Human Resource Services
Spring 2009
>>> Registration is now open! <<<
Take three of these sessions to earn a "Business Communication Series" certificate.
All courses count toward Pro3 Certification
BCC010 Communication Confidence
Thursday, January 15, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, HRS Building, Room 120
Tuesday, February 24, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, HRS Building, Room 120
Instructor: Ronda Mitchell
Most of us think we’re good communicators. Listening and talking are things we engage in all the time, so we assume we do it well. Unfortunately, that’s often not the case. Attend “Communication Confidence” to learn a number of skills and tools to improve the way you communicate with others. Behind these skills are these fundamental concepts:
- We all can be better communicators
- By understanding what makes communicating difficult, we can improve
- By using certain tools and skills, we can counteract the difficulties
BCC020 Now Hear This: Listening, Comprehending, Communicating
Monday, January 26, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, HRS Building, Room 120
Thursday, March 12, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., HRS Building, Room 120
Instructor: Kim Kirkup
Did you know that as much as 40% of the average workday is spent listening to others? That’s close to half of your day! Isn’t it time, therefore, to stop and make sure you’re using your time to its greatest advantage? Take a few moments and ask yourself: Are you an effective listener? How often do you assess your listening skills? Could you improve? That’s where “Now Hear This” can help.
In this workshop, we’ll:
• Define “listening” and how it impacts your work.
• Recognize and deal with the barriers between listener and speaker.
• Practice good listening techniques and identify ways to make them work for you.
BCC030 Communicate Assertively
Friday, February 20, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., HRS Building, Room 120
Wednesday, March 25, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., HRS Building, Room 120
Instructor: Tanya Fitzgerald
Assertiveness is a skill you can acquire, not a personality trait that some people are born with and others are not. When we communicate assertively, we express our feelings, thoughts, and wishes—standing up for our legitimate rights without violating the rights of others.
In this workshop, you’ll learn to:
- Distinguish between assertive, aggressive, and non-assertive (or passive) behaviors.
- Include the three parts of an assertive message in your communication approach.
- Listen assertively by concentrating your attention on the other person.
- Respond appropriately to criticism
Building on the topics discussed in “Communication Confidence,” this workshop highlights communication skills that are essential in many day-to-day situations.
BCC040 Power Writing
Thursday, February 5, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., HRS Building, Room 120
Monday, April 13, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., HRS Building, Room 120
Instructor: Marianne Preisler
In this class, we will focus on preparing professional business documents discuss, including a review of grammar, tone, stressing the positive, saying “no” gently, and doing a little more than you need to in order to get your message across.
You will learn to:
- Define your purpose
- Target your reader
- Reduce writer’s block
- Organize your writing
- Eliminate “clutter”
- Edit for accuracy and grammatical correctness
BCC050 Punctuation Power
Thursday, March 26, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., HRS Building, Room 120
Instructor: Jodi Gentry
If a commonsense approach to punctuation is what you need, then our “Punctuation Power” may be right for you! In this fast-paced program, you’ll review concepts associated with punctuation that you may put to use in everyday writing situations. The workshop covers how to use commas, semicolons, colons, and dashes correctly.
BCC070 Grammar Game
Thursday, March 26, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, HRS Building, Room 120
Instructor: TBD
Can business grammar be fun? Absolutely. This fast-paced and interactive class is designed to help you catch common grammar mistakes that can hurt your professional image and your credibility.
During this course, participants will explore those essential grammar rules that every professional must know such as:
- Subject/verb agreement
- Who vs. whom; me vs. myself (You’ll never be confused again! )
- How to correct writing without changing the meaning
If you would like to strengthen your writing skills (and have fun in the process), this class is for you!
BCC060 E-Mail Effectiveness
Monday, March 16, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., HRS Building, Room 120
Friday, April 24, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, HRS Building, Room 120
Instructor: TBD
Do you control your e-mail or does your e-mail control you? Most of us spend a good part of our day using this powerful medium. Yet, navigating through threads, jargon, and acronyms sometimes leads to some nasty flames! Attend this interactive session to learn how to make the most of your electronic mail.
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