Business communication training for face-to-face situations teaches people to read body language, choose their words with care, listen properly and handle difficult conversations in the room or on a video call. BOTI’s business communication and writing courses cover these skills as short, practical programmes for teams and individuals. BOTI no longer runs a separate course under the title “The Art of Face to Face Communication”. The closest BOTI courses are listed below.
The current course runs at your offices anywhere in South Africa, live online or at a BOTI venue. The course page has the up-to-date outline and group prices.
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Introduction: The Art of Face to Face Communication Training Course
In a technology-driven world it is often harder to make real human connections. People move all day between impersonal technology and the close reality of human interaction. Some situations call for people to meet face to face in the same room to exchange information and resolve issues. Examples include an escalating complaint, sensitive feelings, an urgent deadline, a question of authority or a large sum of money. When people are in different cities or countries, a video call has to stand in for that meeting. Even in the computer age, face-to-face communication skills remain a key driver of career success and good outcomes at work.
Outline: The Art of Face to Face Communication Training Course
Good face-to-face communication training covers five areas:
- Recognising the importance of face-to-face interaction: its advantages, and the behaviours, fears and personality traits that shape a conversation
- Non-verbal skills: body language, physical appearance, voice control, timing and positioning
- Word choice and its impact
- Listening attentively, giving non-verbal feedback, clarifying and understanding other people’s feelings
- Communicating remotely, across cultures, and with gestures
Why face-to-face communication still matters at work
Email and chat suit routine updates. They fail when emotions run high, when trust has to be built or when a decision carries real consequences. In person, or on camera, people pick up tone, facial expression and hesitation, which written messages strip away. That is why a manager gives difficult feedback in a meeting, and why a sales professional asks for a meeting before closing a large deal. The same goes for a service agent calming an angry customer at the counter.
The skills are learnable. Most people are not “naturally” good or bad communicators. They have habits, and habits can be practised and changed.
Non-verbal skills: what your body and voice say
People often believe body language over words. Crossed arms, a glance at a phone or a flat voice can undo a carefully prepared message. Useful habits include:
- Keeping an open posture and facing the person you are speaking to
- Making steady, natural eye contact, while respecting cultural differences
- Controlling the pace, volume and pitch of your voice, especially when you are under pressure
- Choosing where you sit or stand: side by side feels collaborative, while across a desk can feel formal or confrontational
- Managing time, so that you arrive on time and do not rush the other person
For a deeper look at reading and using non-verbal signals, see BOTI’s Body Language Basics Course (2 days).
Word choice and its impact
The same request can land as an instruction, an accusation or an invitation, depending on the words you choose. Practical points:
- Use “I” statements (“I need the report by Friday”) rather than blame (“You never send it on time”)
- Avoid jargon and acronyms the listener may not share
- Be specific about what you want, by when and why
- Check your opening line: the first sentence sets the tone for the whole conversation
Listening attentively
Listening is the half of communication most people skip. Active listening means:
- Giving the speaker your full attention, with no screens
- Showing you are following, with nods, short acknowledgements and open questions
- Clarifying and paraphrasing (“So the main concern is the delivery date?”)
- Naming feelings where it helps (“I can hear this has been frustrating”)
Listening this way often calms a tense conversation faster than any argument.
Communicating remotely and across cultures
Video calls simulate face-to-face contact, but they need extra care. Look at the camera when you make a key point, keep your background and sound clear, and pause more often so others can come in. South African workplaces are multicultural. Norms around greetings, eye contact, personal space and directness differ, and a gesture that is friendly to one colleague may offend another. Ask, observe and adapt rather than assume.
Preparing for a difficult face-to-face conversation
- Decide on the outcome you want before the meeting
- Gather the facts and separate them from opinions
- Choose a private, neutral place and enough time
- Open calmly, state the issue clearly, then listen
- Agree on next steps and confirm them in writing afterwards
Recommended Prior Experience and Knowledge: The Art of Face to Face Communication Training Course
This training suits anyone who needs to deal with difficult people or situations and move them forward positively. That includes team leaders, managers, receptionists, sales and service staff, and professionals who meet clients.
A good written and verbal command of English is advisable.
Which BOTI course should you choose?
- Interpersonal Skills Course (1 day): building rapport and handling people at work
- Business Communication Strategies: Verbal, Non-Verbal and Written (3 days): a broader business communication programme
- Communication Strategies Training (1 day): a short professional communication course
- Master Effective Business Communication & Presentation Skills (5 days): communication combined with presenting
For more ideas, read how effective communication improves the workplace.
Frequently asked questions
What does business communication training cover?
Business communication training usually covers non-verbal skills such as body language and voice, choosing clear words, active listening, handling difficult conversations, and communicating on video calls and across cultures. Some courses also cover business writing and presentations.
Is there a professional communication short course for face-to-face skills?
Yes. BOTI runs short courses such as the Interpersonal Skills Course (1 day) and Communication Strategies Training (1 day), as well as the longer Business Communication Strategies: Verbal, Non-Verbal and Written (3 days).
Is face-to-face training available, or only online?
Both. BOTI training runs in person at your premises, in person at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online.
Are BOTI’s communication courses accredited?
No. These communication courses are not accredited. They are delivered as professional skills programmes, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Book face-to-face communication training
To build these skills in your team, start with the Interpersonal Skills Course (1 day). Call BOTI on 011 882 8853 or email [email protected], or request a quote. Training runs in-house at your premises, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online. This course is not accredited. It is delivered as a professional skills programme, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Book or Request a Quote
As well as the related public courses, we can run this training for your team in-house, at our venue or online. Click on the link to request a proposal or book your course:
Or browse all our courses, run at your offices, online or at a BOTI venue:
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