End of Chapter 11

End of Chapter Activities: Chapter 11: Professionalism, Teamwork, Meetings, and Speaking Skills
End of Chapter Activities

GUFFEY/LOEWY, ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION, 12E
CHAPTER 11: PROFESSIONALISM , TEAMWORK, MEETINGS, AND SPEAKING SKILLS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Review............................................................................................................................................1
Critical Thinking..........................................................................................................................................2
Activities and Cases.....................................................................................................................................3
Grammar/Mechanics Checkup - 11.........................................................................................................10
Other Punctuation....................................................................................................................................10
Editing Challenge - 11...............................................................................................................................12
Communication Workshop: Career Skills..............................................................................................13
CHAPTER REVIEW
1. Define the traits and skills listed in the chapter that demonstrate professionalism. (L.O. 1)
2. Explain the difference between ethics and etiquette. (L.O. 1)
3. Explain the advantages of face-to-face conversation over other communication channels. (L.O. 2)
4. Name several business etiquette guidelines that promote positive workplace conversations, both in the
office and at work-related social functions. (L.O. 2)
5. Name at least six recommendations to ensure that your calls at work are productive. (L.O. 3)
6. Which practices should courteous cell phone users adopt to avoid offending others? List at least three.
(L.O. 3)
7. List at least five reasons explaining the popularity of workplace teams. (L.O. 4)
8. Name the four (plus one) phases of team development as defined by psychologist B. W. Tuckman, who
later added a fifth phase in collaboration with Mary Ann Conover Jensen. Explain what happens at each
stage. (L.O. 4)
9. What is the best approach to address conflict in meetings? (L.O. 5)
10. List five behaviors you consider most important to participate actively in workplace meetings. (L.O. 5)
CRITICAL THINKING
1. Cal Newport, computer scientist and author, blames open-office layouts and relentless collaboration for a
decline in concentrated deep thinking. He cites research suggesting that even short interruptions significantly
increase the total time needed to complete a task. Other studies show that multitasking not only drags out work
but reduces its quality. One researcher believes that jumping from one task to another reduces efficiency
© 2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible 1
website, in whole or in part.
because of “attention residue.” As the mind turns to a new task, it is still thinking about the old task. i Are you
easily distracted? What techniques help you concentrate? (L.O. 4, 5)
2. Employers try to screen for and encourage professional skills such as excellent communication, promptness, a
positive attitude, good teamwork skills, and civility. On this difficult mission, they try novel approaches. A
recruiter would intentionally drop a piece of trash by his office door just before an interview. He then would
hire anyone who picked it up.ii One gas station manager rewarded his workers by relieving them of bathroom
cleaning duty if they started their shifts on time. Discuss these techniques. Do you believe they are effective?
(L.O. 1, 2, 4)
3. “Weathering the professional effects of COVID-19 together has introduced an authenticity to digital
communication that can strengthen how we relate at work, even—or perhaps especially—in remote
environments,” says Jon Friedman, VP of design and research at Microsoft. He believes that remote work has
allowed “humanizing glimpses into areas of our lives that may have previously been walled off from our
coworkers, and it’s ironic that this is happening through tools not traditionally known for deep human
connection!”iii Having worked remotely in the pursuit of your education, discuss Friedman’s claim that the
virtual environment shows us as more human and thus enables a greater connection among coworkers. Do you
agree? (L.O. 5)
4. As any salesperson will tell you, some people (not only customers) seem to believe that if they vent their anger
and make a scene, bullying and intimidating others, they are more likely to get their way. Indeed, some
customer service staff may cave in, wishing to defuse the ruckus. Evaluate such behavior in the light of what
you have learned in this chapter about business etiquette and professionalism. (L.O. 1–3)
5. In his book The Ideal Team Player, management consultant Patrick Lencioni describes what he calls the three
virtues that effective team members possess: They are humble, hungry, and smart, he believes. Humble means
little ego and giving credit to others. Hungry describes the drive to get things done. Smart refers to emotional
intelligence, to being interpersonally aware and appropriate. How does the emphasis on humility square with
the conspicuous, hard-driving bosses like Elon Musk or Jerry Jones, the brash owner of the Dallas Cowboys?
(L.O. 4).
ACTIVITIES AND CASES

