Author Archives: ff152252

The three pieces of advice I would offer a new employee I am supervising that has trouble with his/her written and oral communication are #1 – You need to seek help from your coworkers. In the short term I would suggest you ask one of your colleagues to proofread your work when needed.

#2 –  Your long term goal should be to get professional help. Short term help from a co-worker will not solve the problem, it is only a start. A continuing education class will help to make long term, lasting changes.

#3 – None of us are perfect, we all have strengths and weaknesses so don’t feel ashamed. I think this is very important to say because there is a perception of unintelligence associated with imperfect grammar and speech. Too often people forget that we are all a product of our upbringing, education, and environments, some of which we have no control over. Therefore, you may not have had the privilege of attending private schools and getting a first rate education. Also, English may not be your first language.

Speech and written communications are subjective. After all, there is the perception by many (especially Brits) that Americans have butchered the Kings English.

My group has taken a few steps critical steps to prepare for our Proposal Presentation. First, we decided to work on the presentation using google drive so that each person has access to the presentation at the same time and we can all see how the work is progressing. This also allows us to collaborate without being physically present. Second, we split the presentation up so that each person works on a specific section, allowing for equal contributions.

The presentation is a summary instead of the deep detailed analysis our report provided. It outlines the important and critical aspects of our paper: what the project is, why we think of is important, why we think it will be a success, and the financial aspects of the business.

We plan on maintaining our audiences attention by using attractive visuals and speaking clearly and passionately. To build credibility and persuade the audience, my group will use credible information we have gathered that’s show how critical our project is and the amazing life altering effects it can have on the lives on families in 3rd world countries.

We will use the story teller communication style because it lends the most opportunity for us to really drive home the importance of project. We will be able to persuade our audience better if we can make them visualize the change we are proposing.

Both Nikhil and I  did a good job of establishing a strategy on how we would tackle the presentation. I began and he closed it out. We were very effective in transitioning between speakers and also outlining the points we would each speak on.

Our body language was not distracting or disruptive, which are two things every speaker should avoid during a presentation. We also had good eye contact with the audience.

While reviewing my portion of the presentation I noticed a few things. First, I said “um” way too many times. It is something that I am working on. I hope to curtail this in future presentations because an audience may view me as not being knowledgeable of the content I am presenting or of being nervous. Either way I want to avoid any misperceptions.

In conclusion I think our presentation had many strengths. The content was well organized and well presented. It was clear that we had a thorough understanding of the Leader as Communicator “Trust Builder”. Overall I think we did a great job.

I want to base our Group Proposal on 3-D Printing – Digital Manufacturing Facilities geared towards female entrepreneurs in 3rd world countries. I have 2 reasons for this: 1- 3-D Printing is the wave of the future and 2- It is a proven fact that when you empower, educate, and provide resources to women, you empower, educate and improve the world. Women are nurturers by nature and their resources trickle down to their family, friends and neighbors.

This project is important to others because it will provide opportunities for people in 3rd world countries to create products cheaply that they need instead of paying for shipping from other countries. Also, they can design the products to suit the needs and requirements of their particular region.

By getting in while the market is still emerging we can lay a strong foundation for the future, build trust around the world and create a brand image that will be tough to rival. Start-up costs such as labor, rent, utilities, and insurance will be greatly reduced since the businesses will be run overseas. Thereby, increasing our likelihood of a substantial greater ROI.

I like to think that my leadership style encompasses many of the characteristics of community builders, navigators and renewal champions. However, generally,  I would describe my style as a direction setter. I believe that I have a knack for getting and keeping people’s attention, persuading people to act and building awareness and understanding.

Do I lead by example? Do I delegate? Do I rule by consensus? Yes, yes and yes. I know from experience that it’s hard to get people to listen to you and believe you if you do not practice what your preach. So, I always do my best to lead by example.

In terms of delegating, I find that it is a very important task that should not be taken lightly. I’ve had apprehensions in the past about assigning tasked. I must admit that I was one of those people who felt that the best way to get something done right was to do it myself. Unfortunately, time does not permit one to hold that view and run a business effectively. Therefore, I had to learn how to delegate.

When working in a team I believe that consensus plays a crucial role in the team dynamics. In order for every member to feel respected and like a contributing memeber I think it is important to incorporate a consensus into the functioning strategy.

Just recently I was placed in a team of 6 people with one very difficult team member. This teammate is very controlling and generally objects to most suggestions made by other teammates. He is not open to ideas that are not his own and focuses too much on trying to control everything.

Communication in general and digital communication plays a very important role in how this team functions effectively. Work is divided amongst the team equally and in order to minimize dissent we collaborate via google docs. This enables everyone to see in real time where each person stands on completing their portion of work and limits face to face contact. In this particular situation this is an effective strategy.

Working in teams are never easy but it is important to remember to be open to ideas, communicate in a manner that is honest and open to be effective. Also, work by consensus. This allows everyone to feel valued.