Oral Communication Skills Development Report - Kaplan Business School

This report details a self-directed learning approach to improve oral communication skills, crucial for professional growth. The student utilized a learning contract to identify objectives, sources, and strategies, including attending network meetings, online courses, and seeking mentorship. The report outlines a plan for skill development, including timelines and contact information for mentors. The student reflects on challenges faced, such as limited networking opportunities and internet access, and proposes improvements. The report concludes that oral communication is essential for professional success and highlights the benefits of networking and maintaining contacts. The report also includes feedback for the Kaplan Business School, suggesting training sessions and new activities to enhance communication skills. This report provides valuable insights into the process of improving communication skills and strategies for professional development.

ORAL COMMUNICATION

INTRODUCTION
In this report learning contract is used as self-directed assessment tool that helps to
improve
learning in an area that needs improvement i.e., oral communication is been taken. Oral
communication is essential in every sector of an individual's path. Plan is been made for
developing those skills, through network meetings. Network plan is been made for selecting an
appropriate network meeting to achieve aim or goal for developing skills and improving
knowledges.
PART A
1. Objectives
Main objective of this report is to learn communication skills, especially oral
communication. This involves speaking, listening and interacting between individuals with use
of words. It acts as a vital tool for building relationship with listeners as well as bringing people
togethe (Maes, Weldyand Icenogle, 2014)r. For been successful in formal work environment,
one has to be an effective communicator. It is essential in one's career, for conversing with
colleagues, preparing sales presentations or conducting a meeting. When communication is clear,
relevant, informative, concise and adapted to the needs of listeners, then it becomes effective.
2. Sources and Strategies
For achieving the objectives of learning oral communication, I would attend meeting and
involve in decision making. Different online courses are attended for developing communication
skills. Geting trainings from mentors and lecturer for improving my skills. High quality online
resources like edx online material, etc. are assessed for studying and practising language and
communication.
3. Completion date
On week one, I would assess my own skills. On starting two days of second week, I
would identify various resources available for improving my communication skill and selecting
the best available methods or sources for learning.
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From third week, I would attend an online course for a week and attend other personality
or spoken languages courses offered by professional mentors. Participating in various activities
such as, role plays, presentations, group discussions, etc., to improve my skills.
Activiti
es
1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10th
Week
Skill
assess
ment
Identif
ying
resourc
es
Selecti
ng best
resourc
es.
Online
courses
Variou
s
activiti
es
4. Evidence
My oral communication abilities are developed, after involving in various trainings and
learning programs. For assessing my skills learned, I would gather feedback from my peers,
colleagues, mentors or lecturer. For online course that I have participated, certificates are given
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for completing training. I would also self-assess my own communication skills from my
performance in various learning activities like role plays, group discussions, etc.
5. Verification
I have attended an online course from EDX communication course where leading
professors from MIT, Harvard, and other top institutions. I got a certificate from EDX affiliated
by Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Through giving presentation to Lecturer for
exhibiting my learning, I would demonstrate my oral communication skills.
PART B: NETWORKING TASK
Prior to meeting
 Network meeting that I would attend is ECR Professional Development Launch, at
Adelaide, Australia, conducted by Adelaide Graduate Centre.
◦ Criteria for choice: This event is an opportunity for graduates to connect with each
other, listen from senior leaders to learn about availability of new training.
 The aim of this network is to meet and connect with different graduates and to evolve
various leadership and professional skills required by an individual for their personal as
well as career growth. These goals of network meeting would aid me to improve my
communication skills through meeting and interacting with many individuals or leaders.
It also helps to develop various skills and knowledge that are necessary (Tikkanen and
Leiman, 2014).
 In this event Dr. Tara Pukala, Associate Professor, School of Physical Sciences; and Dr.
Monica Kerr, Director, Career & Research Skills Training (CaRST) would be addressing
the participants.
 From this network meeting, I would like to achieve various skills that are needed for
being an effective leader, especially developing my communication skills.
 I would promote myself by using both oral and written mediums, such as business cards,
printed information, etc. I would more likely to use oral communication for developing
my public speaking skills.
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 For building trust, I would take my time for having their confidence in me, learnt to
communicate effectively with others, keeping my words and follow through my actions
for valuing others and their relations.
Actions during networking function
