Strayer JWI505 Full Course Latest 2019 JULY (NO Assignment 3)

JWI505 Business Communications

Week 2 Discussion

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Your Business Writing

Scenario:
You are a salesperson, customer service agent, or small business owner. You
have received an email from a customer who is very unhappy with a recent
interaction with someone from your organization and is threatening to take
their business to your competitor.

First,
share a few details with your peers about what occurred. Then, draft an email
response that will validate their concern, maintain company integrity, and
retain their business.

Use the
tips below to craft an effective response:

Before you
respond, put yourself in the customer’s place to fully understand their
complaint or concern

Use a
clear, descriptive Subject line

Use a
Salutation suitable for business communication

Say
“Thank you” for their feedback at the start of the email

Apologize
(even if you don’t agree or if it was the customer’s fault)

Explain
what happened truthfully and politely

Tell the
customer what you will do to help

Keep your
message succinct, brief, and on topic

Use a
Closing suitable for business communication

Finally,
keep in mind that this task involves important leadership values that
constitute Executive Presence: respect for others, the ability to diffuse anger
and focus on positive outcomes, showing empathy for another, and the
willingness to be candid about an error or poor performance. These values lead
to the ability to build trust — the foundation of leadership.

Share with
us your strategy for this email and explain how your email will retain them as
a customer, applying course materials and/or other resources to further the
discussion.

In your
responses to peers, discuss what works well in their email message and why,
applying course materials and/or other resources to further the discussion.
Suggest changes that will make their response more effective as a business
communication

JWI505 Business Communications

Week 3 Discussion

Asking the
Right Questions

Convincing
others to buy into an idea, a product, or an initiative requires listening and
communicating effectively. Asking the right questions can help people to open
up and to discuss upcoming changes more freely, while understanding that they
have a voice in the process.

Scenario:
Your company has developed a new initiative or product, or it is introducing a
change to technology or personnel that will affect your team and its daily
working environment. You are tasked with gathering buy-in from your team, as
well as learning if they have any objections to this initiative.

You call a
meeting with your team:

Briefly
describe the new initiative and why it is important (e.g. a reorganization, a
new product, a new technology, etc.)

Draft three
(3) questions for your team designed to gain buy-in and support for this new
initiative

Next, share
your communication strategy with us:

How will
you know if your questioning was effective?

Your team
needs to know they have a voice – during this meeting, how did you let them
know you are listening to them and that their opinion matters?

JWI505 Business Communications

Week 4 Discussion

Difficult
Conversations

As you saw
in the Penny’s Performance Review video, employees do not always understand
they are not meeting expectations until it’s too late.

Scenario:
The performance of your top employee has recently slipped. You had a
conversation with the employee to address it. The employee improved for a
period of time, but slipped again. Now your boss has noticed, which questions
your leadership. You do not want to terminate this employee because you know
the value of this person and his/her work, and you trust and respect this
employee; however, you are starting to look bad.

It is time
to take action, so you schedule a meeting with the employee.

Part One:
Discuss your strategy (supported by sources) for the meeting, including:

How will
you use candor to make your point clear during the conversation?

How will
you remove your own personal emotion from the conversation, while still
maintaining empathy and trust with the employee?

Considering
the course materials for this week, what techniques for building effective
working relationships will you employ, and why do you choose these techniques?

Part Two:
Write a brief dialog recording the conversation between you and this employee
that demonstrates your use of the strategies outlined above.

Post your
initial response by Wednesday, midnight of your time zone, and reply to at
least 2 of your classmates by Sunday, midnight of your time zone.?

JWI505 Business Communications

Week 5 Discussion

The Art of
Persuasion

Scenario:
You are a budding entrepreneur with a great idea and you want to pitch it on
the TV show, “Shark Tank.” Your product or service should be
something the Sharks want to sink their teeth into. Draft a 1-2 minute pitch of
your idea, using one of the techniques described in the Weekly Materials. Your
pitch should contain a brief non-confidential description of your business
product or service, explain any differentiating advantages, and end with a call
to action. Then discuss the persuasive technique(s) you used and why you chose
them.

NOTE: For
those who have not watched the “Shark Tank” TV show, check it out here:
Sample Shark Tank Pitches

Post your
initial response by Wednesday, midnight of your time zone, and reply to at
least 2 of your classmates by Sunday, midnight of your time zone.?

JWI505 Business Communications

Week 6 Discussion

Communicating
Bad News

Scenario:
You are a middle manager at a large technology organization. You arrived at
work today to find out that your organization is going through a
reorganization. There will be mass downsizing – immediately. You met with your
boss, who informed you that the company has been losing revenue for too long
and immediate action is necessary. More decisions are to come.

Your job is
not in jeopardy; however, you will lose team members in the downsizing. Your
team members are panicked and you need to step up to address the issue with
them. You also need to maintain productivity and the results.

