Custom Courses Public Relations and Communication

Business Etiquette and Protocol Training

SAQA US AATICD-0143 | NQF 5 | Credits 10 | Duration 5 Days
From $1,242 per delegate

Description

This course equips participants with the essential skills to navigate professional environments with confidence, respect, and cultural awareness. It covers both formal and informal business settings, including meetings, correspondence, networking events, and dining situations, ensuring delegates represent their organisations with poise and professionalism.

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate appropriate business etiquette in face-to-face, virtual, and written communications.
  • Apply protocol for formal meetings, introductions, and business dining situations.
  • Analyse cross-cultural norms and adapt behaviour to diverse business environments.
  • Implement strategies for professional networking and building positive business relationships.
  • Evaluate personal grooming, dress code, and non-verbal communication for professional impact.
  • Demonstrate respect for hierarchy, titles, and organisational customs in the South African and global context.

Target Audience

This course is ideal for professionals at all levels who interact with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders in a business context, including new graduates, managers, and front-line staff.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Business Etiquette

Objectives:
• Define business etiquette and its importance in the workplace
• Identify core principles of professional conduct
• Understand the impact of first impressions
• Distinguish between personal and professional etiquette

Topics:
• Introduction to business etiquette and protocol
• Core principles: respect, courtesy, and professionalism
• First impressions: appearance, grooming, and attire
• Verbal and non-verbal communication basics
• Cultural awareness and diversity in the workplace
• Common etiquette pitfalls and how to avoid them

Day 2: Communication and Meeting Etiquette

Objectives:
• Apply effective verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrate proper email and telephone etiquette
• Exhibit appropriate behavior in meetings
• Manage professional introductions and greetings

Topics:
• Verbal communication: tone, clarity, and active listening
• Written communication: email, memos, and reports
• Telephone etiquette: answering, transferring, and voicemail
• Meeting etiquette: agendas, punctuality, and participation
• Introductions: handshakes, business cards, and titles
• Virtual meeting protocols (Zoom, Teams, etc.)

Day 3: Dining and Social Etiquette

Objectives:
• Demonstrate proper table manners in business settings
• Understand dining protocols for client entertainment
• Apply social etiquette at corporate events
• Navigate networking events with confidence

Topics:
• Table manners: seating, utensils, and napkin use
• Business dining: ordering, toasting, and paying the bill
• Hosting and being a guest at corporate events
• Networking: approaching, conversing, and following up
• Dress codes for social business functions
• Handling alcohol and dietary restrictions

Day 4: Professional Relationships and Conflict Resolution

Objectives:
• Build and maintain professional relationships
• Handle workplace conflicts with diplomacy
• Demonstrate respect for hierarchy and authority
• Apply etiquette in cross-cultural interactions

Topics:
• Building rapport and trust with colleagues
• Office politics: navigating hierarchies and power dynamics
• Conflict resolution: active listening and mediation
• Giving and receiving constructive feedback
• Cross-cultural etiquette: customs and taboos
• Professional boundaries and confidentiality

Day 5: Protocol, Leadership, and Integration

Objectives:
• Understand formal protocol for events and ceremonies
• Apply etiquette in leadership and mentoring roles
• Integrate all learned skills into daily practice
• Develop a personal action plan for continuous improvement

Topics:
• Formal protocol: seating, precedence, and flag etiquette
• Leadership etiquette: leading by example and mentoring
• Etiquette for international business and travel
• Case studies: applying etiquette in real-world scenarios
• Creating a personal etiquette improvement plan
• Course review and assessment

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Fri 11 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 21 Sep 2026 Fri 25 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Fri 09 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Fri 11 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 04 Jan 2027 Fri 08 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 01 Feb 2027 Fri 05 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 01 Mar 2027 Fri 05 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Fri 11 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 21 Jun 2027 Fri 25 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Fri 09 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Sep 2027 Fri 10 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 20 Sep 2027 Fri 24 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Fri 08 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Fri 10 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 20 Dec 2027 Fri 24 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Fri 07 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 424 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Durban, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,916 Register
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE Winter 2026 $5,238 Register
Mon 17 Aug 2026 Fri 21 Aug 2026 Harare, Zimbabwe Winter 2026 $3,078 Register
Mon 17 Aug 2026 Fri 21 Aug 2026 Shenzhen, China Winter 2026 $7,398 Register
Mon 24 Aug 2026 Fri 28 Aug 2026 Bangkok, Thailand Winter 2026 $6,318 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 14 Sep 2026 Fri 18 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 28 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 12 Oct 2026 Fri 16 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Dec 2026 Fri 18 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 11 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Feb 2027 Fri 12 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 28 Jun 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 12 Jul 2027 Fri 16 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Fri 17 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 27 Sep 2027 Fri 01 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 11 Oct 2027 Fri 15 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Dec 2027 Fri 17 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 27 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 10 Jan 2028 Fri 14 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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