Part One: Getting Started
Welcome to Business / Professional Communications! This program is delivered over 12 Units. Each Unit is further broken down into a number of Lessons which include exercises to practice the concepts covered.
During the program, you will be introduced to a wide range of key concepts and techniques that professionals, organizations and businesses need to communicate effectively. The program is designed to increase your skills and competencies by engaging with real world examples and practicing and receiving feedback.
Our first Unit, Communications Fundamentals, we establish the purpose and definition of communication, why we do it, why we aren’t very good at it and the consequences of inevitable miscommunication. In Lesson 1, we discover that communication is the process of exchanging thoughts, feelings, information and facts. We next explore the primary purpose of communication: to understand and to be understood. The final section of the lesson explains how communication is a basic human need. The process of communication is also what enables the achievement of all basic needs.
Understanding why, and how, miscommunication occurs and the impact misunderstandings can have is reviewed in Lesson 2.
Finally, in Lesson 3, we learn the extent to which organizations use communications to meet their objectives and communicate; solutions, offers, requirements, commitments, expectations, performance, and feedback, the costs associated with poor communication, and the overall business case for increasing effective communications.
The following terms and concepts appear in Unit 1;
Unit Warm-up Questions
The following questions can be used as readying activities to introduce concepts, create participation, and encourage analytical and creative thinking. Questions can be used before you begin the unit, or at any time during each lesson.
Answer the following questions with your partner(s).
- What does the term “communication” mean to you?
- Why do you think that words such as “effective” or “good” are prefaced when we talk about communication?
- What do we mean by poor or ineffective communication?
- Think about the last time you got into a disagreement with someone. What was it about? How did communication contribute to it?
- How do you think body language affects communication?
- What are some of the different ways in which perspective influences communication?
- What are some of the advantages and difficulties of communication within a diverse workforce?
- Why do you think it is important to study business / professional communication?