11.1 Workplace Conflict Resolution: Putting the Six-Step Procedure to Work (L.O. 1, 4, 5)
Team
Although conflict is a normal part of every workplace, if unresolved, it can create hard feelings and reduce
productivity.
Your Task. Analyze the following scenarios. In teams, discuss each scenario and apply the six-step procedure
for dealing with conflict outlined in Figure 11.6. Choose two of the scenarios to role-play, with two of your
team members taking roles.
a. During an important meeting, several agenda items deal require actions that are crucial to the success of a
current project. They require that key decisions be made—fast! As usual, John is telling entertaining anecdotes
without regard for the meeting’s urgency. Jill is becoming impatient and irritated. She doesn’t understand why
the other meeting participants, and the boss in particular, don’t stop John’s antics.
b. Kacey, an accountant, cannot complete her report until Rashawn, a salesperson, provides her with all the
necessary numbers and documentation. Kacey thinks that Rashawn is a procrastinator who forces her to deliver
a rush job, thus causing her great stress and increasing the likelihood of error. Rashawn believes that Kacey is
exerting pressure on both of them and setting unrealistic deadlines. As the conflict intensifies, productivity
decreases.
c. A company policy manual is posted and updated on the company intranet. Employees must sign that they have
read and understand the manual. A conflict arises when team member Alvaro insists that employees should
sign electronically. Fellow team member Hallie thinks that a paper form should be signed by employees so that
better records may be kept.
d. The author of a lengthy report refuses to collaborate with a colleague on future projects because she believes
that her colleague’s review of her document was superficial, short, and essentially useless. The report author is
angry at the lack of attention her 25-page report received.
e. A manager and her assistant plan to attend a conference together at a resort location. Six weeks before the
conference, the company announces a cutback and limits conference attendance to one person. The assistant,
who has developed a presentation specifically for the conference, feels that he should be the one to attend.
Travel arrangements must be made immediately.
11.2 Interpersonal Skills: What Employers Want (L.O. 1)

Communication Technology
Social Media
Team
Web
What interpersonal skills do employers request when they list job openings in your field?
Your Task. Individually or in teams, check the listings at an online job board. Visit Indeed, CareerBuilder,
Monster, Job.com, or Glassdoor. Follow the instructions to search job categories and locations. Study many
job listings in your field. Print or otherwise save the results of your search. How often do the ads mention
communication, teamwork, and computer skills? What tasks do the ads mention? Discuss your findings with
your team members. Then prepare a list of the most frequently requested interpersonal skills. Your instructor
may ask you to submit your findings and/or report to the class. If you are not satisfied with the job selection at
any job board, choose ads posted on the websites of companies you admire or on LinkedIn.
11.3 Interpersonal Skills: Taking Stock of Personal Strengths (L.O. 1)

Web
When hiring future workers, employers look for hard skills (technical skills, such as mastery of software
applications or accountancy procedures) and interpersonal skills typically defined as emotional intelligence,
people skills, positive character traits, and other personal strengths.
Studies have divided interpersonal skills into four categories:
 Thinking and problem solving
 Oral and written communication
 Personal qualities and work ethic
 Interpersonal and teamwork
Your Task. Using the preceding categories to guide you, identify your own interpersonal skills, paying
attention to those you think a potential employer would value. Prepare lists of at least four items in each of the
four categories. For example, as evidence of problem solving, you might list a specific workplace or academic
problem you recognized and solved. You will want to weave these words and phrases into cover letters and
résumés, which are covered in Chapter 13.
11.4 Voice Quality: Sounding Like a Pro (L.O. 2)

