Communication

Communication sets the tone of the work environment. An employee’s ability in communication drives the quality of shared information, team effectiveness, and fosters a positive reception to ideas. At UIC using language appropriate to the workplace, communicating to colleagues in a manner that is easy to understand and respectful includes responding to messages and cues and requesting clarity before taking action. Being able to adapt verbal and written communication to the intended audience and encourage dialog arekey to positive communication.

As employees progress in tenure and responsibility, the expectation is the employee will exhibit higher-level skill, knowledge, and ability in communication. Examples of higher-level behaviors indicated for those who may have years of experience in a role, lead a project team, head up a committee, or demonstrate exceptional skill. Employees who consistently exceed the expectations of their role may become a mentor to others.

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Behaviors

Speaks to others in a respectful, easy to understand manner
Responds to verbal and non-verbal cues from others
Demonstrates active listening skills
Listens to seek understanding, rather than to formulate responses
Communicates clear, concise, and complete messages and respectfully checks for understanding
Adapts verbal and written communication for target audience and message
Acknowledges and responds to verbal and written communications in an appropriate and timely manner
Uses accessible language to convey information
Seeks diverse perspectives and insights from others

Higher Level

Provides constructive feedback to others to improve quality of work

Demonstrates ability to engage others in dialogue and helps to problem solve

Encourages open discussions about complex matters

LinkedIn Learning – conduct a search for topics that support your needs; such as ‘written communication’ ‘verbal communication’ ‘public speaking’

  • Business Grammar, Style & Usage. Aspatore Books, Abell, Alicia, (2003).
  • Harvard Business School. Writing for Business. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, (2007).
  • The Gregg Reference Manual. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, William A. Sabin, (2005).
  • The AMA Handbook of Business Writing. Chicago: AMACOM, Kevin Wilson, and Jennifer Wauson, (2010).
  • Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High. McGraw Hill, Kerry Patterson and Joseph Grenny (2011).
  • Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently. Thomas Nelson, Inc., John C Maxwell (2010).

101 Email Etiquette Tips

It is important that whether for business or personal use that you follow the basics of email etiquette. This document covers for you the top tips for email etiquette that everyone needs to be aware of and follow. By doing so you will be a joy to communicate with while being perceived as a caring and intelligent human being.

Purdue Online Writing Lab

Although instant and text/SMS messaging is beginning to supplant email for some groups’ primary means of Internet communication, effective and appropriate email etiquette is still important. This resource will help you to become an effective writer and reader/manager of email.

UE UsingEnglish.com

Resources for English as a second language online. A large collection of English as a Second Language (ESL) tools & resources for students, teachers, learners, and academics, covering the full spectrum of ESL, EFL, ESOL, and EAP subject areas.