Unit 6 Interpersonal Skills

Bus 1101 - Unit 6: Written Assignment: Interpersonal Skills E. Pohl-March 11, 2015

1. Listening is the “active process of receiving and responding to spoken (and sometimes unspoken) messages. Active listening skills is making sense of what is heard and requires the individual to constantly pay attention, interpret, and remember what is heard”. For example, I am required to be an active listener at my job. I need to hear the words my boss says to me and identify the feelings associated with the words or her point of view. I concentrate on her words and make eye contact with her as well as read her body language / non-verbal signs. I make sure she feels I have her undivided attention and I do so with a pleasant face…not a baked potato face. Even if I feel stressed by her words or instructions, it would not be professional of me to display that expression.

2.

Assertiveness is being self-assured and confident. Training, courses, videos are resources you can research if you want to develop your assertiveness. Assertiveness, for example is an essential communication skill for a business environment. If you are self-assured and diplomatic, you will be able to express yourself in an effective manner. Standing up for yourself whilst being respectful of the rights and beliefs of others shows you are assertive, you have maintained your self-esteem and you earn the respect of others. Have confidence to say no when it is appropriate to do so and be mindful that if you communicate in a way that's too passive or too aggressive, your message may get lost because people will be reacting to your

delivery.

3. Negotiation is a “dialogue between two or more people or parties intended to reach an understanding, resolve points of difference, gain advantage for an individual or collective, or craft outcomes to satisfy various interests”. For example, I work in a business that provides services for seniors. Often seniors have services and contacts from more than one agency and this can be very confusing for a senior to manage. Case managers try to resolve the stress this causes a senior by negotiating with all agencies involved to determine which agency will be the main contact for the client.

4. Feedback is a “process in which the effect or output of an action is 'returned' (fed-back) to modify the next action”. For example, providing feedback in a business environment provides colleagues and employees with an observation of their progress and an evaluation of where improvements can be made or solutions to challenges.
5. Persuasion is “an act or process of presenting arguments to move, motivate, or change your audience’s opinion or mind set”. For example, if a president of a company is skilled in the art of public speaking, they may be successful in motivating employees to align themselves with the company mission.

6. Interviewing is “a formal discussion between an employee and an applicant, in which information is exchanged with the intention of establishing the applicant’s suitability for a position”. For example, before you start a job you will be interviewed to ensure you qualify for the position and that you are a good fit with the company.

7. Coaching is “training or development in which a person called a "coach" supports a learner in achieving a specific personal or professional goal”. For example, executive coaching improves professional and personal performance and contentment.