 Strategies used for networking with other by me are, first is to tune in with existing
contacts i.e., reaching out to people already known. This would become base for building
network. Meeting up new persons and knowing about them. Interviewing leaders or
speakers and appreciating there thoughts and getting suggestions.
 Strategies used for developing confidence and trust are using effective communication,
open and flexible with others, being patience for giving time to build trust. These
strategies have worked out for me and I have build better relationship with others. Made
some contacts through developing trust and confidence.
 Positive networking skills: Some of the positive networking skills that I have observed
are planning or developing network game plan, effective communication, motivational,
influencing skills, etc.
 There are certain skills that could have been improved is my ability to motivate and
influence others, developing a network plan and choosing effective communication.
 Information passed on to members of network are about my personal details such as
name, contact details, qualifications, abilities, etc. for having relation with them
(Vijayakumar, Kumar and Jain, 2014).
Actions after networking function
Database of contacts made:
Person's name Organisation Contact details Expertise Follow-up
actions
Dr. Tara Pukala School of
Physical Sciences
Mob.:
009734738735
email:
tarapukala@rediff
mail.com
Develop skills
and knowledge
required for
graduate level.
 Contact
with her
through
mail or
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phones.
Taking an
appointment.
Dr. Monica Kerr Director, Career
& Research Skills
Training
Contact:
007376378737
email:
monika_kerr@ya
hoo.com
In providing
training to young
graduates for
identifying and
developing skills
and abilities.
 Emailing
or
contacting
her for
taking
appointme
nt.
 Meeting
her at
office for
getting
insights
about
skills.
Prof. Edward
Lewis
Woolworths Contact:
008649748547
email:
edwardlewis@gm
ail.com
Skilled manager,
Expertise in
Human Resource
management
 Contact
with her
through
mail or
phones.
 Taking an
appointme
nt.
Ways to follow-up and maintain contacts:
◦ Schedule regular check-ins: Take initiative for sending them regular emails or
messages. This would help to maintain relations and contacts.
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◦ Plan small get together: Instead of arranging face to face catch-up with each contact,
small gatherings should be arranged.
◦ Showing gratitude: By sending them with handwritten note for showing our
appreciation.
◦ Always update contact list: Contacts should be timely updated, as they may get
promoted, move away, etc (Pang, 2014).
 Knowledge and skills shared: With my contacts I would share details about my skills
and knowledge such as, Management student, skills like leadership skills, decision
making, adaptability, etc.
By sharing information about knowledge and skills with contacts would benefit in many
ways, which are listed below:
◦ Increase professional value
◦ Establishes reputation
◦ Helps in starting career
◦ Having best clients
◦ Being own resume.
 Feedbacks for Kaplan Business School:
◦ Involving Training sessions for improving communication skills.
▪ From next semester onwards seminars and workshops will be organised for
developing communication skills both oral and written.
◦ New games or activities for developing professional as well as personal skills.
▪ New activities and games would be designed for improving personal or
professional skills.
 Skills gained: From attending network meeting I have developed my oral
communication skills and gained knowledge about other required skills for professional
growth. In my class there are other who also required to develop oral communication. For
passing on my learning to them I would prepare presentation and arrange workshops for
them.
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 Evaluating network: Maintaining a network would be very much essential for achieving
my goals for developing my oral communication. I get to make new contacts which have
enhanced my skills.
PART C: REFLECTION
In completing this contract I have faced certain issues such as at time of conducting this
report there were less network meeting that I would attend. Most of people at meeting were not
interested or responsive towards my approach for building contact. I was not able to attend most
of the online course due to my internet data problem.
Next time proper plan would be made and appropriate time would be managed for
completing this contract.
CONCLUSION
From this report it can be concluded that oral communication is an essential skill required
for professional growth. For achieving the objectives of learning oral communication, attend
meeting and various courses. Network meetings are attended for developing these skills. Various
action plans are made prior, during and after networking functions. Maintaining contacts would
benefit an individual many ways.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Maes, J.D., Weldy, T.G. and Icenogle, M.L., 2014. A managerial perspective: Oral
communication competency is most important for business students in the workplace. Journal of
Business Communication, 34, pp.67-80.
Tikkanen, S. and Leiman, M., 2014. Resolution of an impasse at a network meeting: Dialogical
sequence analysis of the use of a shared formulation. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 27(2),
pp.154-173.
Vijayakumar, N., Kumar, S. and Jain, M., Cisco Technology Inc, 2014. Context enhanced social
network for meeting participants. U.S. Patent 8,627,210.
Pang, T.M.F., Cisco Technology Inc, 2014. System and method for managing conversations for a
meeting session in a network environment. U.S. Patent 8,739,045.
Maes, Weldyand Icenogle, 2014Tikkanen and Leiman, 2014Vijayakumar, Kumar and Jain,
2014Pang, 2014
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