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Business and Professional Communication
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Business and Professional Communication
KEYS for Workplace Excellence

November 2010 | 376 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Business and Professional Communication guides readers through the experiences they will face as they develop from student to professional and eventually to leader. Students will come to understand the role of communication in successfully handling situations like job interviewing, providing feedback to supervisors, and working in teams.
 
Preface
Our Organizing Feature: KEYS for Workplace Excellence  
Overview of the Book: Entering, Developing, Excelling, Presenting, and Surviving in the Workplace  
 
Acknowledgments
 
1. Business and Professional Excellence in the Workplace
Business and Professional Excellence in Context  
KEYS for Workplace Excellence  
Defining Communication  
The Importance of Communication  
Communication: A Complex Process  
Principles of Communication  
Communication Apprehension  
Communication Ethics  
Summary  
Discussion Questions  
Terms to Remember  
 
I. ENTERING THE WORKPLACE
 
2. Landing The Job
The Job-Seeking Process  
Stage One: Exploring  
Stage Two: Researching  
Stage Three: Applying  
Stage Four: Interviewing  
Stage Five: Following Up  
Stage Six: Accepting  
Keys to Excellence in the Job-Seeking Process  
Discussion Questions  
Terms to Remember  
 
3. Getting to Know Your Diverse Workplace
Learning Your Workplace Culture  
Assimilating College Students  
Diversity in Your Workplace: Some Important Concepts  
Examples of Diversity In Professional Contexts  
Keys to Excellence in Getting to Know the Diverse Workplace  
Discussion Questions  
Terms to Remember  
 
II. DEVELOPING IN THE WORKPLACE
 
4. Building Relationships Through Interpersonal Communication
The Importance of Layers and Listening  
Exploring Relationships Types at Work  
The Line Between Professional and Personal  
Professional Etiquette  
Keys to Excellence in Interpersonal Communication  
Discussion Questions  
Terms to Remember  
 
5. Strengthening Connections With Team Communication
How Do Groups Differ from Teams?  
The Role of Communication in Team Building  
Sharing Leadership  
Problem Solving  
Cultivating Innovative Thinking  
Conflict  
Keys to Excellence in Team Communication  
Discussion Questions  
Terms to Remember  
 
III: EXCELLING IN THE WORKPLACE
 
6. Communicating Excellence With Technology
Communication and Technology: Tools for Professionals  
Maintaining Professional Excellence Online  
Drawbacks of Technology  
Keys to Excellence With Communication and Technology  
Discussion Questions  
Terms to Remember  
 
7. Writing With Professional Excellence
The Importance of Written Communication  
Types of Written Communication  
Keys to Excellence in Written Communication  
Discussion Questions  
Terms to Remember  
 
8. Leading With Professional Excellence
What Is Leadership?  
Utilizing Power  
Improving Communication With Leadership Theories  
Hiring the Right Team  
Following Up and Following Through  
Communicating About Your Team  
Dealing With Difficult People  
Giving Feedback  
Managing Your Public Image  
Keys to Excellence in Leadership  
Discussion Questions  
Terms to Remember  
 
IV. PRESENTING IN THE WORKPLACE
 
9. Informing and Persuading With Professional Excellence
The Importance of Presenting With Professional Excellence  
Identifying Presentation Opportunities and Purposes  
Speaking to Inform  
Speaking to Persuade  
Keys to Excellence in Professional Presentations  
Discussion Questions  
Terms to Remember  
 
10. Designing a Speech With Professional Excellence
Analyzing the Audience  
Analyzing the Context  
Researching  
Organizing Your Presentation  
Introductions  
Conclusions  
Language  
Keys to Excellence in Professional Presentations  
Discussion Questions  
Terms to Remember  
 
11. Delivering a Speech With Professional Excellence
Delivering the Presentation With Professional Excellence  
Supporting Aids: Adding Some Bling  
Practice Makes Perfect  
Team Presentations  
Keys to Excellence in Professional Presentations  
Discussion Questions  
Terms to Remember  
 
V. SURVIVING THE THE WORKPLACE
 
12. Balancing Work and Life Through Communication
The Importance of Work-Life Balance  
Triggers to Imbalance  
Strategies for Balance  
Keys to Excellence With Work-Life Balance  
Discussion Questions  
Terms to Remember  
 
Epilogue
 
References
 
Index
 
Photo Credits
 
About the Authors

“The KEYS process is clear and very appropriate. The use of this text will be a great shift from business writing to include a more humanistic and personal approach to the area of business communication.”

William W. Kenner
University of Michigan-Flint

“The most impressive aspect of the book is the way the organization reflects the sequence of experiences the typical college graduate is likely to experience when entering the workforce: transition from school to work, from entry level jobs to more responsibility, from team member to leader, and even how to achieve a work-life balance.”

Randy Duncan
Henderson State University

“The writing style is very accessible. The chapter on technology makes this book different from the ones I’ve used, and the chapter on work-life balance is compelling, interesting, and important.”

Michele S. Foss-Snowden
California State University, Sacramento

“This book is a breath of fresh air in the marketplace. The concepts covered are excellent, the writing is user-friendly, and the student and instructor can find a common enjoyment of the overall presentation.”

Leonard M. Edwards
Arizona State University

“The main advantage [of Quintanilla/Wahl] is the accessibility of the writing and the use of humor. I think it caters more to the student than other texts. There were parts I really enjoyed reading and I think students will too. Chapter 10: Balancing Work and Life through Communication is an important chapter and one that should resonate with the Millennial generation.”

Kristina D. Drumheller
West Texas A&M University

“The book is written at a student’s level, not for a group of scholars discussing communication skills. … The advantages of the book are the readability, the wide range of subject areas included, and the case studies. The case studies are some of the best I have seen.”

Dale Davis
The University of Texas at San Antonio

“The KEYS feature will help students apply their learning, and the Keys in Action exercises are extremely helpful. The conversational, coaching tone of the text is excellent: in many sections, students are given advice with explanations of how the advice will help them succeed in the workplace. I am impressed with the readability of the text and its relevance to students’ workplace communication needs.”

 

Carolyn Clark
Salt Lake Community College

Sample Materials & Chapters

Detailed Table of Contents

1. Business and Professional Excellence in the Workplace

6. Communicating Excellence With Technology

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Kelly M. Quintanilla

Kelly M. Quintanilla is the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She earned her Ph.D. in Communication from the Pennsylvania State University in 1994, joining the A&M-CC faculty that same year. She was a Professor of the Communication for 16 years, teaching courses in Business & Professional Communication, Teamwork & Leadership, Organizational Communication, Public Relations, and Public Speaking. Additionally, she served as Department Chair/Program Coordinator in Communication from 2000-2009. Over the years, Dr. Quintanilla has received awards for her teaching, service, advising, and... More About Author

Shawn T. Wahl

Shawn T. Wahl (PhD, University of Nebraska, Lincoln) is a professor of communication and head of the Department of Communication in the School of Communication Studies at Missouri State University (MSU). Prior to MSU, he served as head of the Department of Communication, Mass Media, & Theatre at Angelo State University and as the director of graduate studies at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi. He is coauthor of Nonverbal Communication for a Lifetime, Business and Professional Communication: KEYS for Workplace Excellence, Persuasion in Your Life, Communication and Culture In Your Life, and Public Relations Principles:... More About Author

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ISBN: 9781412964722
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