Assingments % - Building Credibility and Navigating Difficult Conversations in Professional Communication"

The Assignment must be submitted on Blackboard (WORD format only) via allocated folder.
Assignments submitted through email will not be accepted.
Students are advised to make their work clear and well presented, marks may be reduced for poor presentation. This includes filling your information on the cover page.
Students must mention question number clearly in their answer.
Late submission will NOT be accepted.
Avoid plagiarism, the work should be in your own words, copying from students or other resources without proper referencing will result in ZERO marks. No exceptions.
Use APA reference style.
All answered must be typed using Times New Roman (size 12, double-spaced) font. No pictures containing text will be accepted and will be considered plagiarism).
Submissions without this cover page will NOT be accepted.
Learning Outcomes:
1.1: Recognize and memorize concepts of communication theory as they affect business organizations and the individualsin them.
1.2: Communicate better, knowing that good communicators make better managers, and that communication is a dynamicprocess basic to individuals and organizational life.
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Assignment Structure:
Type
Marks
Assignment-1
Part-1
5
Part-2
5
Total
10
Part -I (5 Marks)
Case Study: Credibility for an Entry-Level Professional
Sara, Ali, and Asif were recently hired as audit assistants. This is the first full-time professional position for each of them. During the first few months of work, each of them experienced successes and failures.
Sara gained a reputation for finding out exactly what clients wanted. She asked the right questions and respectfully explained points of disagreement with them, and showed them she was genuinely interested in them. Several of his colleagues commented that clients trusted her to act appropriately on their behalf. Her supervisor was pleased that Sara always followed through on commitments and was positive .However, her performance was far from perfect. Her supervisor noticed that Sara sometimes made fairly basic mistakes in her audits and her colleagues would have to redo some of her work.
Ali has gained a reputation for completing audits more accurately than all other new audit assistants. His supervisor is worried, however, about his long-term success at the firm.
Ali tends to overpromise. Last week, he told his supervisor he’d finish an important project but instead worked on other tasks. Last month, he called in sick for a few days. On one of his sick days, his supervisor saw pictures of his at a party that he had posted to Instagram.
Asif is the top performer on audits among the new group of employees at the firm. He is precise and efficient. He can typically accomplish many tasks in about half the time of most other audit assistants. His supervisor is concerned, however, about his interpersonal skills. He tends to often criticize his colleagues for their mistakes and rarely offers appreciation for their help. He also seems to rub clients the wrong way and comes across as “antisocial” according to one valued client.
Read the case above and answer the following questions:
1.Which element of credibility does Sara lack? What would you recommend to her to improve her credibility? (1 Mark)
2.Which element of credibility does Ali lack? What would you recommend to him to improve his credibility? (1 Mark)
3.Which element of credibility does Asif lack? What would you recommend to him to improve her credibility? (1 Mark)
4.What is the significance of establishing credibility in business communication?
(2 Marks)
Part-II (5 Marks)
Assess a Recent Difficult Conversation
Select a difficult conversation that you have encountered in the workplace or at school. Based on this conversation, do the following:
Summarize the conversation in one paragraph. (1 Mark)
Evaluate your and others’ performance in terms of assuming the best in one another, staying calm, finding common ground, disagreeing diplomatically, avoiding exaggeration and either/or approaches, and sharing all stories (including a shared story). (2 Marks)
Describe three ways you would approach the conversation differently if you did it over again. (2 Marks)

Certainly! Below is a guide to help you structure your paper based on the given assignment:

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Assignment Structure:

1. Introduction (2-3 sentences):
Begin with an introduction to the assignment, explaining its purpose. For example, you can start by saying that the assignment focuses on business communication and credibility in the workplace, and then briefly outline the two parts: the case study about credibility for entry-level professionals and the evaluation of a difficult conversation.

Part-I: Case Study – Credibility for an Entry-Level Professional (5 Marks)

1. Sara’s Lack of Credibility (1 Mark)

Element of Credibility Sara Lacks:
Sara lacks the element of competence in her work. Despite her positive attitude and good communication skills, her basic mistakes in audits undermine her credibility.
Recommendation:
Sara should focus on improving her technical skills by seeking mentorship from more experienced colleagues, taking additional training courses if necessary, and double-checking her work before submission. By showing more attention to detail, she can increase her credibility in terms of competence.