You call a
meeting to discuss this with your team. This is not an easy message to
communicate, but a common one. Discuss your strategy with us by addressing
these questions:

What is
your communication strategy with your team?

How often
will you provide communication to your team about updates? You need to keep
them informed, but not panicked.

How will
you get your key message across, while keeping your team productive?

What can
you do to reduce the challenges of distraction and the rumor mill for your
team?

Post your
initial response by Wednesday, midnight of your time zone, and reply to at
least 2 of your classmates by Sunday, midnight of your time zone.?

JWI505 Business Communications

Week 7 Discussion

Crisis
Communication Reflection

Find a
current event, within the last year, that involved a crisis or scandal. Give a
brief synopsis of the company and the issue, and then answer the questions
below:

What was
the company’s communication approach to the crisis?

Do you feel
the company’s communication approach was effective? Why or why not?

What would
you have done the same and what would you have done differently?

Post your
initial response by Wednesday, midnight of your time zone, and reply to at
least 2 of your classmates by Sunday, midnight of your time zone.?

JWI505 Business Communications

Week 8 Discussion

Jaw-Dropping
Moment

Have you
ever attended a meeting or speech where you dozed off because you were bored?

Why did you
get bored (Was the speaker monotone? Did the speech run on too long? Was the
content dry? Another reason?)

Have you
ever experienced a “Jaw Dropping Moment” (see Ch. 5, Talk Like Ted)? Why was it
a “Jaw Dropping Moment?”

In Week 9,
you will have a presentation to complete. Share with us the topic that you have
decided on. What are 1-2 things you can do to deliver a “Jaw-Dropping
Moment” in your presentation?

Post your
initial response by Wednesday, midnight of your time zone, and reply to at least
2 of your classmates by Sunday, midnight of your time zone.?

JWI505 Business Communications

Week 9 Discussion

Presentation
Preparation

You are
ready to give your presentation and feel confident about your topic. However,
as you read this week, some people fear public speaking more than death! There
are techniques you can employ to remain confident and to have clear, concise,
and impactful communication.

How will
you keep your nerves calm? How will you make sure you cover each point you want
to make? How will you use effective hand gestures, exert the right tone, and
speak with confidence? To avoid getting too nervous or losing your train of
thought, choose a strategy from Chapter 7 of Guide to Managerial Communication
or Chapter 6 of Talk Like Ted that you will use to help get you back on track
and discuss why you chose that strategy.

JWI505 Business Communications

Week 10 Discussion

Executive
Presence and Communication Skills

Reflect on
how your Executive Presence and communication skills have grown this term. Use
the prompts below to organize your thoughts:

Reflecting
on your first video in the course, what changes did you make for Assignment 3,
to improve your Executive Presence?

What have
you learned this term about how you communicate in the workplace? Include both
positive and negative aspects of your communication style.

In what
ways have you improved your communication skills during this term?

What will
you do going forward, to continue to improve your communication skills and
Executive Presence?

JWI505 Business Communications

Assignment 1

Your
Leadership Values, Executive Presence, and Winning

JWMI is the
place where leaders are made. You’re here to transform your life, lead teams to
success, and grow

your
organization. As a leader, speaking your leadership values while being present
and authentic will help you

to build
connections and establish trust with candor.

For this
assignment, you will apply the key concepts from Weeks 1- 3 to deliver a video
message on your

leadership
values, executive presence, and what winning means to you. The video message
will provide an

opportunity
for you to practice your executive presence and strategic communication skills.
This should be a

video of
you. No PowerPoint or other props are needed. Your communication should be
clear, main points are

simple and
easy to recall, the tone is professional, and reflects your leadership values
and passionate purpose.

Instructions:

Create a
short video, using Zoom. Your video should last 2 to 3 minutes, but no longer
than 3 minutes.

1. Identify
1-3 leadership values that are most important to you. Explain the reasons for
their importance,

using the
below questions as a guide:

a. Why are
these values important to you?

b. As a
leader, why are these values essential for effective communication?

c. How do
these values impact/support your executive presence?

2. Discuss
a business leader (other than Jack Welch) who exhibits executive presence.

a. In what
ways does this leader exhibit executive presence?

b. What
aspects of his or her executive presence appeal to you? Why?

c. How does
your leadership style compare to this leader’s?

3. Jack
defines winning as, “Growing yourself, your organization, and your
teams.” Describe what winning means for you.

a. What
does winning look like for you?

b. Why is
it important to you?

c. How do
your leadership values support winning for you?

4. Present
your video using strategic communication skills and with Executive Presence.
See the Best

Practices
below to guide you in achieving this.

