The document discusses professional communication, noting that it frequently deals with scientific or technological subjects and must meet the information needs of the audience, use specialized vocabulary, have a helpful design, and include illustrations. Workplace writing includes various types of correspondence, manuals, proposals, reports, policies and procedures, job descriptions, performance evaluations, and promotional materials. Professional communication fails when the focus is on what the writer wants to say rather than the needs of the readers or listeners. Ineffective professional communication can waste time, increase expenses, cause missed deadlines, decrease productivity, affect promotions, hurt morale, and damage reputations, while effective professional communication can save time, save money, achieve its purpose, and enhance one's career.

1. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.
Chapter 1
Understanding Professional
Communication
Professional Communication:
Strategies for College and the Workplace
by Dan Jones & Karen Lane

2. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.
Professional Communication . . .
Frequently deals
with scientific or
technological
subjects

3. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.
Professional Communication
must . . .
• meet the information needs of the audience
• work with a specialized vocabulary
• create a helpful design
• provide illustrations whenever appropriate

4. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.
Workplace writing includes. . .
• correspondence (letters, memos, e-mail)
• notes
• manuals (instructions)
• proposals
• reports —Continued—

5. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.
Workplace writing includes. . .
• policies and procedures
• job descriptions
• performance evaluations
• promotional materials
(posters, brochures, flyers)

6. Professional Communication
fails . . .
when writers focus on what they want to
say rather than on what the readers
need to read or on what the listeners
need to hear.

7. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.
A Professional document that
ignores the audience . . .
• is poorly organized
• has inappropriate content
• does not allow readers to picture
themselves in the text
• lacks clarity

8. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.
Ineffective Professional
Communication . . .
• wastes time
• increases expenses
• causes missed deadlines
• decreases productivity
—Continued—

9. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.
Ineffective Professional
Communication . . .
• affects
promotions
• affects morale
• damages
reputations

10. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.
Effective Professional
Communication . . .
• saves time
• saves money
• achieves the
purpose
• enhances your
career