This exercise involves analyzing a communication technique—presentations. On a daily basis, it is often expected that professionals be proficient with presentations. For this exercise, prepare a Power

Immediately, it might seem as if the worker is frustrated with you; however, the worker is likely to be fru strated with him or herself as he or she determines the appropriate words for what he or she wants to say. W ith that, be patient as you communicate with others , an d do what you can to help them. One of the most important items you can learn from this unit is that not effectively communicating can be very damaging to the workplace. Employees need a basic understanding of appropriate communication. To move beyond a basic understanding, it can be very beneficial to know not only how to communicate but also ho w to take advantage of the communication process. By utilizing effective communication techniques, you can make positive impressions in the workplace, and such a practice of professionalism is likely to propel your career, goals, and objectives. In order for any communication to take place and be effective, a critical component is listening. Practicing proficient listening skills can have positive effects, such as increasing productivity, meeting goals, and fostering a congenial relationship among workers. One way to improve your listening proficiency is to train UNIT V STUDY GUIDE Communication and Accountability in the Workplace BBA 3361, Professionalism in the Workplace 2 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title yourself to listen for details by focusing on the words and details to reduce misunderstanding. Another means to be a more effective listener is to be sincere in your outreach of concern f or employees. Not only have an open -door policy but also encourage others to take the time to listen to one another by showing concern and empath y for the well -being of others. Having proficient listening skills can result in fast er production rates. Have you ever heard the saying , “a -happy worker is a productive worker”? There appears to be a definite correlation between happiness and productivity. Additionally, good listeners seem to be more proficient toward the requirements of the job, and studies hav e indicated that they spend less time on revisions. Keep in mind, listening is not the same as hearing. Adults spend an average of 70% of their time engaged in some sort of communication. W ithin the 70%, an average of 45% of the time is spent listening, co mpared to speaking for 30% of the time, reading for 16% of the time, and writing for 9% of the time (Adler, Rosenfeld, & Proctor , 2001). Listening is imperative and a major part of the communication process; however, there must be accountability and responsibility for our exchanges in communication. Please know that communication is challenging. With all the means (i.e., technology) of communication, one would assume it is easier more now than ever.

However, the opposite is actually true. Some of the concerns include the misuse of electronic communication tools, the lack of (or poor) phone etiquette, a nd the numerous unprofessional uses of mobile devices, such as texting, social media, videos, and teleconferences. Today, workers have the ability to con nect to one another via virtual venues. Some might even say that we rely too heavily on virtual communication techniques. Since we tend to rely on virtual communication (connectivity is through a virtual venue), it is predictable how a lack of listening an d/or a block in the communication process can lead to misunderstandings. If we are not effective listeners, it can be very easy to misinterpret the intended message from a colleague. W ith a- multitude of devices ranging from e -mail, texting, blogs, to wiki s, it is no wonder messages are getting lost and distorted. Regardless of how you communicate, be sure to embrace the process and work with your colleagues to ensure th e messages and goals are clear. Lastly, be sure that you have a solid understanding of the latest policies and etiquette of electronic communication. The basic guideline is to keep it simple —treat others how you want to be treated. Always be polite, courteous , and graceful to demonstrate professionalism through communication. Within any type of workplace, one skill that can help you avoid unnecessary frustration is to know when a face -to-face conversation will be much more productive than an e -mail. Or, perhaps a phone call could be the proper communication method, rather than an e -mail. When you cannot communicate in person, be sure to avoid using all caps in e -mails, as it can appear to be yelling. Additionally, keep the message professional by maintaining a b usiness -like sense while avoiding irregular symbols such as smiley faces, personal slangs, abbreviations, and improper salutations. End your e -mail communication with contact information , and before clicking send, review your message for clarity and mistak es. If possible, try to avoid communicating when you are upset. W hile upset, you may say something unprofessional since you may not be thinking clearly. At those moments when you are upset, step away and take a break. Then, after settling down, you can com e back and respond in a professional manner. After you send an e -mail, it is not always possible to take it back. In other words, your message is out there for others to interpret and potentially share. So, be sure that your e--mail contains the message th at you want to share. If you have doubts about sending an e -mail, it might be best to think it over before sending it. After thinking about it for a bit, you might realize how you can revise the e-mail to more accurately reflect the message you would like to send. The reading in this unit addresses many aspects of professionalism and concludes with positive relationships at work through sharing a bit about yourself and who you are. For many, this will be an exciting opportunity to reach out to others. Pres ent yourself as an approachable person by making connections with others —identify what you have in common to build your network. Also, when you speak about others, always do so by only saying positive things about them. By staying positive, you can prevent yourself from being the cause of any workplace gossip bef ore it has the chance to begin. Next, make a connection through supportiveness. If a worker is in need of assistance or strug gling, ask him or her if you can help. Again, this will help the relatio nship by making another connection and allowing you and your colleague to work well together. Next, if you are very interested in networking and building strong professional relationships, get involved. Identify ways that you can get involved with others b y participating in the same activities. Just as you reach out to offer assistance to others, do not hesitate to ask for assistance with your own work. Remember, a team is more productive than a party of one. Another gesture of creating a- more positive rel ationship at work is to write random thank -you notes and letters of acknowledgement. Keep it fun and interesting by delivering the notes in a variety of ways, such as hand delivered, e -mailed, BBA 3361, Professionalism in the Workplace 3 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title voicemail, and greeting cards. Another way to bond is by initia ting a conversation through asking simple yet sincere questions. Then , after you ask the question, you will have the perfect opportunity to practice your listening skills by listening to the answer(s). If you would like to build an even stronger bond with a colleague, you can consider joining an extracurricular activity that occurs outside of the workplace. Something as simple as going to lunch can also be a great way to build stronger workplace relationships. While building any workplace relationship, the core of it all begin s with effective communication. References Adler, R., Rosenfeld, L., & Proctor, R. (2001). Interplay: The process of interpersonal communicati on. (8th ed.). Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Suggested Reading The following article s provide thoughtful insight into effective communication i n the workplace as well as barriers to effective communication: EffectiveCommunicationadvice.com. (n.d.). Effective communication in the workplace. Retrieved from http://effectivecommunicationadvice.com/workplace Employee -motivation -skills.com. (n.d.). Effective communication in the workplace for motivation, solutions and success. Retrieved from http://www.employee -motivation -skills.com/communication -in-the - workplace.html Lewis, M. (n.d.). 10 tips to develop effective workplace communication skills. Ret rieved from http://www.moneycrashers.com/effective -workplace -communication -skills/ Learning Activities (NonG raded) As you work through the material for this unit, consider completing a worksheet that contains valuable activities for practicing critical thinking toward communication. Click here to access the worksheet. This is a- non -graded activity, so there is no need to submit it. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information. Non graded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.