Basics in Business Communications

Transcription

1 2015 Basics in Business Communications COURSE OUTLINE

2 BASICS IN BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS 11 Hours/4 Weeks/Self Study/Instructor Led Course Description Communication is a process of transferring information from one person to another. Communications is the cement that holds workplaces together and ensures that organisations are productive, profitable, and successful. People tend to think of communications as only the words they say or write, but it is so much more than that. Communications includes the environment it is used in, how words are said, non-verbal and cultural aspects, and how the communicator s personality affects their style. Content and Schedule 1. Business Grammar Basics From simple s to formal letters, business professionals will need to compose documents that educate, persuade, inform, or enlighten others. Writing is an essential element of business communication. By the time most of us get through grade school, high school, and college, we feel like we have the basics of writing down pat. However, we still see basic grammar mistakes in the workplace. In a business setting this can be a problem, because others are making judgments about us and are forming opinions based on how we write. This course discusses grammar commonly used in the workplace. After completing this module, students should be able to: Show how to properly use punctuation marks Recall how to correctly construction a sentence Recognise how to write using an active voice List several commonly misused terms State the proper use of capitalisation 2. Business Writing Basics From simple s to formal letters, business professionals regularly compose documents that educate, persuade, inform, or enlighten others. There are many types of business documents, some very specific to an industry while others are common across all industries. Some of the common types of documents include memos, letters, reports, and s. This course discusses the components of business writing and explains how to write these basic documents.

3 2. Business Writing Basics cont d After completing this module, students should be able to: Recall the basic fundamentals of business writing Identify the various types of business documents Recognise how to write a memo, business letter, and business report Identify key steps to creating effective business s State why good proofreading is important in business writing 3. Critical Thinking: Implications for Leadership Successful organisational leaders understand the importance of honing their critical thinking skills. Being an effective critical thinker is much like excelling at any art form; it takes commitment, practice, and years of hard work to achieve high results. This course explores the elements of critical thinking, the impact they have on strategic leadership, and the skills leaders must practice to be successful. At the conclusion of this module, learners will be able to: Identify the impact critical thinking has on leadership Define the importance of strategic leaders within organisations State the elements of critical thinking Name strategies to improve critical thinking skills Identify ways leaders can practice critical thinking in everyday situations 4. Effective Professional Communications Communication is a process of transferring information from one person to another. Communications is the cement that holds workplaces together and ensures that organisations are productive, profitable, and successful. People tend to think of communications as only the words they say or write, but it is so much more than that. Communications includes the environment it is used in, how words are said, non-verbal and cultural aspects, and how the communicator s personality affects their style. To be an effect professional, workers should understand the various elements that make up effective communication. At the conclusion of this module, learners will be able to: Describe effective professional communications List ways that communications can break down State the components of effective professional communications Explain behavioural communication styles Describe ways to effectively communicate with different communication styles

4 5. Etiquette In decades past, business writing was a rare, formal event. Most everyone has a computer at home or work these days, so we are now many times more likely to send a written message to others using . Sometimes these messages are poorly written, which creates misunderstandings and affects the sender s reputation. At the conclusion of this module, learners will be able to: Define the role proper netiquette has in an message Describe how punctuation and grammar convey non-verbal meaning Explain how to properly organise an message List several ways to write a clear message State several components of an effective message 6. Ethical Decision Making People working in business and industry make many decisions every day, most of them are routine ones made in the moment with little active thought. Others are important decisions that have a direct impact on the lives of others. Businesses that fail to behave in an ethical manner will alienate employees, drive away business partners, and eventually lose customers; unethical business practices will eventually kill that company. This course discusses the impact ethical decision making can have an organisation, and it describes a process to make an ethical decision. At the conclusion of this course, learners will be able to: Define ethics and ethical decision making Explain how to write a company Code of Ethics List steps in the decision making process State the difference between moral, legal, societal, and ethical decisions Describe ways to make an ethical decision 7. Power Skills of Communication PODCAST: The ability to communicate effectively is important in relationships, education, and work. Identifying and applying power skills into your conversations will help you better connect with your spouse, children, friends and co-workers. In this course, you will listen to core ideas behind successful communication, resulting in how to integrate the power skills into your daily communication, challenging individuals to not only speak and listen, but also ask questions.

