Personal Presentation

This past week in MCOM, we each had to give a five-minute presentation using a flip chart. It would be an understatement to say this was a nerve-wracking experience! I had always been able to lean on my team for support when giving presentations in this class, but this time I was all on my own. In the end, it turned out to be a good experience and I learned a lot. Here are a few tips that I learned from giving my presentation.

1. One needs to talk LOUD when giving a presentation, especially when there are other things going on in the room at the same time.
2. Try not to completely turn your back to your audience, even when writing on a flip chart. 
3. When writing on a flip chart, do not keep talking while you are writing. It makes it hard for the audience to hear, and it makes it hard for you to focus on your writing.
4. Do not go too fast. Give time for your message to sink in.
5. Be confident and look like you are enjoying giving your presentation.

Hopefully others felt my presentation went well. I certainly learned a lot from this experience and now feel more confident in giving presentations. 

Image Credit: www.overloadstories.com

Group Online Meeting

As part of our consulting assignment, our group was required to do an online meeting. Our group chose to do ours over Google Hangouts. It took us a few minutes for everyone to get in on the call, and we had a few audio issues, but overall it worked out well.

Meeting over the internet is quite different then meeting in person. It was difficult to make sure that you did not talk over someone else. It was also hard to read other group member's reactions because you could not see all of their faces at once. That being said, out meeting still was successful. We shared documents and talked about details of our project. I am glad that we had the opportunity to do an online meeting because I am sure I will be involved in online meetings during my career in business.

There is No I in Team

This upcoming Tuesday, my group for MCOM has a huge project due. This project includes a full business report, a handout, and a 15 minute presentation. Because this project is so large, our group has found that there is no way to get the project completed without relying on each other. Sometimes working in a team can be a frusterating experience. And sometimes people would prefer to work alone. However, sometimes we have no choice in the matter. Sometimes we are required to work in a team. Working well in a team is a skill that every single individual should try to develop. This skill is one that comes in handy in all aspects of life.

The image below provides a great explanation of the different aspects of teamwork. If one applies these aspects, they will become a more effective and productive group member.

Photo Credit: www.kent.ac.uk 

Take A Survey

I have recently been learning about business reports and business problems. When a company identifies a problem, they must go through several steps to come up with a viable solution. One of these steps includes gathering data. There are several ways one can gather data. One can use telephone surveys, online surveys, questionnaires, or personal interviews.

I decided that it might be fun to have you guys take a survey that I made. Sorry, but you can only take this survey if you are currently a BYU student. Just copy and paste the link below, and you should be on your way. This survey is short, you should be able to take it in about 2-5 minutes. You will be asked a few simple questions about your experience here at BYU. Enjoy!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8M6PSSV

 

Image Credit: blog.lib.umn.edu 

Team Presentation

During class this past week, my team had to give a presentation. Overall I thought the presentation went well, but there our things that our team can improve on and things that I can improve on individually.

I felt that I knew my material well. I was clear and concise and I did not ramble on for too long. That being said, I felt that I could have been more animated in my presentation. I could have used more hand gestures and facial expressions. I need to keep my audience more engaged.

Our team did well together. We had a good hook to our presentation that drew the audience in. We also practiced a few times beforehand to make sure the presentation was running smoothly. I thought we transitioned well between each individual. As a team I think we could work on paying better attention when each person presents. We must be careful not to glare at the person speaking, but we also must be careful not to let our eyes wander around the room.

CLOUD Nine

One of the most useful things I have learned in my MCOM class is the concept of writing a CLOUD paragraph. If one applies this concept, their paragraphs will be more clear, compelling, and successful.

Coherence:   Make sure that each paragraph flows in logical order. It should tie in to any paragraphs before it, and each sentence in the paragraph should flow in a logical order. Try using transition  words between paragraphs and sentences to help coherence.                      
Length: Do not make a paragraph to long. It will look hard to the reader and will be difficult to read. Try not to have paragraphs that are longer than six to seven lines.
Organization: Write paragraphs in a top-down order. This means that a writer introduces their topic in the  beginning of the paragraph, and then the rest of the sentences support the topic that was introduced in the first.                  
Unity: Make sure that all sentences in each paragraph pertain to the topic. Do not start discussing topics that were not covered in the introduction sentence.
Development: A paragraph's main point must contain proper development and support. Include statistics,  examples, stories, and explanations.

