Unit 7 - Business Context

Range:

Communication types – Verbal (speaking, asking questions), non-verbal (eye contact, body language, active listening, self-awareness), written (email, memo, report, forms, online content, social media posts, contract), visual (infographics, presentations, interactive content, motion graphics, images).

Social communication styles - Merging verbal and non-verbal skills, interpersonal skills.

Audience – Managers, peers, customers, suppliers, colleagues.

1. The importance of good communication to the organisation.

2. What good communication looks like and examples of what it looks like in a range of situations.

3. How to use a range of communication types and styles. The reasons why communication type would be adapted depending on the target audience.

4. The difference between professional communication and everyday communication with friends (personal communication).

5. The use of marketing communication to attract the right target audience to the right product at the right time for the right price e.g., online and offline marketing, attraction marketing, push and pull marketing.

6. The requirement to meet professional standards through organisationally defined house style protocols and set procedures.

7. The most appropriate communication type to be selected according to the situation, medium and the audience.

Range:

Approaches - Resilience, time-management and punctuality, self-development including understanding of own learning style, emotional intelligence and unconscious bias, meeting objectives, adaptability and flexibility, prioritisation, accountability, decision-making and escalation, giving and receiving feedback.

1. The importance of self-management and how this may impact the organisation and the individual.

2. What is meant by resilience and an understanding of how to be resilient in the workplace.

3. How to be punctual and the importance of being on time to work. The impact poor time management has on the individual and on the wider organisation.

4. The approach to develop and track their own personal development through the use of CPD logs. The importance of employee attendance at training/events related to their job role in maintaining personal development.

5. The importance of different learning styles and how understanding of their own learning style supports self-development.

6. The importance of setting and meeting objectives, and how to plan to ensure objectives are achieved, such as factoring contingency time for project deadlines.

7. How to adapt to and be flexible in different situations in the workplace, for example, positive mindset, resilience. The use of emotional intelligence to support work activities and minimise unconscious bias.

8. The methods that can be used to prioritise work.

9. How to be accountable for the work produced by being responsible and able to justify and take ownership of any decisions made.

10. Understand how and when to escalate a problem or concern and how this relates to job roles and accountability.

11. The importance of giving and receiving feedback. How feedback can be used by individuals and the wider organisation to continually improve.

Range: Methods of promoting behaviour change - policies, procedures, leading by example, effective communications, recognition and reward, training, creating collective goals. 

What do learners need to learn? 

1. The types of policies and how the content within these policies guides conduct (e.g., human resource policies, communication policies, behaviour policies). 

2. The importance of acceptable behaviour for an organisational culture and the reasons for having set policies relating to conduct, ethics, and the content within these policies. 

3. The importance of individuals meeting the conduct set by the organisation, and the ability to be adaptable to meet expectations and policies. The ways to adapt behaviour to meet requirements (e.g., self-reflection, response to 360- degree feedback, formal conversations etc.). 

4. The impact on an organisation of not challenging poor behaviour and individuals who do not change their behaviour. 

Range Integrity – Being dependable, honesty, strong moral principles, showing commitment. Building trust – Through openness, honest communication, being reliable. 

What do learners need to learn? 

1. Reasons why integrity is important to a business. 

2. The ways that individuals show integrity in the workplace. 

3. How individuals and organisations can build ‘know/like/trust’ with stakeholders. 

4. How communication is vital to ensure trust is maintained with stakeholders and colleagues. 

5. How rapport and trust can be built with key stakeholders and colleagues.