Team
Recording your voice allows you to learn how you sound to others and provides an opportunity to use your
voice effectively. Don’t be surprised if you fail to recognize your own voice or if it sounds strange to your
ears.
Your Task. Record yourself reading a news or business article.

a. If you think your voice sounds a bit high, practice speaking slightly lower.
b. If your voice is low or expressionless, practice speaking slightly louder and with more inflection.
c. Ask a colleague, teacher, or friend to provide feedback on your pronunciation, pitch, volume, rate, and
professional tone.
11.5 Constructive Criticism on the Job (L.O. 2)

No one likes to give it or receive it, but sometimes criticism is unavoidable, even desirable. Constructive criticism in
the workplace is necessary when team members need feedback and managers must assess team effectiveness.
Your Task. To remedy each of the following unprofessional actions, supply the appropriate solution following the
guidelines provided in this chapter.
a. Supervisor Abel hates any kind of conflict and is tempted to deliver his negative feedback of a team member by
e-mail.
b. Regional manager Miranda delivered a stern lecture to an underperforming sales rep who was clearly stunned
and hurt.
c. Manager Tyson has a hot temper. He exploded when Adam, one of his subordinates, came late to a staff
meeting. Tyson told Adam that he hated his tardiness and that Adam was always late.
d. Hot-headed manager Tyson loudly confronted Miranda in her cubicle within earshot of staff. Miranda had
requested time off as an important deadline was looming, and the project was already late.
e. Rylie provided feedback to a dysfunctional team by spontaneously approaching team members in the hallway.
Face-to-face with the argumentative team, she was at a loss for words and felt that she did not convey her points
fully.
11.6 Practicing Professional Telephone Skills (L.O. 3)

Team
Acting out the roles of telephone caller and receiver is an effective technique for improving skills. To give you
such practice, your instructor will divide the class into pairs.
Your Task. For each scenario take a moment to read and rehearse your role silently. Then play the role with
your partner. If time permits, repeat the scenarios, changing roles.
Partner 1
a. You are the personnel manager of Blu Cellular, Inc. Call Daria Alameda, office manager at Tactical IT
Corporation. Inquire about a job applicant, Adeline Chung, who listed Ms. Alameda as a reference.
b. Call Ms. Alameda again the following day to inquire about the same job applicant, Adeline Chung. Ms.
Alameda answers today, but she talks on and on, describing the applicant in great detail. Tactfully close the
conversation.
c. You are now the receptionist for Nicolas Sarikakis, of Sarikakis Imports. Answer a call for Mr. Sarikakis,
who is working in another office, at Ext. 2219, where he will accept calls.
d. You are now Nicolas Sarikakis, owner of Sarikakis Imports. Call your attorney, Jacqueline Goodman-Heine,
about a legal problem. Leave a brief, incomplete message.
e. Call Ms. Goodman-Heine again. Leave a message that will prevent telephone tag.
Partner 2
a. You are the receptionist for Tactical IT Corporation. The caller asks for Daria Alameda, who is home sick
today. You don’t know when she will be able to return. Answer the call appropriately.
b. You are now Ms. Alameda, office manager. Describe Adeline Chung, an imaginary employee. Think of
someone with whom you have worked. Include many details, such as her ability to work with others, her
appearance, her skills at computing, her schooling, her ambition, and so forth.
c. You are now an administrative assistant for attorney Jacqueline Goodman-Heine. Call Nicolas Sarikakis to
verify a meeting date Ms. Goodman-Heine has with Mr. Sarikakis. Use your own name in identifying yourself.
d. You are now the receptionist for attorney Jacqueline Goodman-Heine. Ms. Goodman-Heine is skiing in Vail
and will return in two days, but she does not want her clients to know where she is. Take a message.
e. Take a message again.
Answers to this role-play activity will vary.
11.7 Voice Mail: Recording a Professional Greeting (L.O. 3)