Using CLOUD paragraphs can greatly improve your writing. Hopefully the reader will be on CLOUD nine after reading your work.

Image Credit: blogs.vmware.com

Is Letter Writing a Lost Art?

We live in an age full of technology. Much of the communication we do is either online, or on a cellular device. Some people think that writing letters is a lost art, but it is actually still often used in the business world. There are three main ways to format business letters. One can use the full-block format, the modified-block format, or the simplified format. It is important to be able to recognize when each of these formats should be used.

The full-block format is probably the most well-known and classic format. In this format you use one-inch margins and have single space text. You leave multiple spaces between paragraphs and letter parts. The letter should be centered vertically on the page and the name, date, and pages number should be included on each page.


Image Credit: www.austinschools.org

The modified-block format is similar to the full-block format. Differences include moving the date, complimentary close, and sender's name close to the center of the pages. One may also indent the body paragraphs.


Image Credit: www.isenberg.umass.edu

The simplified format is another variation of the full-block. One may want to use this format when writing to a group or committee, or when you are unsure of a recipients gender. In this format one omits the salutation and instead adds a subject line. Instead of including a complimentary close, simply capitalize your name and title.


Image Credit: www.docstoc.com

Online Interview

One of the assignments for this week was to conduct on online interview with a partner from our class. My partner and I originally tried to do the interview over Google Hangout, but we had some audio issues so we moved over to Skype. Overall, I felt the interview went well. I felt calm throughout and was able to think clearly. I tried to include more PAR stories in my answers and tie in how my personality traits would help me be successful in the job. 

There are still a few things that I would like to improve on. Sometimes I felt that I got a little bit tongue tied and had difficulty expressing what exactly I was trying to say. I think this can be helped through more practice. During the interview, I just had my laptop sitting on my lap. I realized that it would have been better to have it sitting on a desk or table. It would have kept the camera more steady. 

My employer was Jessica Carter. I give her a 5/5 for being professional and helpful. She asked great questions and helped me feel at ease. Thanks Jessica!

Right on PAR

Few things can be more nerve-wracking than a job interview. During an interview one feels pressure to impresses the interviewer but still must portray them self accurately. In my MCOM class this week, we learned a helpful approach to answering possible interview questions. We were taught to answer with a PAR story, or a story that starts with a problem, contains an action, and shows a result. For example...


Problem: While I was growing up, my father's job required us to move often. This was difficult because often times I would feel hesitant to make new friends.
Action: As I grew, I realized that a being kind and having a positive attitude would bring beneficial friendships to my life. I made extra effort to involve myself in extra-curricular activities and to make new friendships.
Result: During high school I was able to develop many long-lasting friendships. I learned truly how to communicate with others and how to show others that I care about them. I also had the opportunity to serve on my student council and learn leadership skills.

By using a PAR story, the interviewer is able to see how the interviewee deals with a difficult situation. It shows strengths that the interviewee has, and allows the interviewer to get to know the individual through a personal story. It would be a good idea to come up with a few possible PAR stories to use before you go in for an interview. And remember, practice makes perfect! Try doing a mock interview to help you prepare. That way you will seem natural during your interview and the interviewer thinks you are right on PAR.

The Art of Persuasion

This week in MCOM, we learned about three principles taught by Aristotle to help a writer appeal to their audience. The first area is ethos. This is basically where you let the audience know that you are a credible source for information. You must tell them why they should listen to you. You want the audience to think you are an expert in the area you are writing about. The second area is  logos. This is the appeal to reason. The audience needs to know the reasoning behind your argument and why your argument makes sense. Your argument must makes sense to their heads and their hearts. Speaking of hearts, that is the third area. This area is called pathos. By using pathos, you can emotionally touch your audience and have them feel happy, sad, or excited. If you use these three principles in your writing, you are sure to win the audience over to your point of view!

