Strategic Professional Communication Final Assessment: Outline & Rubric Competency Name: Strategic Professional Communication Competency Statement: Understand the skills required to interact professionally, effectively, and strategically with others Final Assessment Submission Title: Interpersonal Communication Handbook Competency Objectives: 1. Understand the best methods, including the use of verbal and nonverbal skills, for achieving effective professional communication 2. Apply strategic communication within the business context, including virtual, face-to-face, and written interactions with a variety of audiences 3. Construct and deliver high impact messages using appropriate strategies 4. Demonstrate an understanding of the interpersonal skills needed for professional success, including teamwork, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and cultural awareness Program Learning Outcome(s): NA Institutional Learning Outcome(s): NA Purpose of this Assessment The purpose of this assessment is to demonstrate your ability to understand the skills required to interact effectively with others by selecting an organization and creating an Interpersonal Communication Handbook designed for its staff and/or volunteers. Item Required for Submission The Interpersonal Communication Handbook is the single item required for submission and includes the sections detailed in the steps below: 1. Introduction (which describes the organization selected, the audience for the handbook, and why interpersonal skills are important for the target audience) 2. Overview of Interpersonal Skills 3. Initial Interactions with Colleagues, Customers, and Clients 4. Verbal and Nonverbal Communication 5. Intercultural Communication 6. Interpersonal Conflicts 7. Summary 8. Appendix A: Bibliography (minimum of five articles and two video clips that support the information in the handbook) 9. Appendix B: Personal Case Study (reflection on the your own interpersonal communication abilities, stereotypes, strengths, and weaknesses) Step ONE: Preparation Strategic Professional Communication Final Assessment: Outline & Rubric • Consider that all organizations rely on effective interpersonal skills, or “soft” skills, that many managers prioritize as being as important, or even more important than “hard” skills, which are more tangible and task specific. Of these interpersonal skills, effective communicator usually tops the list as the most desired skill in the modern workplace. Yet, it is generally more difficult to train individuals how to demonstrate effective “soft” skills than “hard” skills. With that in mind, your final assessment requires that you create an Interpersonal Communication Handbook that provides guidelines for employees and/or volunteers of a select organization. • Determine the organization that you would like to use for your handbook. You are required to use a real organization that has a website. It may be an organization that is already familiar to you, or one that you select via research. Consider choosing an organization that represents a service or industry that interests you. It may be an organization where you can see yourself working or volunteering currently or in the future. It can be a for-profit company or a non-profit community-based organization, such as a healthcare, education, or social services. If you are undecided, begin your search by focusing on a company where you would like to work or that creates products or services you use. If you are interested in a non-profit organization, you may begin your search by focusing on an issue of interest to you such as pet rescue, homelessness, hunger, cancer prevention, or the environment. The possibilities are endless. • Think about the audience who will use your handbook. It can be employees and/or volunteers. You will want to give some thought to why interpersonal skills, specifically communication skills, are important for the roles your readers hold, and what they need to understand and apply to be successful in their career. • Review the learning activities for this competency. They, along with your research, will support the information you write. • Begin to research topics for each section of the handbook and familiarize yourself with the institution’s library resources as needed. You will be asked to include a bibliography that lists a minimum of five references, three of which must be from scholarly sources. • Think about the types of video-based examples that support the sections of the handbook. You will be asked to provide at least two examples that help demonstrate and/or explain effective communication. • Think about the types of illustrations or photographs you can locate or create that support the sections of the handbook and make the content more interesting/appealing to your readers. • Seek assistance from the institution’s Online Writing Center if you need to brush up on your writing skills. Your writing should be clear, organized, and relevant with elements of creativity and subject knowledge. • Review APA style as needed so you will be prepared to format the handbook using this style. Step Two: Completing the Section of the Handbook Titled, “Introduction” Under the heading, “Introduction,” write a description of the organization you selected. Address the audience as “you” (i.e. use second person), keeping in mind that you are writing for your target audience and not your grader. To help guide what you write, imagine new employees and/or volunteers reading more about the organization they have just joined. Additionally, this section provides the context for the later sections of the handbook. Your description must represent original writing (not taken directly from the organization’s website) and include the following: Strategic Professional Communication Final Assessment: Outline & Rubric • Welcome statement to the reader – consider what you would like to see if you were a reader required to review the handbook • Purpose of the organization you selected with a reference to its website • Description of the services or products provided by the organization • Description of the audience, including the variety of roles that they may perform and the individuals with whom they may interact (e.g. other employees and/or volunteers, clients, customers, individuals in crisis, parents, children, etc.). Step THREE: Completing the Section of the Handbook Titled, “Overview of Interpersonal Skills” Under the heading, “Overview of Interpersonal Skills,” explain the elements of interpersonal skills, especially effective communication, and why they are important to your selected organization. • Address the reader as “you” (i.e. use second person). • Explain the role of the audience (employees and/or volunteers) as the sender and the receiver. You may offer examples of several roles since organizations include individuals with many different roles and responsibilities. • Select one model of interpersonal communication that should be used in a “typical” interaction within the organization. Brie fly explain why this model is the best choice and how it should be applied by the reader in their role. • This section is required to be a minimum of 500 words using information noted in the competency’s readings. Step FOUR: Completing the Section of the Handbook Titled “Initial Interactions with Colleagues, Customers, and Clients” Under the heading, “Initial Interactions with