E-Mail
Team
Web
To present a professional image, smart businesspeople carefully prepare their outgoing voice mail greetings
and announcements. After all, they represent their companies and want to be perceived as polished and
efficient. Before recording a greeting, most workers plan and perhaps even jot down what they will say. To be
concise, the greeting should not run longer than 25 seconds.
Your Task. Use the guidelines in this chapter to plan your greeting. Invent a job title and the name of your
company. Indicate when and how callers can reach you. Individually or as a team, record a professional voice
mail greeting using a smartphone or another digital recording device. If the instructor directs, share your
recording by sending it via e-mail to a designated address for evaluation. Alternatively, team members may be
asked to exchange their recorded greetings for a peer critique. Download a free voice recorder app such as
Voice Memos (for iOS and Android) that allows voice recordings. These mobile applications are easy to use,
and when the recording is completed, you have the option of sharing it by e-mail, by Bluetooth, on Facebook,
and so forth.
11.8 Voice Mail: Leaving a Message Like a Pro (L.O. 3)

Web
Voice mail messages can be very effective communication tools as long as they are professional and make
responding to them easy.
Your Task. If your instructor allows, call his or her office number after hours or within a specified time frame.
Plan what you will say; if needed, jot down a few notes. Leave a professional voice mail message as described
in this chapter. Start by introducing yourself by name, then give your telephone number, and finally, leave a
brief message about something you discussed in class, read in the chapter, or want the instructor to know about
you. Speak slowly, loudly enough, and clearly, so your instructor won’t need to replay your message.
11.9 Scheduling a Meeting With a Doodle Poll (L.O. 5)

Team
Have you ever planned an event for multiple invitees? If yes, then you know how difficult it is to find a date
and time that works for most participants. Businesspeople use Outlook and other calendar apps that allow them
to call a meeting, but even then, picking the right day and time can be a challenge and occasionally a hit-and-
miss proposition. Enter Doodle. This free Web-based poll generator will help you schedule the best date and
time for your group.
Your Task. Your instructor may divide the class into teams and ask a representative of each team to call a
study group meeting or a social event for your business society. As the designated group leader, you will open
a free account with Doodle (go to https://doodle.com). You won’t need to input much personal information
and can start sending out free basic scheduling polls almost instantly.
Follow these steps: After creating your free account, name your event. Add a location and an optional note.
Follow the on-screen options. Suggest several dates and times in the calendar. Invite participants by typing
their e-mail addresses. If you synced your address book, the e-mail addresses will appear automatically. Or e-
mail the link you generate at the end of the poll to your group members. After your invitees fill in their
available slots, confirm the date and time that works best for most if not all participants. If possible, rotate the
responsibilities within the team; share the scheduling duties with the other group members and in class.
11.10 Making Meetings Productive (L.O. 5)

E-Mail
Team
As you have learned, facilitating a productive meeting requires skills that may be critical to your career
success.
Your Task. Individually or as a team, describe how you would deal with the following examples of
unproductive or dysfunctional behavior and other challenges in a team meeting that you are running. Either
report your recommendations verbally, or, if your instructor directs, summarize your suggestions in an e-mail
or memo.
a. Andy likes to make long-winded statements and often digresses to unrelated subjects.
11.11 Mastering Meetings That Don’t Suck (L.O. 5)

Team
Web
“Meetings are indispensable when you don’t want to do anything,” observed the late economist John Kenneth
Galbraith, and management guru Peter Drucker claimed: “Meetings are a symptom of a bad organization. The
fewer meetings, the better.”iv More recently, Tesla and SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk grumbled that
“Excessive meetings are the blight of big companies and almost always get worse over time.” v Before the
COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos railed against unproductive meetings and kept them
small by employing his two pizza rule. He never invited more people than could be fed by two pizzas. vi
Much venomous ink has been spilled decrying meetings, but they won’t go away because—despite their
potential shortcomings—many workplace gatherings are necessary.
Your Task. Examine the preceding quotations and perhaps other statements deriding meetings. Are they
exaggerations or accurate assessments? If the assertions of wastefulness are true, what does that mean for the
health of organizations conducting large numbers of lengthy meetings? Individually or as a team, search the
Internet for information in defense of meetings. (a) Begin by discussing your own and classmates’ experience
with workplace meetings. (b) Interview your parents, other relatives, and friends about meetings. (c) Finding
gripes is easy, but search the Web for advice on making meetings more effective. What information beyond
the tips in this book can you find? In a class discussion or individually—perhaps in writing or in a slide
presentation, such as PowerPoint, if your instructor directs—introduce your findings.
11.12 Five-Minute Meetings: The Answer to Meeting Bloat? (L.O. 5)

