Introduction to the Text

Strategies for Effective Business Communication

Perhaps at first glance at the title of this textbook, you may think this will be another English writing course. We can reassure everyone that you will not be asked to read Shakespeare and write sentences such as “The sun was rising upon the horizon when I first opened my eyes…” or anything similar; however, the book includes a refresher on basic English grammar. Although the course technically falls into the realm of the subjects of English and Communication, the content has one primary aim: to guide you through the process of polishing your professional presence, involving both oral and written communication. This course is one of the most important ones you, as a future professional, will take while preparing for your career. Regardless of the specific career path you choose, you will have to communicate with your supervisors, coworkers, and persons outside your workplace, such as customers or suppliers. The knowledge you acquire through this book will be practical and can last a lifetime. No matter what your place of employment will require, you can be confident that you will be writing emails daily, but you may also be asked to present to a large audience of coworkers or constituents outside of your business. All these tasks will require professional writing and communication skills. Producing any form of output, whether an email, phone call, or feasibility report, will be a reflection of your knowledge and skills to others. Acquiring your dream job or advancing your career may depend on these skills. Often the only thing setting you apart from other applicants at a job interview is your communication skills. Therefore, it is in your best interest to master the material in this book.

The textbook is divided into 15 chapters, gradually building knowledge upon the previous chapters. It begins with the foundations of communications; next, you will learn about the writing process (analyze, draft, revise), which should be used whether you write a two-sentence email to a coworker or a long 200-page report. This writing process sometimes takes 10 seconds, and sometimes it may take months; however, the basic steps remain the same. You will learn about rhetorical theory and discover valuable research techniques, such as how to find credible sources. Persuasive techniques are discussed next, which you will undoubtedly benefit from in your employment but could also use in your everyday life, when asking for a refund, for example. Later you will learn more specific knowledge and techniques to write a professional email, write reports, or give a presentation. The book will also cover helpful and practical information necessary during the employment search process: how to write your résumé and cover letter, what to expect during the employment search process, and what to expect during the job interview. Lastly, you will learn how to communicate in your workplace, within a group, and with people from different cultures and backgrounds, including principles of ethical communication. Again, all this information is very practical and useful and will benefit you for the rest of your productive years. The added videos and interactive activities will help you check your knowledge at the end of each chapter. Many of these activities include sample documents that require revision, thus providing you with practice exercises similar to real-life scenarios.

To help ensure mastery of the material, the following learning objectives are covered in this textbook:
1. Recognize business situations/issues (both positive & negative) and formulate appropriate responses.
2. Demonstrate an awareness of the rhetorical theory and understand the relationship between audience, purpose, and text.
3. Create professional business/technical documents in appropriate formats using correct grammar and effective style, structure, and visual elements.
4. Deliver professional and polished presentations (in person or virtually) using appropriate style, structure, and visual elements.
5. Demonstrate effective communication and collaboration skills within a group or team.
6. Demonstrate cultural competence in business communication.
7. Discriminate between ethical and unethical communication practices.