Q1132: Business
Communication Skills
Week 1
Session Aims
In the session today we will:
• Introduce ourselves
• Become familiar with the module & Canvas site
• Look at features of communication & what makes a
good communicator
• Self-Assess current skills: Business Communication,
Language & Academic skills
• Set-up self-study & learning journal
Tutor Introductions
Name: Simon Williams
Email address: [email protected]
Arts B Room B122
Office hour 1130-1230 hrs Wednesdays
- email for timed face-to-face slot or for Zoom meeting
Student Introductions
Ask your partner the following questions:
• Why have you chosen to study at the University of Sussex?
• What did you study for your first degree? Where did you
study this?
• Do you have business work experience? Where?
• What do you plan to do after you finish your Master’s
course?
Module & Canvas Overview
Work in pairs
• Complete the ‘Module & Canvas Quiz’ provided.
• The answers can be found in the Module handbook or on
Canvas
Discuss: Are there any answers which are unclear/ any
information which you could not find?
Further Information
The core text for the module is Business Communication for
Success, available on this Canvas site in Module information
https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/8
Extracts from Business Communication will be
used in some classes.
Module Content Overview
Overview of module
Preparing / Delivering Business
Week 1 Being a good communicator Week 7
Presentations & Learning Report (1)
Critical reflection
Week 2 Active Listening & Negotiating Week 8 Business Reports & Learning Report (2)
Critical Business Research/ Reading Skills
Week 3 Week 9 Article Review In-Class Test
& Article Review (1)
Communicating Routine Messages & Assessed Presentations (in-class)
Week 4 Week 10
Building Good Will
Problem Solving/ Managing Conflict
Week 5 Week 11 Feedback/ Tutorials
(Group Work Skills)
Preparing / Delivering Business
Week 6 Submit Learning Report
Presentations & Article Review (2)
Self-Study
• 10-12 hours of self-study per week for this 15-credit
module
• Core readings & suggested self-study (H/W) can be found
on Canvas, e.g. week 1 tab, and class page (Simon) PPT
Communication
Discuss in groups:
- What does the word ‘communication’ mean to you?
- What types of communication are important in Business
contexts?
‘Communication: The process by which participants not only
exchange messages (information, ideas and feelings) but
also co-create and share meaning.’ (Showm & Snyder, 2016,
p.4)
Communication
Discuss:
- Why do you think communication can be challenging?
- Which factors affect communication?
- Do you have an example of a time when communication
was difficult for you? Why was this difficult?
Communication
Why is it challenging to communicate well?
• Communication is a complex process
E.g. psychological barriers/ language barriers
• Communication is affected by context
E.g. social context/ cultural context/ physical context
• Communication is more than the transmission of messages
E.g. to develop relationships/ to persuade others
(Shwom & Snyder, 2011, pp.5-6)
Discuss: What do you think are the top 5 skills employers
value the most when hiring a new employee?
According to a 2017 Corporate Recruiters Survey…
The top 5 skills are:
1) Oral communication
2) Listening Skills
3) Adaptability
4) Written communication
5) Presentation Skills
4 out of 5 are communication skills!
Available from: GMAC (2019) Employers Seek Communication Skills in New Hires. Available at:
https://www.mba.com/mbas-and-business-masters/articles/your-career-path/employers-seek-c
ommunications-skills
Accessed 08 August 2019
Improving Communication Skills
This module offers practical training in the communication skills
required to become expert communicators in business environments.
An important past of this process is to evaluate your current strengths
& weaknesses.
Self-Assessment
Open Week 1 Worksheet Competencies & Action Plan-1 Ex. 1
Look at the list provided outlining the skills sets in greatest need in business
organisations.
A: Organisational Communication Skills
B: Leadership Communication Skills
C: Interpersonal Communication Skills
Task: For each set (A, B & C) select one area in which you are confident of your
abilities ( ), and one area which you need to improve on (x) .
Prepare evidence/ examples to support your ideas, and share these ideas with a
partner/ group.
Self-Assessment
Ex. 2: Detail the specific areas you need to improve in terms of:
1) Business Communication Skills
2) Language Skills
3) Academic Skills
This will form the basis of your Action Plan. You will complete
self-study to improve on these areas throughout the module.
Self-Study & The Learning Journal
- You will write a paragraph each week in your Learning Journal about
your self-study activities
- Focus on how these activities have (or have not) helped you meet
the aims you set yourself in your action plan.
- The action plan should indicate what you believe you need to
develop in terms of business communication skills, including language
and academic aspects
- These entries will be the basis for 1000 words of your final Learning
Report
- Use the Learning Journal Template in the Week 1 class page
Reflective Writing
A key skill in this module is reflective writing.
Watch the following video from the University of Hull & take
notes/ complete the Critical Reflection handout provided
Self-Study Task
Complete the following for self-study:
Ex. 3: Self-Study Set-up
Go to Canvas Resources & Support Browse the resources available
for your self-study. Select a resource that looks useful to help you
work on the areas identified in your Action Plan.
Ex. 4: Effectiveness of self-study & Learning Journal
- Complete the self-study tasks you selected
- Download the Learning Journal Template to your computer. Write one entry
reflecting on the effectiveness of your self-study.
Self-Study
Week 1 Self-Study (Due Week 2):
- Self-assess your language skills.
- Complete your action plan
- Do some self-study using the resources available in the
'Student Resources & Support' section.
- Make an entry in the learning journal.
Reading: Week 1 Core Reading: Shwom & Snyder (2016)
Chapter 1: Developing your Professional Presence: SQ1-3
(pp 4-19)
Download the course e-book. Read section 1.2 What is
Communication? and answer the questions at the end
