Communication Skills for Business Professionals - Assignment Example

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL Name: Course: Professor: University: City: Date: Reflective Journal B2: Informative presentations are considered analytical delivery of information to a group of people. They highlight the actual reasoning behind any issue without offering any evidence. The information offered through informative presentation is meant for the general knowledge of the respondents and should be delivered through a clear and concise format (Goodall, Sandra and Schiefelbein 2010). For instance, a sales report presentation is meant to determine the forecasts on the financial aspect of an organization. However, persuasive messages are meant to alter the beliefs and perceptions of a person to use a certain product or service. Persuasive presentations focus on the benefits by shedding light on the adverse disadvantages and sensitizing on the alternatives. For instance, mass media presentations that are delivered through televisions and radio tend to contain persuasive elements. B4: Often, Apple and Samsung have used the power of technology and modernization to inform its consumers on the importance of using its products. They have used constant speeches to introduce new products to its consumers as they aim at diversifying in business. In the speech on Apple Vs Samsung, they introduce a new marketing strategy that targets increased demand for smart phones https://prezi.com/qweynhmivqlb/apple-vs-samsung-informative-speech/. One part of the presentation that may be evident is the constant reminder of the dominance of Apple in the electronic market. Apple sensitizes that it has dominated the market for many years and its sales are evidence of the most renewed brand. This is meant to persuade consumers that Apple is competent to meet the market desires. B7: The principle of consensus determines the ability of a person to purchase or use a product based on its popularity among other consumers. I think the principle of consensus has a contributing effect to persuading people towards a product or service. Arguably, the belief that people who use a product constantly acquire satisfaction of needs and wants may convince potential consumers to purchase such goods (Cenere 2015). This principle takes effect once consumers are unaware of the goods or services under consideration therefore may tend to follow the path of the heard. At one point, I have been susceptible to this persuasion especially when purchasing products I was unaware of their nature. In this case, I sought the most purchased based on information from the television. B9: A call to action tends to influence the consumer behaviour in terms of buying. In this case, a person uses discontinuance or deterrence. Discontinuance is the process of persuading the audience to refrain from doing or purchasing a product that they have always preferred (Sprague 2014). However, deterrence describes a condition where a speaker convinces the audience not to use a certain product or service if they have not started. Discontinuance may be a more difficult challenge since it takes into account altering the outgrown behaviour of the audience. For instance, trying to convince someone to stop using certain soaps despite the health advantages would be quite challenging. B11: Persuasion is an important factor in altering the behaviour of the audience towards a certain factor. However, persuasion may regarded as invalid if it fails to be ethical. If any persuasive speech is to be considered ethical, the speaker needs to contain integrity in terms of performing the action. The persuasive speech has to allow free choice to the audience who can make comments and issue opinions regarding the topic. Similarly, the speech needs to consider the passion of the audience by not violating their beliefs. Nonetheless, evidence needs to be present if any speech is to be successful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLFZD6lAkDIBottom of FormTop of FormTop of ForBottom of Form Bottom of For Bottom of Bottom of Bottom of Form Bottom . I intend to use credible, timely and relevant evidence while relaying a persuasive speech about a certain product. B13: Often people fail to plan for elevator speeches when they come across influential people. Introductions are an important part of building positive relationships with others and determine the perception of the person based on the introductions. The elevator speech covered in this sample identifies how various people approach a president https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDpe9StfGTA . A three-minute video starts with a college student that fails to introduce himself as required. It later identifies two students who begin the conversation with a salutation then fails to proceed with any discussion. The third person is an ambassador who values pictures more and fails to offer the president an opportunity to speak. The final person is composed and calm and introduces herself appropriately convincing the president to have lunch with her. B14: Arguably, communication is a major factor that seems to affect the society as people aim at integrating different issues in their lives. Non-verbal communication provides an avenue for people to enhance their understanding of verbal communication by transforming theoretical reasoning into physical aspects that will render the audience or respondents at an advantage (Sellnow 2005). Viewing nonverbal communication as not verbal communication limits peoples understanding of communication as it alters the perception that one is an advancement of the other. For instance, following verbal communication, uncertainty reduces and people are likely to display increased affiliation therefore an improvement in information-seeking behaviour. Similarly, if people fail to view non-verbal communication as not verbal communication, people are likely to misunderstand those with disabilities. They will be unable to achieve self-disclosure. B16: Time is a relevant factor in non-verbal communication as it enables the sender to determine the relevance of the message to the responder. In the information age, people are stuck to the notion that technology has revolutionized timely information delivery