E-Mail
Team
Tired of long, boring meetings, some companies have embraced five-minute huddles or desk “drive-bys” for
minor decision making. The CEO of a New York digital agency likes to cut people short when they talk too
long by resorting to being “politely blunt.” Brief daily check-in meetings are common in marketing, e-
commerce, advertising, and related fields.vii These mini meetings are so short that PowerPoint is out. So are
long-winded speeches. Participants learn to boil down their contributions or they risk being cut off—brutally.
An account director at a digital agency in Phoenix says that the resulting bluntness “feels like having the wind
knocked out of you.” An executive creative director tactfully concludes: “You sort of need to check your ego
at the door.” Some companies limit even video meetings to five minutes. A Boston software developer holds
lightning meetings that he praises for their energy and fast action. This breakneck efficiency leaves no time
for idle chitchat about the kids or the weather.
Your Task. As a team, brainstorm all possible applications of quick meetings. What types of businesses
could benefit from such meetings? How would you ensure on-time arrival, participation and order during the
meeting, and turn-taking? What type of sanctions would you impose for violations? What are some potential
drawback of the five-minute scrum? If your instructor directs, write an e-mail (see Chapter 7) to persuade
your current or past boss to adopt five-minute meetings.
11.13 Virtual Meetings: Keeping the Team Engaged (L.O. 5)

Team
Web
Amelia Russo works at the headquarters for a large HMO that contracts with physician groups across the
nation. Her position requires her to impose organizational objectives and systems on smaller groups that often
resist such interference. Amelia recently needed to inform regional groups that the home office was
introducing a systemwide change to hiring practices. She set up a teleconference between her office in
Charleston, South Carolina, and others in Madison, Wisconsin; Denver, Colorado; and Seattle, Washington.
Amelia set the meeting for 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
At the designated date and hour, she found that the Seattle team was not logged in; she paused and delayed
the session. When the Seattle team finally did log in, Amelia launched into her presentation. She explained
the reasons behind the hiring change in a PowerPoint presentation that contained complex data she had not
distributed prior to the video call. Amelia heard cell phone ringtones and typing in the background as she
spoke. Still, she pushed through her one-hour presentation without soliciting feedback.
Your Task. In teams, discuss ways Amelia might have improved the virtual meeting. Prepare a list of
recommendations from your team.
11.14 Virtual Meeting to Clarify an Order (L.O. 5)

Social Media
Internet
TRUE Fitness, Inc., a commercial strength equipment manufacturer in O’Fallon, Missouri, contracts with
several distributors overseas who exclusively sell weight machines to gyms and fitness studios, not to the
general public. The distributor in the United Kingdom, Blake Luca, has sent a confusing order by e-mail
containing incorrect item numbers and product names as well as inconsistent quantities of items. Mr. Luca
doesn’t respond to telephone calls or e-mail requests for clarification. You remember that you conversed with
Mr. Luca via Skype and notice to your delight that your distributor seems to be online.
Your Task. Using Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, or Teams, call a classmate designated to play Mr. Luca and
request clarification of the rather large order. Improvise the details of the order in a Skype, FaceTime, Zoom
or Teams call to your peer (with or without a camera) applying the tips for virtual meetings in this chapter.
Alternatively, your instructor may introduce a short background fact sheet or script for each participant,
guiding your conversation and defining your roles and the particulars of the order. To use teleconferencing
apps with or without a camera, select a laptop, computer lab desktop computer, smartphone, or iPad. This
exchange can occur in the classroom or computer lab where the image can be projected onto a screen. The
person playing the remote partner should leave the room and connect from a quiet place outside. Fellow
students and your instructor will evaluate your virtual meeting with Mr. Luca.
11.15 Visiting Your Instructor’s Virtual Office Hours (L.O. 2, 5)

