Demonstration of Poise and Confidence in Verbal, Interpersonal and Written Communication
The
ability to effectively communicate through verbal, interpersonal, and written
communication is a dying skill. Social media, communication devices, and
electronic mail are deteriorating the need for proper spelling, grammar, and
pronunciation. In fact, had I been given
the opportunity to choose a thesis topic, I would have proposed a Professional
Communication Guide outlining appropriate communication in the workplace. Alas, I was not afforded this option and we
will all continue struggling to decipher evolving phrases such as “AAMOF,” “AEAP”,
and “YOLO;” which, for anyone over the age of twenty-five is crap. But, I
digress. Even more than an overuse of worthless acronyms, there is a large
issue with tone development that is no longer being stressed in written
communication today. As short spurts of electronic messages have replaced the
face-to-face verbal interactions, poise and confidence is lost in translation. In
fact, tone is often missing, misunderstood, or exaggerated confusing the reader
and causing differences in reaction. Thus, I have addressed the necessary means
of teaching, introducing new ideas, offering new perspectives, and challenging
the reader to in contradiction of conventional ideals through poise and
confidence in the following artifacts.
Reflection
My
first artifact, Project Management,
demonstrates an ability to teach the audience in developing a process for
project management. Given the scenario of a young, inexperienced manager who
was assigned the role of a project manager for planning a corporate
celebration, I clearly outline the steps necessary to executing the process.
Naturally, the artifact corrects the manager’s mistakes and identifies
shortcomings. Then, it attempts to rectify the situation with a clear,
measurable, and attainable plan. The plan addresses communication, meetings, recognized
constraints, required resources, and roles and responsibilities. Then, the
artifact continues by teaching the audience how to develop a project timeframe,
build an activity network, and how to appropriately assess risk. This teaching
tool exemplifies a strong ability to communicate, through methods of
instruction, with poise and confidence. This artifact has served as a guideline
for my own project-management skill development. I have since utilized the
backward-pass activity network and risk analysis to assess my project timelines
and impact.
1._project_management.docx | |
File Size: | 169 kb |
File Type: | docx |
My
second artifact, The Loft Coffee House,
introduces new, complex ideas to evolving non-profit businesses through written
communication. Additionally, it illustrates my poised ability in verbal communication
through interview skills with the organization.
The Loft Coffee House, a small non-profit in Spring Branch Texas,
operates in partnership with nearby Riverside Community Church. The idea was to
build a self-sustaining non-profit that could also contribute to the local and
global community. The business serves coffee, tea, pastries, and hot meal food
service to local patrons at a fair cost. Yet, after business hours, the
building serves as a place to worship, host AA meetings, and offers a place for
the Boy Scouts to gather. Upon interviewing Jenny Rudd, Manager of The Loft, it
was clear the community service of this organization stretched far beyond the
local patrons. The Loft uses its financial gains not to support the church (in
fact, none of the profit returns to the church – only the church offers
financial support when The Loft is in need), but extends to the global
community in Uganda where orphaned children desperately seek shelter,
protection, and an education. This
artifact offers the audience a new approach to non-profit service where a
profitable business can operate solely for the benefit of others. And the idea
is catching on; management of The Loft Coffee House and Riverside Community
Church as provided mentorship to two other coffee houses with the same mission.
This interview changed my mindset to operating a non-profit. Maybe I’ll be the
next mentoree of The Loft!
2._the_loft_coffee_house.docx | |
File Size: | 226 kb |
File Type: | docx |
My
third artifact, Capital Structure,
offers the reader new perspectives on traditional ideas to balancing financial
assets. Experts suggest that analyzing the proportion of debt to equity because
corporate profitability is closely correlated to its capital structure. Inexperienced individuals may subscribe to
ideas that suggest debt is a poor way to increase wealth. Subsequently, these
people are also in favor of using equity to finance assets. And when running a
household and managing personal assets, I would agree with this method.
However, in a corporation, balancing equity and debt can be advantageous to
profitability. Yet, as no two companies are the same, neither is the
combination of debt to equity balance that compliments their operations. This artifact serves as an analysis to the
benefits and disadvantages to a variety of financial mixes – giving the
audience a new perspective on old ideas. It also provided me new knowledge to
reassess the capital structure of my own investments.
3._capital_strucure.docx | |
File Size: | 25 kb |
File Type: | docx |
My fourth artifact, Ethical Framework, challenges the
audience to understand perspective on an entirely different scale. The artifact
was assigned to analyze the necessary attributes of ethical leaders
specifically in the global economy. While this seems like a conventional topic,
the reader is tested when leaders of religion, culture, and mass mortality are
evaluated for levels of ethical behavior. Yes, even Adolf Hitler is addressed
as he too had a set of moral principles and core values. While they were
grossly inappropriate and unacceptable, his beliefs were shared by millions.
Effectively, it is our diverse assessment of “right and wrong” that often skews
our ability to perform with shared morals. Variances in cultural, legal,
political and religious ideals make it nearly impossible for all individuals to
behave under the same belief. Thus, the analysis of Hitler s not meant to seem insensitive
but help grasp the magnitude of cultural differences. This artifact stretches the mind beyond the
confinement of our own beliefs. It further serves as a benefit to leaders in
the global economy and our constant interaction in a multi-cultural environment.
Through confidence and poise, this artifact helps to grasp the challenges we
face with global integration, ethical principles, and moral corporate
citizenship.
4._ethical_framework.docx | |
File Size: | 27 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Future Learning Goals
There are two ways in
which I plan to use the knowledge gained from this area of expertise. The first
is to recognize the most appropriate method (teaching, offering new complex
ideas, providing a new perspective, or challenging conventional ideals) when instruction
adult learners. While each student learns differently, I will need to adapt my
instructional style to help enlighten and broaden intellectual opinions.
The second way I plan to use the knowledge gained is to develop a Professional Communication Guide for my organization. I will include standards for professional e-mails including tone, language, salutations, signature blocks, and acknowledgment of message receipt. Also addressed will be the appropriate use of text and instant messaging with both internal recipients and our business partners. There will be a list of acceptable acronyms available to include, “LOL, BRB, and TTYL” to be used only in text and instant message and only with appropriate recipients. This guide will serve as an outline where common sense used to prevail.
The second way I plan to use the knowledge gained is to develop a Professional Communication Guide for my organization. I will include standards for professional e-mails including tone, language, salutations, signature blocks, and acknowledgment of message receipt. Also addressed will be the appropriate use of text and instant messaging with both internal recipients and our business partners. There will be a list of acceptable acronyms available to include, “LOL, BRB, and TTYL” to be used only in text and instant message and only with appropriate recipients. This guide will serve as an outline where common sense used to prevail.