RED RIVER COLLEGE

LANGUAGE TRAINING CENTER

COMMUNICATION FOR BUSINESS AND

ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM

ASSIGNMENT: ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

UNIT 1 WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION TODAY
CHAPTER 1 WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION TODAY

SUBMITTED TO: CLASSROOM INSTRUCTOR

DATE: MAY 29TH 2021

 CRITICAL THINKING

1. How is the writing that you and your peers are practicing every day by texting, e-
mailing, or instant messaging different from the writing business professionals
expect in the workplace?

Communication has always been a human need, a need to exchange information, and
knowledge. Communication has evolved from communication through the human voice,
after writing, sending physical mails, later printing newspapers, radio, television,
telephone, to the present day, which is the digital revolution.

From my point of view, it is getting easier and easier to have communication media and
every time, the expectations of the information get bigger because they are part of the
evolution of the human being.

Currently, there is a varied number of instant messaging that is completely informal. It is

a great help to communicate with friends, family, classmate, but not appropriate for
formal communication in a work environment.

Will your employer benefit from your informal writing?

Employers seek to hire people who have soft skills, also, they are seeking teamwork that
who are focused and provides a professional contribution to the company.

The informal communication that we are using in our personal lives, from my point of
view will not contribute to the growth of the company.

2. Name examples that illustrate the nonverbal cues we send by our use of time,
space, or territory. How does our need for personal space or territory, for
example, play out in the new, flexible “anytime, anywhere” workplace?
Example of space:
 A couple of Afro-descendant politicians were invited to a dinner by the Governor of
Cuernavaca, when they arrived and walked around the place, they realized that the
place was decorated with paintings that represent the slavery of their ancestors. For this
reason, the couple was offended, and preferred to leave the place. The next day the
organizers of the event asked for a public apology, but the message for this couple was
clear, the Governor of Cuernavaca enjoys seeing slavery and the suffering of others.

Example of time: When a student takes the time to submit a quality task, or project
(research, presentation, grammar, etc.) and present it in the stipulated time, this
indicates his respect, interest, and approval for his teacher.

Example of territory: The private bathroom of the master room is a territory, or area
assigned for a person, or a couple for their comfort and personal service. When this area
is invaded by someone else, the person may demonstrate, or make known their
disagreement.

How does our need for personal space or territory, for example, play out in the new,
flexible “anytime, anywhere” workplace?

In my opinion, we express the need for space when we are the ones who decide how to
decorate or furnish a space to our personal taste.

3. How are listening skills important to employees, supervisors, and executives?

Who should have the best listening skills?

A fundamental part of communication skills is to be a good listener, and through this unit
of study we have learned that it is essential to have a good listening ability. Otherwise,
the message could be interpreted incorrectly, losing its true meaning, or worse still a bad
listener can distort the actual intent of the sender.
These errors taken to the business, or professional environment could cause serious
damage in the different levels of hierarchy of a company, either by creating a bad
working environment among employees, or affecting the execution of tasks due to the
lack of listening skills, impacting in the same way at the supervisory level. While at the
 executive level, the lack of ability to listen can generate to major errors in decision-
making, resulting in non-compliance of the goals, or in the desired results generating
economic losses for the company. Personally, I consider that among these three roles,
such as employees, supervisors and executives, those who should have better listening
skills are the supervisors, since they become the communication channel between the
different levels of hierarchy such as, employees and executives. Through your
interaction with employees, you can receive feedback from consumers of the product, or
service, as well as doubts, or failures of internal processes, bringing them to the
executive level. At the same time, it fulfills the task of transmitting the new provisions
made by executives, in this way their role and communication skills become essential for
the proper functioning of a company.

4. What arguments could you give for or against the idea that body language is a
science with principles that can be interpreted accurately by specialists?

Although there are many studies on body language, we understand that it cannot be
scientifically analyzed what each gesture means. For example, a yawn can be a
symptom of boredom, however, it can also mean a feeling of hunger or that the person is
sleepy because they have not slept all night. Putting things in context is important, so as
not to make hasty inferences from certain gestures. Really knowing a person is a long
process that requires time and many hours of conversation.

We can also emphasize that as we get to know people, and spend more time with them,
we can understand their gestures, movements, and looks, etc. For example, a smile
does not always mean happiness, fun, joy, and satisfaction; it can also indicate shame,
discomfort, irony, contempt, anger, or disbelief.

We also have the example of actor Robin Williams, the great sense of humor that he
showed publicly, and his body language never showed the depreciation he suffered.
To summarize, having control over your body communication helps you to be aware of
the message that it transmits in everyday situations, such as a job interview, a first date,
or a couple discussion.
5. It is quite natural to favor one’s own country over a foreign one. To what extent
can ethnocentrism and stereotypes be considered normal reactions, and when do
they become destructive and unproductive in the workplace?

Ethnocentrism and stereotypes have been part of all cultures. From my perspective, it
can be described as judging other cultures for not following the same ideas as their own.

This type of judging is maintained in the business world, nevertheless, it has also
evolved as globalization advances. In many environments, it has been possible to
understand the importance of overcoming these barriers, and achieving an adequate
connection to interact with other cultures as a strategy for globalization. Communication
has been one of the best tools to break down the barriers that have been created by
ethnocentrism and stereotypes.

In recent years, many terms are heard, such as multiculturalism, interculturality and
ethnocentrism. Canada is characterized by being a multicultural country. In comparison
with other global potential has greatly broken stereotypes by teaching natives and
foreigners the importance of not creating this type of socio-cultural appreciation.

Regarding the labour, commercial, and business aspects, ethnocentrism has

advantages in protecting the local economy, local labour, and small companies.
However, it becomes destructive when these economies lose efficiency, creativity, and
capacity for innovation.
 CHAPTER REVIEW

8. What are soft skills?

Soft skills are qualities, or attributes that a person possesses that cannot be acquired
through academic learning. Soft skills are more related to an individual's attitude and
intuition. These are also known as key competences, and they can give us information
about a person's personality, and ability to interact with others, or their development in
difficult situations.

10. List seven or more suggestions for enhancing comprehension when you are
talking with non-native speakers of English. Be prepared to discuss each.

We could follow these steps to improve communication and avoid misunderstandings with non-
native English speakers:

 Use simple English.

 Speak slowly and enunciate clearly.
 Encourage accurate feedback.
 Check frequently for comprehension.
 Observe eye messages.
 Accept blame.
 Listen without interrupting.
 Smile when appropriate.