Executive
Presence and Strategic Communication Best Practices:

Remember to
focus on utilizing and exhibiting the following:

ü State
your intent and purpose at the onset

ü Speak
confidently, expressively, with passionate purpose and energy

ü Be
authentic and fully present in an engaging manner

ü Build
connection with your audience

ü Exude
your Executive Presence by looking professional (business casual or business
attire)

ü Make sure
your background is free from clutter (you do not want to distract your
audience)

ü Make sure
your surroundings are quiet (i.e. no children, animals, cars, or other extraneous
noise in

the
background)

ü
Communication is organized, logically flows, uses “beginnings and endings,” and
other appropriate

strategies
to deliver strong, clear communication

Suggestions:

• Practice
in front of a trusted colleague, friend, or family member, asking for feedback
on your vocal

and
physical presence, and the effect your message had on them

• To get
the best results with Zoom, please work on a computer rather than a mobile
device or iPad

Optional
Professor Coaching:

Schedule
time with your professor to watch your video together and discuss its elements.
You will explore intent

vs. impact
and receive growth-focused feedback. You should use this feedback to continue
honing your

communication
skills and Executive Presence.

JWI505 Business Communications

Assignment 2

Persuasive
Memo

As a
leader, there will be times when you will need to convince your audience about
your point of view, whether

you are
selling a product or relaying information. Knowing how to convince people of
your perspective is a

valuable
skill. In order to do this effectively, you must learn the art of persuasion
and communication.

For this
assignment, you will apply key concepts from Week 5 to write a persuasive Memo.
Choose ONE of the

below
scenarios that you feel passionate about. Think about how you will convince
your executive leadership

team to buy
into your point-of-view on your chosen topic.

1. The
office dress code at your company is strictly business attire and the employees
feel that business casual is more appropriate for your company culture. You’ve
been designated as the spokesperson to approach the executive leadership team
about this proposed change. How will you persuade them to buy-in to your recommendation?

2. Your
boss discourages remote working although it is allowed in other departments,
which is starting to impact the morale of your team. How will you persuade him
that increased flexibility will be beneficial to the productivity of the team?

3. There is
an opening on the leadership team at your company. There are several internal
and external candidates applying for this job besides you. How will you
persuade your boss that you are the best candidate?

Instructions:

• Review
your Week 5 readings

• Create a
2 to 3 page Memo, addressed to the executive leadership team or to your boss,
depending

on the
scenario that you chose.

• Use the
Outline below to structure your Memo:

1. Write a
“Hook” to get your audience’s attention (1-2 paragraphs)

2. Tell the
story/create a connection (1-2 paragraphs)

3. Identify
the benefits of your point-of-view (1-2 paragraphs)

4. Back it
up with facts and data (1-2 paragraphs)

5. The Ask:
State clearly what you are asking for (1-2 paragraphs)

6. Closing:
Describe the proposed next steps (1-2 paragraphs) subject to change based on
the needs of the class.

Professional
Formatting Requirements:

Your
assignment should follow these formatting requirements:

• Typed,
single spaced, with a blank line between paragraphs, professional font (size
10-12)

• Includes
headings and subheadings (to identify main topics and subtopics), with one-inch
margins on all sides

• Do NOT
include a standard cover page. Instead, on the first page, start your Memo with
the following headings aligned to the left:

o TO: Fill
in Decision Maker’s Name

o FROM:
Fill in Your Name

o DATE:
Fill in the Due Date

o RE:
Insert a Subject Line to Capture the Reader’s Interest

•
Application of course material or other resources is needed. References must be
included and provide appropriate information that enables the reader to locate
the original source.

• The
length of 2 to 3 pages does not include your References page.

JWI505 Business Communications

Assignment 3

“The
art of communication is the language of leadership.” James Humes

For this
assignment, you will apply the practices of planning, creating, and delivering
an impactful professional presentation. Identify an important presentation
coming up at work in your near future. If you don’t have one on the horizon,
choose a worthy topic for your role, business, or industry. This could be a
presentation at a conference, or to your board, your management team, your own
team, or a few key decision-makers in your organization.

Instructions

Prepare a
PowerPoint presentation slide deck of 20 slides or less. Apply slide design
best practices: use minimal text, include images and/or charts, and format
slides professionally.

1. Deliver
a 6-8 minute presentation, using Zoom. The video must include you and your
slides. (See your Blackboard course for instructions on using Zoom.)

2. Your
presentation will be assessed using the below criteria:

a.
Objectives are clear.

b. An
impactful opening statement is used to engage the audience, set context, and/or
create relevant meaning for the audience.

c. Delivery
exhibits strong, professional stage presence, confident body posture,
authenticity, appropriate tone, demonstration of passionate purpose, and
connection to audience (feels more like a conversation than a speech).

d.
Communication is clear, targeted, succinct, and utilizes the beginning and end
effectively.

e.
Presenter is the focus. Slides serve only as visual aids to support the objective.

f.
Presenter is professional in look (appropriate business attire, distance to
computer, angle, and setting with neutral, non-distracting surroundings).

Professional
Formatting Requirements:• Include a PowerPoint cover page containing the title
of the assignment, the student name(s),the professor’s name, the course title,
and the date.