1

Instructor PowerPoint
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
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 Learning Objective
1

Describe how communication skills will

improve your career prospects and help
you succeed in today’s challenging
digital-age workplace
key difference in traditional and modern age skills; 3 impacts of digital revolution, skills
employers want

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 1 / Slide 2
 What Are
Communication Skills?
Traditional New
abilities requirements

Reading Media savvy

Listening Good judgment online:
Nonverbal skills • Maintaining positive
Speaking image and presence
Writing • Protecting employer’s
reputation

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 1 / Slide 3
 The Digital Revolution

Writing matters more than ever;

online media require more of it,
not less.

Messages travel instantly to

distant locations to potentially
huge audiences.

Work teams collaborate even

when physically apart.

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 1 / Slide 4
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 The Digital Revolution

Social media are playing an

increasingly prominent role in
business.

Life-changing critical judgments

about people are being made
based solely on their writing
ability.

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 1 / Slide 5
© Marina Zlochin/Fotolia, © denis_pc/Fotolia
 Digital Workplace Survival Skills
“To succeed in today’s workplace, young people
need more than basic reading and math skills.
They need substantial content knowledge and
information technology skills; advanced
thinking skills, flexibility to adapt to change;
and interpersonal skills to succeed in multi-
cultural, cross-functional teams.”
— J. Willard Marriott, Jr., Executive Chairman, Marriott International,
Inc.
[Source: Casner-Lotto et al. (2006, September). Are they ready to work? Employers’ perspectives on the basic
knowledge and applied skills of new entrants to the 21st century U.S. workforce]

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 1 / Slide 6
 The Digital Revolution and You

Even technical fields require

communication skills

Businesses use a variety of

media and messages

Professional, business-like
writing is in your future

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 1 / Slide 7
 Skills Employers Want
Ability to
work in
Excellent oral
teams
and written
communication
skills Unblemished
social media
presence

Critical thinking
and analytical
reasoning Professionalism
and work ethic

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 1 / Slide 8
© denis_pc/Fotolia
 Learning Objective
2

Confront barriers to effective

listening and start building
your listening skills.
Barriers to effective listening, how to build powerful listening skills

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 1 / Slide 9
 Listening: A Career-Critical Skill

Many of us are Poor listening skills

poor listeners. affect professional
relationships.

We listen at only Costly errors may

25 to 50 percent result from poor
efficiency. listening habits.

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 1 / Slide 10
 Barriers to Effective Listening

Physical Nonverbal
barriers distractions

Language
problems Thought
speed
Psychological Faking
barriers attention

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 1 / Slide 11
 Ten Keys to Building
Powerful Listening Skills

1 Stop talking and let others speak.

2 Control external and internal distractions.

3 Be receptive and keep an open mind.

4 Listen for main points.

5 Capitalize on lag time.

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 1 / Slide 12
 Ten Keys to Building
Powerful Listening Skills

6 Listen between the lines.

7 Judge ideas, not appearances.

8 Avoid interrupting.

9 Take selective notes to ensure retention.

10 Provide feedback and confirmation.

©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 1 / Slide 13