Colleagues, Customers, and Clients,” make recommendations for establishing rapp ort, listening, and establishing a degree of self-disclosure. Keep in mind that your audience may interact with one or more of the following: colleagues, customers, clients, service recipients, supervisors, volunteers, etc. • Address the reader as “you” (i.e. use second person). • Write this section with the understanding that the reader may experience any or all of these interactions. • At least one recommendation must pertain to initial interactions in virtual environments. • For each recommendation, include clear rationale. • Include at least one illustration, photograph, or other image that you locate or create to help make the section relevant and “come alive” for the reader. • This section is required to be a minimum of 500 words. Strategic Professional Communication Final Assessment: Outline & Rubric Step FIVE: Completing the Section of Handbook Titled, “Verbal and Nonverbal Communication” Under the heading, “Verbal and Nonverbal Communication,” write at least three recommendations for effective verbal communication and at least three recommendations for effective nonverbal communication that pertain to employees and/or volunteers in this organization. • Address the reader as “you” (i.e. use second person). • At least one recommendation for effective verbal communication and one recommendation for effective nonverbal communication must address interpersonal skills in virtual environments. • Each recommendation must include clear rationale. • Include at least one illustration, photograph, or other image that you locate or create to help make the section relevant and “come alive” for the reader. • This section is required to be a minimum of 1,000 words. Step SIX: Completing the Section of Handbook Titled, “Intercultural Communication” Under the heading, “Intercultural Communication,” explain three major considerations in interacting with individuals from different cultures and in diverse environments. • Address the reader as “you” (i.e. use second person). • Explain why each consideration is important for your audience. Include challenges of addressing all three of these in both face-to-face and virtual environments. • Include at least one illustration, photograph, or other image that you locate or create to help make the section relevant and “come alive” for the reader. • This section is required to be a minimum of 500 words. Step SEVEN: Completing the Section of Handbook Titled, “Interpersonal Conflicts” Under the heading, “Interpersonal Conflicts,” write about three scenarios that might cause conflict in the organization you s elected. • Address the reader as “you” (i.e. use second person). • At least one scenario must be applicable to a virtual environment. • Explain why these scenarios may cause conflict and provide at least one recommendation to deal with the conflict in each scenario. In at least one recommendation, consider communication styles. • Provide rationale for all of your recommendations. Strategic Professional Communication Final Assessment: Outline & Rubric • Include at least one illustration, photograph, or other image that you locate or create to help make the section relevant and “come alive” for the reader. • This section is required to be a minimum of 500 words. Step EIGHT: Summary Complete your handbook with a positive summary paragraph to leave the reader feeling confident and optimistic about what they ’ve read. This is your final opportunity to impress upon the reader (employee, volunteer, etc.) the importance of the information contained in the handbook and how it can be applied for workplace success. It is also one more chance to welcome the employee, volunteer, etc. to the organization. • Address the reader as “you” (i.e. use second person). • No heading is required for this section • No illustration, photograph, or other image is required for this section Step NINE: Completing the Section of the Handbook Titled “Appendix A: Bibliography” Under the heading, “Appendix A: Bibliography,” write a bibliography following these directions: • Use the subheading “Articles” to reference a minimum of five articles that you researched and read that relate directly to professional communication and the content of the handbook. Three of those articles must be scholarly, and all must be from credible sources. List all references in alphabetical order and use APA style. • Use the subheading, “Video Clips” to reference a minimum of two video clips that show examples of or explain different communication skills addressed in this competency. You may include video clips found online and/or create one or more yourself. Feel free to be creative and search for news stories, excerpts of movies, or television shows (could include reality shows and talk shows). The video clips must be accessible to the grader via a URL link. The video clips may show examples of effective or ineffective interpersonal skills. • The formatting should look like this: Appendix A: Bibliography Articles Sample, J. (2014). Interpreting nonverbal behavior. International Journal of Communications, 15, 223–244. Video Clips Talentia, E.L. (Producer). (2012, January 5). Families reunite, retrieved from http://www.talkshows.com. Strategic Professional Communication Final Assessment: Outline Step TEN & Rubric : Completing the Section of the Handbook Titled “Appendix B: Personal Case Study” Under the heading, “Appendix B: Personal Case Study,” reflect upon your own interpersonal skills strengths and weaknesses fol lowing these directions: • Use first person (I). • Reflect on your own personality, schema, and stereotypes, as well as how they influence your interpersonal communications skills. • Identify one or more major interpersonal communication strengths you believe you possess and provide rationale for why you selected this strength. • Identify one or more areas in which you can improve your interpersonal communication and provide rationale for your selection along with a recommendation for how to improve. • This section is required to be a minimum of 250 words and should be an example of how you, the author of the handbook, thoughtfully apply the information you are sharing with readers. StepELEVEN:ReviewtheChecklistforSubmission Before you submit the required items, check to see if you believe you have met the criteria noted below. Did you…. Follow all of the guidelines in Step 1 in order to prepare for the final assessment? Apply the handbook to the intended audience and organization? Use all required headings and subheadings? Clearly describe the organization selected and the audience for the handbook, as well as why interpersonal skills are important for the targeted audience? Carefully read the learning activities and the research articles you selected and apply the information you learned to the handbook? Read the directions for each handbook section and double check that you followed each instruction? Select or create video clips that are accessible to the grader and effectively demonstrate good and/or poor interpersona l communication skills? Check your work to assure accurate use of APA style? Proofread your work and request assistance with proofreading, as needed, to assure logical organization and writing style? Check that you met requirements for length? Review the exemplary column of the rubric to see if you are meeting high expectations for all criteria?