Social Media
In distance courses in particular, some instructors hold virtual office hours. When using course-management
systems such as Blackboard, Moodle, or Canvas, your professors can create class chat rooms. At appointed
times, you may join your instructor and your peers in the online chat room and ask questions, request
clarification, or comment on the class and the teaching material. Some of your professors may offer video
chat—for example, by Skype.
Your Task. During virtual office hours, practice professional demeanor and courtesy. Your class is a
workshop environment in which you are practicing appropriate workplace etiquette. Impress your instructor
by following the guidelines in this chapter—for example, by offering a friendly, respectful greeting,
introducing yourself, communicating clearly, writing correct prose, being an active participant in group
meetings, providing and accepting constructive criticism, and exhibiting a positive can-do attitude. Plan your
virtual visit as you would a professional phone conversation, also described in this chapter. Your instructor
may give you informal feedback or decide to use a more formal assessment such as a performance appraisal.
GRAMMAR/MECHANICS CHECKUP - 11
OTHER PUNCTUATION
Although this checkup concentrates on Sections 2.23–2.29 in the Grammar/Mechanics Handbook, you may also
refer to other punctuation principles. In the space provided, write the letter of the correctly punctuated sentence.
Also record the appropriate Grammar/Mechanics section for the principle involved. When you finish, compare your
responses with those provided at the bottom of the page. If your answers differ, study carefully the appropriate
principles.
Example: (Emphasize.)
a. The biggest citrus-growing states—Florida, California, and Arizona—
enjoy a warm climate well suited for citrus growth.
b. The biggest citrus-growing states (Florida, California, and Arizona)
c. The biggest citrus-growing states, Florida, California, and Arizona,
Answer: a (2.26a)
1. (Emphasize.)
a. The study abroad committee has invited three applicants (Maxim Moreno, Niko Wang, and Esther Trevino)
to a final interview.
b. The study abroad committee has invited three applicants—Maxim Moreno, Niko Wang, and Esther Trevino
—to a final interview.
c. The study abroad committee has invited three applicants—Maxim Moreno, Niko Wang, and Esther
Trevino, to a final interview.
2.
a. “Why not buy an electric vehicle,” said the consultant, “if you care about the planet?”
b. “Why not buy an electric vehicle, said the consultant, “if you care about the planet?”
c. “Why not buy an electric vehicle, said the consultant, if you care about the planet?”
3.
a. I wondered whether the tax deadline really was May 17 or April 15?
b. I wondered whether the tax deadline really was May 17 or April 15.
c. I wondered, whether the tax deadline really was May 17 or April 15?
4.
a. The three most affordable U.S. cities for young adults: Austin, Salt Lake City, and Durham, beckon with
jobs, ample entertainment, and low rents.
b. The three most affordable U.S. cities for young adults, Austin, Salt Lake City, and Durham, beckon with
c. The three most affordable U.S. cities for young adults—Austin, Salt Lake City, and Durham—beckon with
5.
a. The Jeep Wrangler posted the best-ever first-quarter retail sales (see Appendix A), following the best-ever
fourth-quarter sales in the previous year.
b. The Jeep Wrangler posted the best-ever first-quarter retail sales—see Appendix A—following the best-ever
c. The Jeep Wrangler posted the best-ever first-quarter retail sales, see Appendix A, following the best-ever
6.
a. The word complement means “an enhancement.”
b. The word “complement” means “an enhancement.”
c. c. The word complement means “an enhancement.”
7.
a. Will Ms Melendez attend the Zoom meeting at 3 p.m?
b. Will Ms. Melendez attend the Zoom meeting at 3 p.m.?
c. c. Will Ms. Melendez attend the Zoom meeting at 3 PM?
8.
a. Wow! Our company is considering a four-day work week.
b. Wow, our company is considering a four-day work week.
c. Wow. Our company is considering a four-day work week!
9.
a. Have you read the “Bloomberg” article titled “Rivian Takes On Tesla”?
b. Have you read the Bloomberg article titled “Rivian Takes On Tesla”?
c. Have you read the “Bloomberg” article titled Rivian Takes On Tesla?
10.
a. Ms. Phelps said she had received MS and PhD degrees, didn’t she?
b. Ms. Phelps said she had received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees didn’t she?
c. Ms Phelps said she had received MS and PhD degrees, didn’t she?
EDITING CHALLENGE - 11
Every chapter provides an editing exercise to fine-tune your grammar and mechanics skills. The following meeting
minutes have errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, number form, concise wording, and other writing faults.
Study the guidelines in the Grammar/Mechanics Handbook (Appendix D), including the lists of Confusing Words
and Frequently Misspelled Words.
Your Task. Edit the following by (a) inserting corrections in your textbook or on a photocopy using the
proofreading marks in Appendix C or (b) downloading the message from www.cengage.com and correcting at your
computer.
State of Hawai’i
Business Development and Support Division
Room 15, 250 South Hotel Street, Honolulu
February 11, 2022
Present: Stephanie Mahelona, Scott Saiki, Mazie Moana, Josh Greene, Kai Kahele, and Edward Case
Absent: Ron Kouchi
The meeting was call to order by Chair Kai Kahel at 9:02 a.m. in the morning. Minutes from the January
10th meeting was read and approve.
Old Business
Stephanie Mahelona discussed the cost of the annual awards luncheon that honors outstanding employees.
