MGPS.5010 Communicating Effectively
Communication is crucial to the success of all leaders, but as you climb within an organization the ability to write and speak effectively is magnified. One needs to be able to talk, write and present effectively to a diverse group of stakeholders, such as customers, supervisors, subordinates, peers, buyers, etc. And while business leaders have marketing strategies, expansion strategies, finance strategies, even exit strategies, successful leaders also have communication strategies. This course explores how individuals can develop and execute effective communication strategies for a variety of business settings. The course emphasizes the essentials of developing personal communication skills, inclusive of persuasive verbal and written communication, influence mapping, and communicating for buy-in. Students study audience analysis, communicator credibility, message construction and delivery, and are given the opportunity to learn best practices in presentation skills, particularly important for those wishing to pursue entrepreneurial interests. Globalization confronts almost every aspect of business from recruiting and managing a diverse staff to providing products and services, which cross language, time, and cultural barriers. This course delves into the two areas impacting a leader's success in the global arena: technology and culture. Through a blend of class discussions, seminars, observations, practice, feedback and reflection, students will study frameworks for effective communication in a global environment and then apply these lessons in team and individual projects. Upon successful completion of the course, students will have learned how to; understand the purpose of effective communication and how it can facilitate or hinder individual and organizational performance, appreciate the importance and the management of challenges in communicating to internal and external stakeholders, deliver effective oral and written business presentations, incorporate technology to facilitate more effective communications.