University of Cambridge
Communicating for Influence and Impact
Improve your leadership capabilities by honing your communication skills, which encourage collaboration and facilitate constructive changes in any setting.
Start date
05 February 2025
Course duration
8 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
8–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The percentage of PR professionals who agree that mobilising people is the most effective strategy to influence long-term change.
USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations (Apr, 2020).
Communication skills top the list of key competencies that contemporary employers are looking for in candidates.
World Economic Forum (Aug, 2020).
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
Having well-developed communication skills is crucial for making a meaningful impact and driving positive change in society. Effective communication can facilitate collaboration, enhance problem-solving, and support informed decision-making in today's ever-changing and unpredictable environment. Regardless of the sector or industry, leaders must leverage communication to achieve their objectives, engage stakeholders and create a positive impact.
If you want to enhance your communication abilities, the Communicating for Influence and Impact online short course offered by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) can provide valuable insights and tools. Through this course, you'll gain the knowledge and skills necessary to communicate purposefully, overcome obstacles to success, and assess your leadership style. Additionally, you'll learn various communication techniques that will help you shape the future you envision and earn a digital certificate upon course completion.
Is this course for you?
This online short course aims to support both established and aspiring leaders in enhancing their communication skills and ability to effect change within and outside of their networks. The course benefits professionals committed to achieving positive social and environmental outcomes while also driving business success. The curriculum is tailored for individuals seeking to build on their previous training and experience, with an online course that equips them with communication tools and techniques to increase their influence and impact while emphasising authenticity and integrity.
If you’re interested in this course, you may also want to take a look at the CISL Sustainable Marketing and Communication Strategy bundle. Designed for marketing, media and creative professionals, this three-course series will teach you how to develop, mobilise and communicate an action plan for sustainable business practices.
This course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 80 hours of learning.
Note: should students wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon them. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
This is your opportunity to unleash your potential for extraordinary impact. By completing a course with CISL, you'll develop the skills, confidence, and network to lead change in your sector, organisation and sphere of influence to make significant contributions to society. Extraordinary change happens when passionate and inspired individuals share a common purpose to drive meaningful impact for the collective good.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
Having well-developed communication skills is crucial for making a meaningful impact and driving positive change in society. Effective communication can facilitate collaboration, enhance problem-solving, and support informed decision-making in today's ever-changing and unpredictable environment. Regardless of the sector or industry, leaders must leverage communication to achieve their objectives, engage stakeholders and create a positive impact.
If you want to enhance your communication abilities, the Communicating for Influence and Impact online short course offered by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) can provide valuable insights and tools. Through this course, you'll gain the knowledge and skills necessary to communicate purposefully, overcome obstacles to success, and assess your leadership style. Additionally, you'll learn various communication techniques that will help you shape the future you envision and earn a digital certificate upon course completion.
Is this course for you?
This online short course aims to support both established and aspiring leaders in enhancing their communication skills and ability to effect change within and outside of their networks. The course benefits professionals committed to achieving positive social and environmental outcomes while also driving business success. The curriculum is tailored for individuals seeking to build on their previous training and experience, with an online course that equips them with communication tools and techniques to increase their influence and impact while emphasising authenticity and integrity.
If you’re interested in this course, you may also want to take a look at the CISL Sustainable Marketing and Communication Strategy bundle. Designed for marketing, media and creative professionals, this three-course series will teach you how to develop, mobilise and communicate an action plan for sustainable business practices.
This course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 80 hours of learning.
Note: should students wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon them. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
This is your opportunity to unleash your potential for extraordinary impact. By completing a course with CISL, you'll develop the skills, confidence, and network to lead change in your sector, organisation and sphere of influence to make significant contributions to society. Extraordinary change happens when passionate and inspired individuals share a common purpose to drive meaningful impact for the collective good.
What will set you apart
The tools to effectively and persuasively communicate with various stakeholders in your network.
A Personal Impact Plan to achieve meaningful change within and beyond your organisation.
Skills to inspire and motivate others to drive innovation and sustainability at a systems level.
Access to professionals from around the world as a member of the CISL global alumni network.
Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
The need for impactful communication
Module 2
The role of communication in shaping society
Module 3
Attributes of an effective communicator
Module 4
Communicate effectively using listening and storytelling
Module 5
Purpose-driven communication and influence
Module 6
Influence change within and beyond your network
Module 7
Collaborating to achieve impact
Module 8
Maximising your influence and impact
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Course Convenors
Zoë Arden
Fellow and Leadership Consultant, CISL
Martin Roberts
Director of Digital Learning, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
About the certificate
Acquire the abilities necessary to become a persuasive communicator and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with your digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
Get more information
Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
