The following list shows a summary of the topics covered in this course. To see all of the course pages, visit the Table of Contents.

Chapter 1: Business Communication Foundations

• Why Is It Important to Communicate Well?
• What Is Communication?
• Communication Principles: Benefits of Good Communication
• Your Responsibilities as a Communicator: Characteristics of Good Communication

Chapter 2: Team Building and Dynamics

• Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Communication
• Leadership and Small Group Communication
• Group Life Cycles and Member Roles
• Conflict in the Work Environment
• Problem-Solving and Decision-Making in Groups

Chapter 3: Message Preparation and Delivery

• Understanding Language and Verbal Communication
• Perception
• Listening and Reading for Understanding
• Differences in Perception
• Think, Then Write: Writing Preparation
• Composing the Message
• Messages
• Audience Awareness
• A Planning Checklist for Business Messages

Chapter 4: Research

• What is Research?
• Why it Matters?
• Conducting Research
• APA Style
• Narrowing the Topic
• Finding Secondary Sources
• Writing Ethically

Chapter 5: Fundamentals of Persuasion

• What is Persuasion?
• Principles of Persuasion?
• Functions of the Presentation to Persuade
• Persuasive Messages: Principles and AIDA
• Making an Argument
• Logical Argument
• Business Proposals

Chapter 6: Negative News and Crisis Communication

• Delivering a Negative News Message
• Eliciting Negative News
• Crisis Communication Plan

Chapter 7: Types of Business Reports

• Business Report Basics
• Preparing Short Business Reports
• Preparing Longer, Formal Reports
• Putting it Together

Chapter 8: Business Writing

• Text, E-Mail, and Netiquette
• Memorandums and Letters
• Sale Message

Chapter 9: Nonverbal Delivery

• Principles of Nonverbal Communication
• Types of Nonverbal Communication
• Nonverbal Strategies for Success with your Audience

Chapter 10: Routine Messages

• Information Shares, Action Requests, and Replies
• Complaints and Claims
• Negative Messages
• Goodwill Messages and Recommendations

Chapter 11: Public Speaking

• Myths and Realities of Public Speaking
• Speaking in a Business Setting
• Impromptu Speech
• Information Speech
• Persuasive Speech
• Sample Persuasive Speech
• Movement in your Speech
• Visual Aids

Chapter 12: Career Development: Finding a Job

• Professional Skill Building
• Networking
• Résumés and Cover Letters
• Interviewing

Chapter 13: Ethics

• Being a Professional of Integrity
• Ethics and Profitability
• Multiple versus Single Ethical Standards
• Adopting a Stakeholder Orientation
• Weighing Stakeholder Claims
• Ethical Decision-Making and Prioritizing Stakeholders
• Corporate Social Responsibility

Module 14: Communicating Through Technology

• Why it Matters
• Communication Tools
• Scheduling a Meeting
• Scheduling Remote Meeting
• Audio Conferences
• Video Conferences
• Web Sharing
• Putting it Together