Overview
Some of the most valuable lessons about business communication come from people who use it every day.
Your challenge is to spend 15 minutes talking with a working professional about communication in their career.
Instructions
Identify a professional currently working in an industry, organization, or position that interests you.
The individual may not be another student or an immediate family member.
Contact the individual professionally and request approximately 15 minutes of their time.
Before the conversation, prepare at least five thoughtful questions.
Your questions must include:
What communication skill is most important in your position? What communication mistake do you see young professionals make? How do you communicate differently with supervisors, coworkers, and customers/clients?
Create at least two additional questions of your own.
During the conversation, focus on listening rather than simply moving through your questions.
Within 24 hours, send the professional an appropriate thank-you message.
Submit:
Name, title, and organization of the professional.
Your interview questions
Five significant things you learned
A copy/screenshot of your thank-you message
A 150–200 word reflection explaining what you will apply to your own professional communication.
This can be completed in a Word doc.