The ticket price does not cover all the expenses incured. Major expenses include: awards, leis, and
complementary lunches for the judges, VIP guests and volunteers. Business Development and Support
Division can not continue to make up the difference between income from tickets and costs for the
luncheon. Ms. Mahelona reported that it had come to her attention that other agencies relied on members
contributions for their awards’ programs.
MOTION: To send a letter to agency members asking for there contributions to support the annual
awards luncheon. (Mahelonna/Moana). PASSED 6-0.
Reports
Josh Greene reported that the homeland defense committee sponsored a get acquainted meeting in
September. More then eighty people from various agencys attended.
New Business
The chair announced a Planing Meeting to be held in March regarding revising the emergency dismissal
plan. In other New Business, Edward Case recommended that the staff read an article titled Enhancing
Local Government Resources that recently appeared in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held in early Aprl at the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Pearl harbor. The
meeting will include a tour of the Red Hill under ground fuel storage facility.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 am by Kei Kahele.
Respectfully submitted,
COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP
Communication Workshop: Career Skills
Business Etiquette: Managing Gadgets in Meetings
Smartphones and other mobile electronic devices have become indispensable extensions of our professional and
private selves. No wonder then that some businesspeople compulsively eyeball their smartphones and tablets to read
e-mail, search the Internet, and check their social media accounts during meetings. As ubiquitous and helpful as
smartphones may be, however, most professionals dislike disruptions caused by electronic gadgets during face-to-
face and virtual meetings. In one poll of managers, 94 percent felt strongly that it’s never acceptable to check one’s
smartphone during a meeting unless it’s an emergency and the attendee leaves the room. At the same time, the
managers admitted to having broken this rule themselves on occasion.viii A Harris Poll revealed that 49 percent of
employers considered the distractions caused by texting and cell phone use the biggest productivity killers. ix
Career advisors concede that smartphones may be used for legitimate, meeting-related purposes—for example, to
add items to the calendar, look up a relevant statistic, or take notes. However, the experts warn that it’s never okay
to text, check social media feeds, post status updates, or play games.x Executives are trying various tactics to
minimize distractions in meetings. One IT manager made participants stand for the rest of the meeting if their
phones went off. Subsequently he reported improved conversations and greater respect among team members. A
frustrated CEO blew up in a meeting in which most participants were fiddling with their smartphones. He then
banned all phones only to find that meeting participants would arrive wearing smartwatches or bringing laptops,
which were equally distracting.xi How could businesspeople encourage responsible, legitimate smartphone use?
Career Application. Assume that you have been asked to develop a policy discussing the use of mobile electronic
devices in meetings. Your boss can’t decide whether to ask you to develop a short policy or a more rigorous one.
Keep in mind that meeting participants could have legitimate reasons for using mobile electronic devices—for
example, to take notes, look up calendar items, or fact-check a disputed point. How could this conflict between
disruptive and productive uses of mobile devices in meetings be resolved?
Your Task. As an individual or with a team, compose two documents: (a) a short statement that treats employees as
grown-ups who can exercise intelligent judgment and (b) a more complete set of guidelines that spell out exactly
what should and should not be done.
i
Newport, C. (2016). Deep work: Rules for focused work success in a distracted world. New York: Grand
Central Publishing, 52.
ii
Davidson, K. (2016, September 8). Soft skills in short supply? Says one reader: “Give up on the snowflakes.
The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://blogs.wsj.com
iii
Friedman, J. (April 1, 2021). How remote work helped us move past old-school “professionalism.” Fast
Company. Retrieved from https://medium.com
iv
Hollon, J. (2007, November 13). Meeting malaise. Workforce. Retrieved from http://www.workforce.com
v
Zipkin, N. (2018, April 19). Why Elon Musk hates meetings. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from
https://www.entrepreneur.com
vi
Jackson, A. (2017, October 3). Elon Musk has reportedly used a brutal tactic to keep from wasting time in
meetings. Business Insider. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com
vii
Scenario based on Shellenbarger, S. (2017, November 7). Can you keep your meeting to five minutes? The Wall
Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com
viii
Zetlin, M. (2015, ). 8 smart ways to stop people from checking their smartphones during meetings. Inc.
Retrieved from https://www.inc.com
ix
Nauen, R. (2017, June 29). Are smartphones killing productivity in the workplace? CareerBuilder. Retrieved
from https://www.careerbuilder.com
x
Rosenberg McKay, D. (2020, September 17). Rules for using cell phones at work: Etiquette Tips for using your
phone on the job. The Balance Careers. Retrieved from https://www.thebalancecareers.com
xi
Simons, J. (2018, May 16). “I lost it”: The boss who banned phones, and what came next. The Wall Street
Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com

