By the end of this chapter you should be able to 1 1 Explain how communication skills fuel career success in a technology driven social and mobile workplace 1 2 Understand the impact of powerful interpersonal skills and a college education for your professional success in the hyperconnected digital age workplace 1 3 Describe significant communication trends in today s dynamic networked work environment 1 4 Identify how information flows internally and externally in organizations through formal and informal channels 1 5 Recognize the tools for doing the right thing as an ethical business communicator 1 1 Thriving in a Digital Mobile and Social Workplace Future proof occupations require communication creativity and specialized knowledge Soft skills emotional intelligence powerful social and interpersonal skills Interpersonal skills professional skills a combination of communication logical reasoning critical thinking teamwork and time management skills Individuals should remain flexible ready to remake themselves when needed Job candidates with communication skills stand out in the crowd Many tasks formerly performed by humans can now be executed by machines Automation will gobble up work that machines can do better and faster Communication Skills Your Ticket to Work Americans devote nearly 70 percent of their waking hours to screen time Poorly developed writing skills can derail a career A PayScale study revealed that the skill most lacking in recent college graduates was writing proficiency Communication skills are always in demand and transferable regardless of your profession Communication skills reading listening nonverbal speaking and writing skills Writing has been variously called a career sifter a threshold skill and the price of admission indicating that effective writing skills can be a stepping stone to great job opportunities Writing is a marker of high skill high wage professional work If you can t express yourself clearly you limit your opportunities for many positions Figure 1 1 Time Line Evolving Technology and Social Media Figure 1 1 displays the emergence of new technology and the rapid growth of Internet users over the last two decades So far the number of Internet users has roughly doubled every five years It s Up to You Communication Skills Can be Learned This course will teach you the basics such as Writing an effective e mail Composing short messages on a mobile device Crafting a clear business letter Making a memorable presentation 1 2 Building Future Proof Skills for the Twenty First Century Workplace Knowledge workers employees who get paid for their education and their ability to learn Information workers employees who produce and consume information in the workplace Jobs in information technology are expected to increase 13 percent by 2026 Lifelong learning makes you more competitive and valuable as an employee Roughly 90 percent of all existing data generated on our planet was created just in the last five years The data we create and copy annually in the digital universe is doubling every 12 Our twenty first century economy relies mainly on information and knowledge This exponential growth of knowledge is expected to continue and accelerate Why Should You Care Half of employers surveyed by PayScale indicated new hires are not workplace ready lacking critical thinking and reasoning skills You will be challenged to stay informed in order to make sound decisions and solve complex problems You can expect to generate process and exchange information in the workplace and effectively transmit it across various communication channels and multiple media You might be called on to use e mail multimedia slide presentations podcasts or social media in a professional setting You will be expected to make sound decisions and solve complex problems The avalanche of information that engulfs you daily requires you to evaluate all sources critically not all news outlets were created equal Information literacy the ability to accurately evaluate new information is an important interpersonal skill in any profession Thinking Critically in the Digital Age m commerce mobile technology businesses e commerce Internet based businesses brick and mortar commerce traditional company that operates out of buildings rather than on the Internet Kaizen Toyota s management philosophy of continuous improvement by engaged and empowered workers Nearly three out of four jobs involve mind work with management and employees often working together to solve business problems Positions that require thinking brainpower and decision making skills are likely to remain plentiful Figure 1 2 Osborn Parnes Creative Problem Solving Process When faced with a problem most of us do a lot of worrying before separating the issues or deciding A widely accepted process for building creative critical thinking is the Osborne Parnes Creative Problem Solving Process CPS It outlines a three point plan Understanding the problem is essential and must come first Generating and selecting the most feasible ideas is the intermediate step Finally the problem solving model prompts you to refine justify and implement the solution Managing Your Career Well Guarding Your Credibility Your career may resemble a corporate lattice a workplace framework that is more intricate open fluid and interconnected than a corporate career ladder How well you communicate and protect your brand how you present yourself in the virtual world may determine how successful you will be Every interaction influences how people view you Workers today cannot expect to find jobs with predictable hours and pay increases lifetime security or even conventional workplaces Clearly defined career paths are no longer a given You might have to pursue four or five different careers not just jobs in your lifetime Well crafted tweets astute comments on social media competent e mails and thoughtful blog posts will make a positive impression Acquiring Crisis Proof Skills to Weather Any Job Market GPA is still a distinguishing factor but fewer employers screen candidates by grades Students are adequately trained for entry level jobs but not equipped for advancement Promotable candidates excel at oral communication critical thinking ethical judgment teamwork independent work self motivation writing and real world application of learning The upheaval of the economy following the COVID 19 pandemic turned the job market upside down Recent college graduates and entry