Monday, February 13, 2012

How Can Communication Skills Boost Career Skills?

  • Knowing your audience is probably the first thing you must identify when delivering a business message. You need to know the age, gender, ethnicity, level power, relation, educational aspects, etc. This will help you in communicating the proper way in order to relay a positive and effective message to your peers.

  • Have visual aids present to allow for a full understanding of where you are coming from when delivering your message. Not only does this provide a clear and concise message to your audience, but it also shows knowledge and professionalism in what you are talking about.

  •  Make sure you speak slow and pronounce each word properly. Grammar mistakes can show that you might not have practiced enough to deliver your speech, or that you know too little about what you are saying. Speaking slow and clear will gain the respect of your audience because it shows that you know what you are talking about.

  •  Try not to use any slang terminology during your message. Keep everything simple and concise. This shows professionalism and makes you look better as a speaker. It is better to say less than to say more so keep it simple.


  • The last thing is to be confident. No one wants to hear someone that isn't prepared for what they are talking about. This means dress nicely and stand up straight when speaking. Your audience will appreciate a message delievered with confidence and enthusiasm rather then someone who is not. Use hand gestures when needed and look each person in the eyes when you are speaking. This will show that you are confident in what you are trying to tell the audience.



FAQ's

                                     What is appropriate attire for a business presentation?

For men, a dress shirt, tie, dress shoes, and a belt to match the shoes. When wearing a full suit, a jacket is recommended.

For women, something that covers the shoulders. Pant suits and skirts to the appropriate length are seen as the best options for workplace and presentation attire.

                                     How does effective communication benefit my career?

Knowing how to effectively communicate helps productivity on all ends. The added productivity puts you in a brighter light, which could ultimatley lead to promotions. Knowing how to communicate with various people demonstrates responsibility.
 
                                        How can I improve my communication skills?

The best way to learn, is to learn from those above you. Also, learning from the past is a great way to understand the future. Knowing how people have failed at communication can better prepare you how to avoid past strategies.

Another way is to keep your communication simple. It is said that it is always best to say less than more. Be clear and concise in your points. Bringing your vocabulary down to a lower level helps too.

                       What is the best form of communication in the business environment?

The best form of communication in the business world is through email. In matters of small everyday issues, email is the most versatile. It allows you to handle many tasks all in one place conveniently.

                           When should I start working on my communication skills?

Now! As soon as possible. Knowing how to communicate can be read about in books and websites; practicing these skills outside of the book is the most effective way to gain experience. The more time you have under your belt, the better chance you have at growing as a communicator.

Effective Communication Interview: Marlie Anderson


                                                            Marlie Anderson


Hometown: Paradise, California
Current Hometown: Adrian, Michigan
Full-time student at Adrian College
Class of 2014
Major: Biology
Minor: French


Marlie Anderson, who is currently a Sophomore at Adrian College, is a full-time student majoring in Biology with a minor in French. She works in the Admissions Department here at Adrian College and also teaches a Senior Seminar class at Adrian High School one day a week. Marlie is a great communicator, and when asked what the most important trait for being an effective communicator is she answered with "always smiling, being friendly, interacting with your audience, and making that person feel comfortable as possible." Marlie often demonstrates these ways of communicaton while giving tours of the campus, answering questions regarding admissions, and while teaching her seminar class.

Communication is not just about how you relay your message to a person, but also listening to them as well. Marlie believes that listening to what a person is saying will lead to a better conversation because you will be able to relate better while keeping a positive vibe with that person. Knowing your audience is also important to her as well. You always need to be prepared when it comes to who you are speaking to. Attire is her most important tip for others. The way you dress shows how you are as a person and your audience will recognize that the first time they see you.

In conclusion, Marlie's tips for being a more effective communicator are simple and to the point. She believes that practicing these simple steps will help you the next time you need to communicate effectively to others.



Monday, February 6, 2012

          Facebook v.s. Google+



Similarities between Facebook and Google+
  • Both allow ways to add people to your contact list.
  • Both sites have easy ways to uploads pictures.
  • You can have a network of people you can share events, status updates, photos and videos
  • The layout is identical.
  • Both have recommendations of friends you might want to add.

Differences between Facebook and Google+
  • For Facebook you have "friends," but for Google+ it's "circles."
  • Google+ you can view things that you only want to be seen, whereas Facebook it's the entire account settings.
  • You can "like" a page on Facebook, but for Google+ you use a "plus one" feature.
  • Google+ allows you to video chat with up to ten people. Facebook only allows a one on one chat.
  • Facebook allows for businesses to post advertisements on the Facebook page, whereas Google+ doesn't allow for this. It is a process that they are looking into currently.

Two businesses that would benefit from Google+

Places that come to mind with this benefit are the smaller businesses looking to get their name out in local cities. A good example of this is the new Wow Cafe & Wingery inside the Arrington Ice Arena here on campus. Using Google+ would allow them to establish a brand identity online. Every time a businesess is followed on Google+, it impacts search results online which show up higher in relevant search results. This benefit of Google+ would help a place like Wow Cafe to jump start their business here in the Lenawee County area.

Another business that comes to mind that would benefit immensely from Google+ is Jimmy Johns. Today, Jimmy Johns is growing into one of the top sandwich businesses in America. People are choosing Jimmy Johns more then the usual Subway or Quiznos ever since the airing of the recent commercials about their subs. With Google+, this would allow a true brand identity online that can be found by others that might not have heard of Jimmy Johns before.

Two businesses that use Facebook

Nike has almost 20 million "likes" on Facebook in regards to their products for sports, outerwear, and other appearal. Nike has used Facebook to help show new products that are soon to be released so that their followers will know what to expect once that particular item comes out. They have taken advantage of the social network that has brought many companies great success by switching to Facebook to increase profit and sales within their bussinesses around the world.



Domino's Pizza has used Facebook to their advantage in the recent years. Domino's has seen tremendous profit gains since using Facebook as a positive media link to hear feedback from their own customers in order to improve customer satisfaction. Because of this Domino's Pizza has gained recognition for taking the right steps in order to change their entire appearance, recipe, and being customer friendly by giving the people what they want when ordering a pizza.