Introduction

Another form of communication is written communication. In your workplace, you may be asked to compose a letter to a vendor, write a memorandum to the office staff, or create a publicity plan for the management team to review. In this type of communication process, we can modify our messages, edit, re-evaluate, and sometimes avoid the communications. With written communication, we usually plan out what we want to convey to the recipient. We have the opportunity to review our content and we can make sure that our point is made in our written words.

After composing our messages, it is important to check for any typographical errors or language problems. If written communications are sent to the recipient with errors, this conveys to the receiver poor communication skills. The receiver may think that the sender is uneducated, untrustworthy, or maybe just plain ignorant. Written communication is a permanent document that represents you and your business. Be careful when composing any type of written communication, because you may be sending the wrong message.

Besides letters, memos, and legal documents, another type of written communication is email, texting, and blogging. These types of communications are changing the way offices operate their day-to-day engagements. In the past, a fax machine was the latest and most technologically advanced machine available in the office environment. Now, the fax machine is almost obsolete. Most electronic communications are handled through electronic mail. The convenience of electronic mail is ever-changing. Business people that travel can check their email anyplace, anytime, and almost anywhere. Documents can be attached to the emails similar to how you are communicating with your instructor for this course.

 

Lesson Objectives

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to...

  • Explain the importance of effective communication skills in the workplace.
    • Examples: listening strategies, oral and written communications, proper business etiquette, informal presentations and discussions, proficiency in speaking Standard English
  • Demonstrate mathematical computation skills in the workplace
    • Examples: costs and time; ratios and percentages; tables, charts, and graphs; distance, weight, area, and volume

Enduring Understandings

  • Effective communication and mathematical skills are critical in the workplace.

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Workforce Essentials COS standards: 6 and 7

This lesson incorporates the following Literacy Standard: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R10, W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, and W6