1. Active listening - Fully focusing on what the other person is saying without distraction can help ensure the intended message is understood. 2. Clear communication - Using simple, direct language and checking for understanding reduces chances of miscommunication. 3. Open communication culture - Encouraging open dialogue and feedback promotes transparency which helps address issues before they become barriers.

1. Unit 1:
Communication & Employability Skills.

2. Specific Attributes.
Independence: Some employers are looking for independence because you would to be
very good at getting a piece of work and being independent and getting it done on your
own. They really like when you are one step ahead of them e.g. when your boss comes in
and say now do this and you have it already done. If it is your first day at the job they would
not mind if you ask questions if you are finding it hard just ask and maybe could come and
help you. Also instead of using common sense words they would use harder and longer
words, if you are finding it hard to understand just ask.
Dependability: Some employers will look for dependability because very often employers
who will hope that you can make deadlines on time, come into work on time also he would
like you to who are happy on the job.
Self-Motivation: Some people are said to be self starters which means that they what work
they are doing and the employers really like this but there is times when you think you know
the task in hand but really you did not know what to do and the employers do not like this
when it happens.
Technical Knowledge: This is a necessary skill valued by employers as it shows that you
can use up-to-date technology, most jobs nowadays involve using computer-based work.
Work Attitude: A good work ethic is essential when in the work place, having a good work
attitude can show employers that you are a dedicated employee who can work at an
efficient pace within the work place.

3. General Attributes.
High Standards: Employers seek productive workers with positive to work who stick
with challenges until they meet the highest of standards.
Planning And Organizing: Workplace life requires prioritizing and organizing
information.
Verbal Communication: Clarity of speech, remaining calm and focused, being polite and
etiquette will all aid the process of verbal communication. This article is designed to
help us think about how we and others communicate verbally, the processes involved
and the steps we can take to ensure that verbal or spoken messages are received as
intended.
Organizational Skills: Organization skills are key; it is one of the most crucial skills
within a business workplace the ability to keep a tidy work place and meet deadlines is
extremely valued by an employer
Team Working: Team work is a basic attribute employers look for, the ability to exit
ones comfort zone and meet unfamiliar people is challenging, employers look for team
player because it can increase efficiency and productivity.

4. Personal Attitudes.
Personal Attributes that employers want are:
Adaptability and Flexibility: Openness to new ideas and concepts. They also like
employees who can work independently or as part of a team, changing attitude to work
when required, whether multitasking or adapting working hours.
Positive Attitude And Energy: The last to be picked and promoted are candidates who
show no effort to work. Sad and looks emotional or even to the extent of childish
behavior. The best employees are those who are happy, confident and energetic and
organized behavior.
Leadership: This is mainly needed for supervisors and managers the ability to take
action and command people requires a strong personality, a leadership roll requires
someone to give clear instructions to work force to explain a task with clarity to avoid
confusion, a leader can also motivate and encourage other within the work place to do
there work.
Dependable: An employer needs to be dependable in there work force, someone who
is dependable can always be relied upon to produce results, they’re the kind of person
that can be depended upon to encourage.

5. Principles Of Effective Communication.
When dealing with changes in working practices, procedures or employment issues
which affect employees, employers should be prepared to consult them.
It is also important to consult staff associations, in-house unions or other consultative
committees if such exist.
To be effective, employer-employee communication must meet the following
requirements:
•Support from top management and employees.
• Information to be communicated should be objective, clear and concise.
• Regular and systematical.
•Two-way flow as to allow a free exchange of ideas.

6. General Communication.
Cultural Differences: Understanding cultural differences within the work place can
improve communication, its is important to know what incentives to provide for those
who are culturally different e.g. You cold not reward an individual of the Muslim faith
with a free bottle of wine for good work as it goes against there faith/culture.
Engaging Audience: Engaging an audience requires an individual to have a clear voice
that can be projected to a large audience if giving a presentation, an individual cannot
present with a nervous attitude otherwise it reflects poorly on the presentation.

7. Interpersonal Skills.
Positive Language: Having a positive language can have good detrimental effects
in communication, by being positive both internally and externally colleagues will
not feeling intimidated to ask you or give you clear and consistent information.
Paraphrasing: Paraphrasing is a good way to filter down large chunks of
information, when presenting a presentation it can become dull to explain
extensive amounts of information whereas if it was paraphrased it can be given at
a more efficient pace.
Interpersonal Skills: Interpersonal skills include not only how we communicate
with others, but also our confidence and our ability to listen and understand.
Problem solving, decision making and personal stress management are also
considered interpersonal skills. People with strong interpersonal skills are usually
more successful in both their professional and personal lives. They are perceived
as more calm, confident and charismatic - qualities that are often endearing or
appealing to others. Being more aware of your interpersonal skills can help you
improve and develop them. Skills You Need provides an extensive library of articles
to help you learn about and improve your interpersonal skills.