End of Chapter 11

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

End of Chapter 11

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

End of Chapter Activities: Chapter 11: Professionalism, Teamwork, Meetings, and Speaking Skills

End of Chapter Activities

ACTIVITIES AND CASES

11.2 Interpersonal Skills: What Employers Want (L.O. 1)

11.3 Interpersonal Skills: Taking Stock of Personal Strengths (L.O. 1)

11.4 Voice Quality: Sounding Like a Pro (L.O. 2)

Your Task. Record yourself reading a news or business article.

11.5 Constructive Criticism on the Job (L.O. 2)

11.6 Practicing Professional Telephone Skills (L.O. 3)

e. Take a message again.

Answers to this role-play activity will vary.

11.7 Voice Mail: Recording a Professional Greeting (L.O. 3)

11.8 Voice Mail: Leaving a Message Like a Pro (L.O. 3)

11.9 Scheduling a Meeting With a Doodle Poll (L.O. 5)

11.10 Making Meetings Productive (L.O. 5)

11.11 Mastering Meetings That Don’t Suck (L.O. 5)

11.12 Five-Minute Meetings: The Answer to Meeting Bloat? (L.O. 5)

11.13 Virtual Meetings: Keeping the Team Engaged (L.O. 5)

11.14 Virtual Meeting to Clarify an Order (L.O. 5)

11.15 Visiting Your Instructor’s Virtual Office Hours (L.O. 2, 5)

The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 am by Kei Kahele.

You might also like