2. Ali’s Lack of Credibility (1 Mark)

Element of Credibility Ali Lacks:
Ali lacks the element of reliability. Although his work is accurate, his tendency to overpromise and fail to follow through, along with his unprofessional behavior (calling in sick and attending a party while off), damages his trustworthiness.
Recommendation:
Ali should work on managing his commitments better, ensuring he can realistically complete tasks before making promises. Additionally, maintaining professionalism and transparency, especially in matters like sick leave, will help him become more reliable.

3. Asif’s Lack of Credibility (1 Mark)

Element of Credibility Asif Lacks:
Asif lacks the element of likability and interpersonal skills. His tendency to criticize colleagues and come off as antisocial negatively impacts his relationships with both colleagues and clients.
Recommendation:
Asif should work on improving his communication style by providing constructive feedback, showing appreciation for others’ work, and being more approachable. He could also focus on emotional intelligence and empathy to strengthen his professional relationships.

4. The Significance of Establishing Credibility in Business Communication (2 Marks)

Importance of Credibility:
Credibility is essential in business communication as it directly impacts trust, relationships, and the success of interactions. Employees who are seen as credible are more likely to be respected, trusted, and entrusted with important tasks. Establishing credibility in communication helps build stronger partnerships, improves the quality of collaboration, and enhances a professional’s ability to persuade and influence others effectively. In addition, credibility fosters a positive work environment where communication flows freely and efficiently.

Part-II: Assess a Recent Difficult Conversation (5 Marks)

1. Summarize the Conversation (1 Mark)

In this section, provide a brief summary of a recent difficult conversation you encountered in the workplace or school. Describe the context, the main points discussed, and the individuals involved. For example:

“I had a difficult conversation with a colleague regarding a missed project deadline. The conversation was tense because both of us were under pressure. I expressed my frustration, and my colleague explained their side of the story, which included personal issues affecting their performance. The discussion was somewhat heated but ended with a mutual understanding that we would work together to avoid future delays.”

2. Evaluate Your and Others’ Performance (2 Marks)

In this section, assess how well you and the other party handled various aspects of the conversation. Reflect on the following:

Assuming the Best: Did both parties assume the best intentions, or was there a sense of blaming and frustration?
Staying Calm: Was the conversation respectful, or did emotions escalate?
Finding Common Ground: Were both sides able to agree on a way forward?
Disagreeing Diplomatically: How well did each party handle disagreements without making the situation worse?
Avoiding Exaggeration and Either/Or Approaches: Did you both avoid making over-generalizations or seeing the issue as black-and-white?
Sharing All Stories: Were both perspectives shared openly?

Based on your evaluation, explain how you and others handled these aspects. For example: “In the conversation, I initially became frustrated, which affected the tone. However, my colleague remained calm and shared their side of the story, which helped me understand the context. We eventually found common ground by agreeing on a revised timeline.”

3. Three Ways You Would Approach the Conversation Differently (2 Marks)

Reflect on the conversation and propose three ways you would approach it differently if given another chance:

Stay Calm and Listen Actively: Rather than jumping to conclusions, I would listen more attentively and allow the other person to express their concerns before responding.
Use More Positive Language: Instead of focusing on the problem, I would focus on solutions and frame the conversation in a more constructive manner.
Ask More Clarifying Questions: I would ask more questions to ensure I understood my colleague’s challenges, which could help find a better resolution more quickly.

Conclusion (Optional):

In your conclusion, summarize your key takeaways from the assignment. Reflect on the importance of communication skills in professional settings, especially regarding credibility, handling difficult conversations, and improving interpersonal dynamics.

Formatting and Submission Guidelines:

Ensure that your cover page contains all necessary information, including your name, course title, assignment title, and date.
Use Times New Roman (size 12, double-spaced) for the text. No pictures containing text are allowed.
Save the document in Word format and upload it to Blackboard (assignments submitted via email will not be accepted).
Avoid plagiarism by ensuring your work is in your own words and properly cited using APA style for any references.

Building Credibility and Navigating Difficult Conversations in Professional Communication”