5 7. Power Skills of Communication cont d By the end of this module the learner will be able to: Identify the steps to powerful communication Comprehend the steps involved in the Double Loop Model Describe characteristics of powerful listening Identify the Four Magic Moments of Listening Summarise the outcomes of listening and asking questions 8. Public Speaking and Presentations The ability to speak confidently and convincingly in public is a valuable skill to have in both the business world and private life. In fact, the top things employers seek in a new hire are good verbal and written communication skills. Many people experience stress when they have to speak in public, but planning for success and building structure around the speaking engagement increases selfconfidence and reduces speaking anxiety. This course discusses public speaking and presentations and gives a step-by-step process for creating a speech for any occasion. After completing this module, students should be able to: Identify the steps in the public speaking process Define the nine steps to planning a speech or presentation List how visual aids enhance a speech or presentation State ways to reduce speaking anxiety Recognise how to create a strong speech or presentation 9. Time & Action Management PODCAST: In a world where we are expected to do more with less time, Time and Action Management is one of those areas in our business and personal lives that we continue to need to be skilled at in order to be successful and lead a life of fulfilment. Our course will take you through how functioning to-do lists will help you get into the habit of spending time fulfilling your goals, delegating tasks, and allowing you to save time and increase your effectiveness and productivity at any given job.

6 By the end of this module the learner will be able to: Recognise how to spend time effectively Comprehend how to create and schedule to-do lists Describe the minute activities in life that cause ineffectiveness Identify the importance of delegation Summarise the outcomes of patterns in activities System Requirements Internet Connection: Broadband or High-Speed - DSL, Cable, and Wireless Connections (Dial-Up internet connections will result in a diminished online experience. Classroom pages may load slowly and viewing large audio and video files may not be possible.) Hardware Requirements Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended (While our courses are accessible through multiple mobile learning platforms, some courses may include a CD or DVD with the Textbook, so you may need access to a computer with CD-ROM or DVD Drive.) PC Software Requirements: Operating Systems - Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 or 8.1 Microsoft Office 2007, 2010 or 2013 or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc,.docx,.xls,.xlsx,.ppt,.pptx) Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended Cookies MUST be enabled Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled) Kindle Reader App is needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.) PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint) Adobe PDF Reader QuickTime, Windows Media Player &/or Real Player

7 System Requirements cont d MAC Software Requirements: Operating Systems - Mac OS x 10 or higher with Windows Mac office programs or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc,.docx,.xls,.xlsx,.ppt,.pptx) Internet Browsers- Google Chrome is highly recommended Cookies MUST be enabled Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled) Kindle Reader App is needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.) PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint) Adobe PDF Reader Apple QuickTime Media Player If your course has a CD-ROM or DVD included, you may need to have Microsoft Window Operating Systems over Bootcamp (Bootcamp is a free download from Apple's website) or Windows setup with Parallels. Method of Instruction Included with this course are two (2) hours of online tutoring through NetTutor! In addition to your course mentor, a dedicated NetTutor staff member is available to assist you with questions you have about the materials, ensuring you have the know-how to successfully complete your course. Course Certification Participants who complete the course will be provided a Certificate of Completion issued by HLSCC. Registration Procedures To register for the course, persons must submit the registration form and pay the requisite fees at HLSCC s Fiscal Services. A payment receipt will be provided and registration form will be stamped with a receipt number. A copy of the stamped registration form will be provided to the participant, for their personal records. Course Fees The total fee for the course is $ This must be paid before the course registration deadline. Contact Information For further details about the course, please contact: Dana Lewis-Ambrose, Coordinator Telephone: (284) dlewis@hlscc.edu.vg Veronique Forbes-King, Programme Administrator Telephone: (284) vfking@hlscc.edu.vg