8. Communication In Writing.
Informal Writing: Having an informal way of writing can be hard to understand
when handing in work, using incorrect grammar, punctuation and spelling can me
it hard for somebody to read as a result cases a break down in communication.
Formal Writing: Having an appropriate style of writing can build effective
communication, using correct grammar; punctuation and spelling can get
information across with clarity therefore makes communication more effective.

9. Communication Barriers
The barriers which prevent effective communication can be a result of
general communication, interpersonal and communication in writing.
Understanding cultural difference can help prevent a break down in
communication it is important to recognise other religions and cultures as
to keep cultural misunderstanding happen which has a result can cause
ineffective communication.
Interpersonal skills such as a negative attitude can have a barrier in both
communication and productivity; negative attitudes can lead to a lack of
enthusiasm the resulting product can have task not being completed.
Informal writing is also a factor with regards to ineffective
communication, as it would take sometime to decipher incorrect English
therefore stalling productivity or possibly doing some thing wrong showing
that incorrect grammar can be ineffective communication.

10. Blogs.
Online diary in which bloggers (people that create online
diaries) post about topics that they enjoy, or things that
are irritating them in there daily life such as homework,
traffic or ignorant people.

11. Wikipedia.
Wikipedia or wiki is a server that allows users to freely create and
edit web pages content using any web browser; such websites
include Wikipedia, which is a resource server that provides editing
capabilities to change information.

12. Vlogs.
Volgs are very similar to blogs however vlogs posts are
created by creating a video of yourself or an event, or
uploading it to the internet and publishing it within a post
on your blog.

13. Podcast.
A multimedia digital file made for downloading to a portable
media player from a designated website or programme such as
iTunes, most radios or television programme offer these on there
website.

14. Video Conference.
A conference between two or more people from different
locations by using social networking sites to transmit audio and
video data.

15. Communication Channel.
A medium through which a message is transmitted to its intended
audience, such as print media or broadcast electronic media.

16. Software
Computer software is a general term that describes computer programs. Related
terms such as software programs, applications, scripts, and instruction sets all fall
under the category of computer software. Therefore, installing new programs or
applications on your computer is synonymous with installing new software on your
computer.

17. Using IT To Aid Communication.
Twitter is a social networking site, first started by all the famous people.
Now all everyone is using twitter following famous people and others they
want to follow twitter is now 1 of the top social networking sites and billions
of people are using it everyday and more are signing up to it every day and
tweeting.

18. Learning Styles.

19. Learning Styles.
• Kinaesthetic: learners sometimes have difficulty sitting still in class and just
listening, instead they would rather do it in a more practical way. For
example if they had to write a script and learn it kinaesthetic learners
wouldn’t write it up they would read it from a book in a practical way. The
more skin and muscles you use, the better you remember. Even small
motions such as swing a leg, drawing, or knitting help you understand ideas
instead of sitting there are research how to do It. Kinaesthetic learners learn
best by hands on activities.

20. Learning Styles.
Visual: Visual learners prefer using images, pictures, colours, and maps to organize
information and communicate with others. Visual learners have a good sense, of
direction, and easily find your way around using maps, and you rarely get lost. For
example when you walk out of an elevator, you instinctively know which way to turn.
You love drawing, scribbling and doodling, especially with colours. You typically have
a good dress sense and colour balance, although sometimes you don’t.

21. Learning Styles.
Auditory: Auditory learners are those who learn best through hearing things. They may struggle to
understand a chapter they've read, but then experience a full understanding as they listen to the teacher
explain it in class. Auditory learners may have a knack for listening to audible signals like changes in tone.
When memorizing a phone number, an auditory learner will say it out loud and then remember how it
sounded to recall it, and then would be able to repeat it would perfect. Some effects to know you are
auditory are: Likes to read to self out loud, Is not afraid to speak in class, in discussions, or to present an
oral report, they are also very good at explaining.
I decided to run a questionnaire to find out whether I was Auditory, Visual or Kinaesthetic and I found out
that I was Kinaesthetic . I do agree with the result as I am someone that does hands on work and not
afraid to get my hands dirty, as I find it easier to keep me interested and concern if I am doing the correct
things. (And it is marked with an asterisk.)
The VARK Questionnaire Results
Your scores were:
Visual: 3
Aural: 3
Read/Write: 5
Kinaesthetic: 6*

22. Explain what mechanisms can reduce the impact of
communication barriers?
Barriers to communication have led to some of the worst accidents in
human history. There are several barriers to good communications and
some of the worst are:
• Distractions in either the visual sense or sense of hearing.
•Physical barriers such as closed doors and large work areas.
•Perceptual boundaries.
•Emotional barriers.
•Language barriers.
•Gender barriers.