Learn by Source
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) · on Coursera

Improving Your Business Communications Skills Specialization

4.7(6,700) on Coursera·270K enrolled
Intermediate 20 hours English SpecializationFREE
SkillsBusiness communicationWritingPresentationsPersuasionStorytellingProfessional speaking

Is this course right for you?

Our take
A practical way to sharpen how you communicate at work — writing, speaking and presenting — taught by Wharton. It is free to audit.

Good for: professionals who want clearer, more persuasive business communication.

Skip if: you want general English lessons, or you are already a strong communicator.

It is built around business outcomes rather than general polish: writing concisely and persuasively, delivering presentations that drive decisions, and communicating with senior stakeholders. It draws on Wharton's executive-education curriculum, so it fits professionals in or moving toward leadership roles.

What it does not do is teach general or conversational English — it assumes you already communicate competently and want to be sharper — so if you want language lessons, or you are already a strong communicator, it is not the right fit. The certificate needs a paid Coursera subscription; the free audit covers the learning, and the principles stay relevant.

Comparison · LBS

Compare alternatives for Improving Your Business Communications Skills Specialization

Same topic, different options. We surface the trade-offs others hide so you can pick the course that actually fits your time, budget, and goals.
Coursera4.7(6,700)
Improving Your Business Communications Skills Specialization
Price
Free
Audit free · Certificate on subscription
Duration
20 hrs
Level
Intermediate
Certificate
Specialization
Coursera4.8(23,000)
Improve Your English Communication Skills Specialization
Price
Free
Audit free · Certificate on subscription
Duration
110 hrs
Level
Beginner
Certificate
Specialization
View course →
Google4.8(3,000)
Technical Writing: Technical Writing One and Two
Price
Free
Free — no account required
Duration
4 hrs
Level
Beginner
Certificate
View course →
LinkedIn Learning4.7(2,000)
Storytelling for Leaders
Price
Paid
LinkedIn Learning subscription
Duration
2 hrs
Level
Intermediate
Certificate
Course Certificate
View course →
Prices & availability can change — confirm on the provider's site. We're not affiliated with any single provider.

About this course

This specialization brings Wharton's MBA-level communication training to a general audience, focused specifically on the communication skills that determine career advancement: writing concisely and persuasively, delivering presentations that drive decisions, and communicating effectively with senior stakeholders and executives.

Browse all Communication & Professional Skills courses Browse all Coursera courses

Instructor

WF
Wharton Faculty
Coursera instructor
270K+ learners4 courses4.7 instructor rating

Taught by faculty from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the world's top-ranked business schools, known for its executive communication and leadership curriculum.

Frequently asked questions

Practical strategies for communicating more effectively, taught by Wharton's Maurice Schweitzer. It covers building persuasive, memorable messages, asking better questions and listening actively, choosing the right medium for a message, developing trust, detecting deception, apologising well, and knowing when to cooperate versus compete. The emphasis is on real interpersonal and professional situations rather than presentation polish alone, so it doubles as negotiation and influence training.

It is a single course — 'Improving Communication Skills' — that sits within Wharton's larger 'Achieving Personal and Professional Success' specialization alongside courses on success and decision-making. You can take it entirely on its own for the communication strategies, or as part of the fuller specialization if you want the broader personal-effectiveness material around it.

Yes, with a caveat. The strategies — persuasion, listening, building trust, choosing your medium — are universal and valuable regardless of your first language, and the delivery is clear. But it is a communication-strategy course, not an English-language course; it assumes you already have working English and does not teach vocabulary or grammar. Non-native speakers with solid English will benefit; those still building basic English should strengthen that first.

Yes, that is its strength. It is built around real-world application — how to actually frame a request, run a difficult conversation, or apologise in a way that rebuilds trust — drawing on Schweitzer's research and examples rather than abstract theory. The value comes from applying the techniques in your own conversations and messages; treated that way, it is one of the more immediately usable communication courses available.

Yes, you can audit it on Coursera and watch all the lectures at no cost. The graded assignments and the certificate require a subscription, with financial aid available if you apply. Since much of the value is in understanding and then practising the strategies yourself, auditing gives you the substance — just without the graded exercises and the credential.
Free
to audit
Enroll now