and response. It is because of this that the traditional form of sending messages has lost relevance. People often perceive others based on how fast they may respond to a message that shows their interest in the topic (Hinde 1975). For instance, timely response to messages shows that a person is happy or excited about the topic, which may be relevant to them. Failure to respond to a message in time causes the sender to have a negative perception about the receiver. For instance, a message regarding the daily operations in production needs to be timely. B17: Although non-verbal communication is considered among the fastest forms of communication, people often fail to consider various factors that may render it unsuccessful. To achieve message delivery through non-verbal communication, the sender needs to perceive the environment different from how they view it through a verbal communication level. The reading identifies that a major assumption that people make to achieve non-verbal communication, which includes a staunch perspective that people, will judge the speaker based on their appearance, culture, dressing and skills (West & Turner 2006). Therefore, the communicator classifies the audience based on their reactions and their response towards different non-verbal communication means. Speakers may also identify an observer who will help them identify their non-verbal communication skills. B20: A crisis communication plan is an outline of a list of information that organizes responsibilities and different lines of communication before the occurrence of an event. It takes into account four factors that need to be considered which include the crisis communication team members with contact information, spokesperson, meeting place and media plan. Once people do not know what to do during a crisis, there is a sense of commotion and uncertainty that may result to catastrophes. Contingencies that occur after the formation of a crisis plan result to better and organized results. Nonetheless, to address probably challenges that are experienced before a crisis, it is important to delegate a spokesperson that will be responsible for highlighting the issues related to the crisis such as reasons for the occurrence. Delegation of people who will identify the meeting location as well as the media choices available will en sure that people remain at the forefront of every crisis. B21: Consumers are concerned about the strategies and procedures that a business uses to penetrate and reach the diverse market. Among the factors that influence consumer behaviour towards a business, is the level of self-disclosure that they experience. Self-disclosure defines the transition between superficial conversation to intimate and revealing communication. Once a business is conscious of the vast consumers, it is able to design strategies that will strengthen the level of trust that the consumers display. Trust is important since it helps in building the business brand and creates identity (Littlejohn & Foss, 2011). For instance, once a business practices social responsibility, it will disclose to the consumers its business practices and methods therefore making them aware of the potential hazards. B23: Conflicts exist at different settings and can be avoided or solved through various ways. Conflict management as described in this section can be solved through conversation methods. The changes that may be identified through communication may be used to level the ground during conflicts by implementing the five stages of conversation. The first stage of initiation provides the conflicting parties with an opportunity to interact despite the condition. It brings up a sense of coexistence. The second stage is the preview phase where the conflicting parties are engaged in recalling the cause of conflict. Conflicting partners are engaged in feedback where they clarify, restate and discuss the next cause of action. In the closing stage, conflicting parties agree on the feedback and strive to abide by the rules.  B24: As a manager in charge of approximately a dozen workers, I would solely rely on theory Z to dictate the management styles that I will use. Theory Z tends to combine elements of Y and X therefore creating a perfect blend in the management skills and practices that are provided within this scope. With theory Z, worker motivation is promoted, development of skills, loyalty and job rotation is implemented. It encourages the workers to be competent enough to manage the tasks that are offered within their job descriptions as the company ensures employee welfare is ascertained. Some management decisions I would make would be regarding the rotation procedures and schedules. References Top of Form Top of Form Top of Form Top of Form Top of Form Top of Form Top of Form Cenere, P 2015. Communication skills for business professionals, Port Melbourne, Vic: Cambridge University Press. Goodall, H, L, Sandra, G, Schiefelbein, J 2010. Business and professional communication in the global workplace, Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Hinde, R. A. (1975). Non-verbal communication. Cambridge : Univ. Press.Bottom of Form Littlejohn, S. W., & Foss, K. A 2011. Theories of human communication, Long Grove, Ill: Waveland Press. Nguyen, D 2016. Apple Vs. Samsung Informative Speech, Prezi.com, Retrieved 3 October 2016, from https://prezi.com/qweynhmivqlb/apple-vs-samsung-informative-speech/Bottom of Form Top of FormTop of FormTopTop of FormTop of FormTop of FormTop of FormTop of FormTop of FormTop of Form Persuasive Speaking Tips: Using Evidence in Persuasive Speeches. 2016. YouTube, Retrieved 3 October 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLFZD6lAkDI Sellnow, D, D 2005. Confident public speaking, Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth. Sprague, J 2014. The speaker's compact handbook, Australia: Wadsworth / Cengage Learning. The Elevator Speech 2016. YouTube, Retrieved 3 October 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDpe9StfGTA West, R, L, & Turner, L, H 2006. Understanding interpersonal communication: Making choices in changing times, Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of FormTop of FormTop of ForBottom of Form Bottom of For Bottom of Bottom of Bottom of Form Bottom Read More