Image Credit: gocouponz.com

I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT....

This week in MCOM we talked about presentation skills. One of the main points we focused on was not using "filler" words and phrases. Since our class, I have noticed so many of my filler phrases and now I am trying to rid my vocabulary of them. I always say "at this juncture," "I don't know why," and "you know what I mean." I also use the word "like" way to much! It is like the most annoying thing ever. It makes me like sound like so like ditsy.

If you notice filler words in your vocabulary, do not get discouraged because EVERYONE has filler words. And sometimes your filler words change over time, or sometimes they change day to day. The best thing you can do is to be aware of your filler words and to do your best to fix them. Try adding new words into your vocabulary to help you be more aware of what you are saying. Over time, you should be able to get rid of some of those annoying filler words!




Image Credit: vectorart.org

FAIL

I am currently preparing to take a rather beastly grammar exam in my advanced writing course. Even though specific grammar rules have been implanted and ingrained into my memory, I still have trouble speaking and writing in ways that are "grammatically correct." Thankfully, I am not the only person that struggles with grammar. I have come across several online grammar errors that are quite humorous. Hopefully you will be able to get a chuckle out of these as well.

1. Those people who don't know the difference between 'they're', 'there', and 'their'....their so stupid.
2. Oh how incorrect grammer makes me giggle ;)
3. You can't take anything for granite in life. Ever.
4. So much for calling me Dad. Let down once again.
5. There are know stupid people....just stupid questions.
6. When your losing an argument, correct their grammar.
7. Just because you feel it, doesn't mean its there.
8. Roses are red violets are blue. Incorrect grammar will never be cute.
9. School is two easy for kids.
10. I can't believe my cat woke up died. She was fine last night.

Networking is Key

As a introvert, there are a few things that absolute terrify me about the business world. One of those things is networking. Networking basically is building relationships with other people to help create opportunities for yourself. This can actually be more difficult than it sounds, especially for us introverts who do not really enjoy talking to people that we don't know.

There are six main tips for networking. First, consider all events to be an opportunity for networking. Second, work on your conversation skills. Third, don't be bashful-greet people and introduce yourself, Fourth, exchange business cards with others so you have appropriate contact information. Fifth, when in a large group of people, don't stay with one person for too long. Finally, use appropriate social media to develop a network of business contacts.

I have realized that I am only really comfortable with the final tip, using social media. So basically, I am going to have to get over my aversion of taking to people if I want to be successful in the business world. I cannot hide behind other people, and I am going to have to work hard to create opportunities for myself. So if any of you guys have tips for learning how to be very comfortable talking to strangers, then feel free to share because I could use some MAJOR help in this area. But for now, I will go on happily being an introvert and I will try to gear up for these situations where I am going to have to force myself to talk to people.

Image Credit: www.talentsfromindia.com 

Was I Raised in a Barn?

A recent discussion in my writing and speaking for business class has made me pose the question, "Was I raised in a Barn?" Apparently there are all sorts of fancy-shamcy rules about how one is supposed to act during social gatherings, especially in business settings. Some of these rules are common knowledge, such as turning off your cell phone and chewing with your mouth closed. But, there are some rules that I find to be straight up bizarre! It really throws me off when I see table settings with more than one of each utensil. One is supposed to start at the outermost edge of the utensils, and move their way in as each course progresses throughout the meal. Does anyone else find this unnecessary? I do not think can be considered a travesty if one has to use the same knife, fork, and spoon for the entire meal. Also, who wants to worry about appropriate conversation topics, smiling enough, and avoiding fashion styles that will be distracting from the purpose of the event? It just sounds like one huge headache! I sincerely wonder how anyone can focus during any type of business discussion that takes place over a meal. I would be to caught up in the worry that I was making some huge etiquette blunder. Here is what it comes down to though. No, I was not raised in a barn, but that does not mean that I have perfect etiquette. Even if I find the rules of etiquette unnecessary or overwhelming, it is still important for me to know them. If I want to be considered a professional in my career field, I better at least be able to sit down and have a meal without offending my host with my barbaric ways.