Question

Select a specific professional skill, practice, or habit that you want to develop and learn, something that will enable you to grow professionally in marketing. Develop a professional development plan to serve as an agreement between individuals focusing on one specific skill, practice, or habit. This can include time management and organization, job search skills, accountability and workplace relationships, communication, conflict management and negotiation, or leadership and teamwork skills.

Answer 1

Communication: Communication skills, in general, are important for any professional. This includes written, verbal, and nonverbal communication. However, one particularly important communication skill in today’s world is email. Almost every profession requires some email correspondence. Professionals need to be able to craft clearly written, concise emails, using the appropriate format and tone for colleagues and employers alike. Other communication skills include:

• Advocating for yourself and your causes
• Asking for help or advice
• Brainstorming
• Building buy-in to an idea
• Business writing
• Dealing with difficult people
• Facilitating
• Handling office politics
• Handshaking
• Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
• Interviewing
• Managing a positive relationship with an employer
• Listening
• Networking
• Persuasion
• Resume writing
• Small talk