Short Course
Communication Strategy for Leaders
Develop a leadership communication strategy that helps you build trust, speak with clarity and influence, and move strategic priorities forward.
Current Offerings
Develop Your Leadership Communication Strategy
How you communicate as a leader shapes how people understand priorities, respond to them, and build trust in the message.
This program is designed for leaders, general or functional managers, and professionals with strategic influence.
You’ll strengthen your ability to:
Frame and communicate a strategic vision
Adapt messages for different audiences and stakeholders
Choose channels that support your communication goals
Use influence to build understanding and buy-in
Explore how AI can support more intentional communication
What You’ll Learn
Foundations
Build a strong foundation for effective messages by considering your audience’s perspective, likely reaction, and goals.
Authentic Connections
Are they buying what you’re “selling?” Learn how authenticity and intent can shape the way your message is received.
A World of Change
Explore how AI can support communication beyond prompt engineering, including when you’re communicating through change or uncertainty.
Maximizing Messaging
Adapt your messaging as trends, disruptions, and opportunities emerge while staying aligned with your communication goals.
Delivery Matters
Choose the best channels and delivery approaches based on your goals, audience, and message.
Bringing It Together
Bring the pieces together in a strategic communication approach that can support change and organizational priorities.
A Learning Experience Built for Application
Pre-work
Prepare before the program through your personal learning portal, where you can access assignments, participant information, and other program resources.
Practical Content
Connect new frameworks and tools to communication challenges you face at work and consider how they apply in different situations.
Expert Faculty
Gain insights from faculty and instructors who bring communication research and business experience to the leadership challenges explored in the program.
Peer Networking
Exchange perspectives with professionals from different organizations and consider how others approach communication challenges in their work.
Learn from Strategic Communication Experts
Duane "Andy" Gustafson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Business Administration
Andy designs and teaches the oral and graphic component of Managerial Communication for Smeal's M.B.A. programs as well as Special Topics in Corporate Communication. Andy’s research interests include presentational, organizational, and interpersonal communication, specifically conflict management, team dynamics and small group decision making.
John Austin, Ph.D.
Dean, Honors College and P.D. Merrill Endowed Chair of Business, University of New England
John is a master of taking complex topics and shifting them to practical, useful tactics for improvement. His areas of expertise and research include: leadership communication, influence, organizational change, and strategic decision-making.
Professional Certificate
Strategy and Organizational Performance
Complete any three eligible programs to earn the Strategy and Organizational Performance Professional Certificate. Take programs in any order and over any period of time, choosing the learning experiences that best support your professional goals around leadership and strategy skills.
Customize this Program
All programs and delivered to groups of 10 or more. A member of our team will reach out to discuss your goals and explore the right fit for your group. You can also reach us directly at 800-311-6364.
Additional Information
Our Learning Solutions Associate can hold a seat for you in the program. A reservation does not commit you until you submit the online registration form. To reserve your spot, email our office.
A 10% reduced rate on live remote delivery is available to military and government employees, Penn State alumni, individuals pursuing a professional certificate, teams of three or more from the same organization, and CSCR corporate sponsors or affiliated groups.
Yes. This program can count toward a . Complete three qualifying programs at your own pace to earn the certificate. Note: Each program can only count toward one certificate.
After you register, you’ll gain access to your personal learning portal. There, you’ll find pre-program assignments, information about faculty and fellow participants, plus other program resources.
Accepted applicants can transfer to another section if the transfer is arranged more than four weeks before the program begins. Additional transfers are subject to a charge of 10% of the current program fee. A sponsoring company may also identify a replacement candidate, provided the candidate is accepted into the program.
Refunds are based on when written notice of withdrawal is received:
More than six weeks before the program begins: Full refund
Between two and six weeks before the program begins: 50% refund
Two weeks or less before the program begins: No refund
All withdrawals, transfers, and substitutions must be confirmed in writing by the registered participant or their agent. If written notification is not received, the full program fee will be assessed.
Penn State may cancel or postpone a program due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is canceled, registration fees will be refunded; however, Penn State is not responsible for other related expenses, including airline or travel agency cancellation or change fees. If a program is postponed, you may receive a refund or transfer your program fee to another session.
If you have questions about transfers or cancellations, please contact us.