered a more collaborative environment. My peers commented on how my responses were more direct and relevant to the topic at hand. Management Team Engagement: By using audience analysis strategies from the course, I adjusted my communication style to better match the preferences of different managers. For instance, I began using more data-driven arguments with analytical leaders and storytelling approaches with those who preferred narratives. This versatility made my contributions more impactful and memorable. Overall, the immediate changes in my communication were noticed and appreciated by both my peers and management team. I became more effective in conveying ideas, leading discussions, and driving outcomes. I highly recommend this training to anyone seeking to elevate their professional communication skills and achieve tangible results."
Prabodh T
"This was an intensive program packed with homework, exercises, videos, discussions, and readings. I dedicated roughly 8 hours each week to fully absorb the material and complete the exercises to the best of my ability. I not only learned a wealth of new strategies but also gained valuable insights into how to improve my communication skills and where to focus my attention. I can wholeheartedly recommend the MIT Sloan and GetSmarter self-paced training."
Christian K
"I would love to see a more interactive learning experience on the Online Campus, such as live QA sessions, enhanced discussion forums, and more opportunities for peer collaboration. Additionally, features like progress tracking, personalized feedback on assignments, and a mobile-friendly interface would further improve the learning experience."
Aida A
"Embarking on this intellectually invigorating course has been nothing short of transformative. Interpersonal Communication: Strategies for Executives deftly transcends conventional rhetoric training by equipping leaders with a meticulously structured repertoire of tools to engage, influence, and inspire with gravitas. The programme masterfully deconstructs the art of communication into strategic dimensions: cultivating authentic presence, leveraging cognitive and emotional framing, harnessing credibility through ethos, and orchestrating persuasive messaging with surgical precision. Each module, anchored in real-world executive scenarios, encourages reflection on ones communication default and offers pragmatic pathways toward executive excellence. One of the course's most enlightening revelations lies in its emphasis on active listening as a leadership act; not as a passive courtesy, but as a deliberate practice that fosters alignment, trust, and innovation. Equally compelling is its approach to message structuring, wherein the use of narrative arcs, contrast, and the strategic deployment of silence becomes a tool of influence. What truly distinguishes this course is its rigorous focus on situational adaptability; teaching when to speak with assertive clarity, when to evoke empathy, and when to recalibrate ones tone or stance in response to power dynamics, cultural context, or emotional cues. The RELATE framework for persuasive presentations, in particular, offers a robust scaffold to design communications that resonate deeply while advancing strategic intent. In essence, this programme is a clarion call for every leader to communicate not merely to be heard, but to be understood, trusted, and remembered. It sharpens the intellect, attunes the ear, and emboldens the voice; all indispensable assets for the discerning executive navigating an increasingly complex interpersonal terrain."
Swapnil W
"I absolutely loved this course! Interpersonal Communication exceeded my expectations in every way. It gave me practical tools to better express myself, listen actively, and build more meaningful relationships, both personally and professionally. The content was engaging, insightful, and truly applicable to everyday life."
Israel S
"This course about interpersonal communication demonstrated beneficial techniques that can be used in any scenarios while communicating. The global collaboration simulation was interesting and well laid out."
Deepali K
"I've been impressed by the value of this course. I thought that online training on this topic was easy and didn't require a lot of work and effort. I was wrong. The course is very well structured and requires significant dedication. It forces you out of your comfort zone and helps you to reflect on your behaviors. I found it extremely useful to be applied in everyday business and personal life."
Luigi D
"Overall structure, technology and content was surprisingly good, much better than expected."
Luiz Eduardo d
"I was able to apply the rigourous approach from module one with immediate impact. I took Interpersonnal Communications along with Story telling through data visaulziation which was a perfect synergistic match."
virginie b
"A well structured, comprehensive course which covers the most important aspects of interpersonal communications. The facilitation is the best I've experienced from the many other courses I've completed. I highly recommend this course and the education of MIT Sloan for everyone!"
Szabina L
Same topic, Similar duration - Broader exploration across all institutes
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Programme Advisor
Executive Education Office
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