Read and Answer all 10 lesson
Each of these answers should be 50 words or more (not including the question!).
Lesson 1: For this first assignment, you will be answering questions about behaviors that are essential for college success. “The Theory of Halves.” (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. The theory of halves discusses the simple things you can do to “stand out from the crowd.” It is absolutely not a “scientific” theory or completely accurate. The theory’s author wanted to make a point – and so he uses exaggeration as a literary tool. For example, the author states that half of students don’t bother showing up for class. That is not exactly true – although you will find that many college students think they can skip class. These students rarely do well and very few of these students graduate.
As you read the theory of halves, don’t try to take the author literally. Just think about what the author is trying to convey about success in college.
After you’ve read the Theory of Halves, think about this: behavior has nothing to do with how smart you are – but how you behave has a good deal to do with how well you will learn. College is different from secondary school (high school) in that you have more freedom. Freedom is great, of course. But freedom comes with responsibility. You are responsible for yourself. You are responsible for arriving on time, paying attention, staying for the entire class, being prepared etc. EVERYTHING you do is a reflection of who you are. It is a reflection of how mature you are, how polite, well-mannered, and kind you are, and how eager and willing you are to learn.
Fortunately, there are specific behaviors that can improve your chances of being a successful student. Review the links below and then answer the questions below:
Here is a video showcasing some typical, yet problematic, classroom behavior.
This is a quick to read article about How to Behave in a College Classroom
Below is a link to an article from a professor at Loyola Marymount University. It’s very good, but since it is long, you can just “skim” it to identify the important points. Of course, you are also welcome to read it thoroughly!
How to behave and Succeed at University
In 50 to 100 words, answer the following:
1. Do you agree or disagree with the Theory of Halves? Explain why or why not.
2. Which of the College Success behaviors described in the resources provided above are a strength for you? Which ones might pose a challenge for you? Is there anything you can do to change?
Lesson 2: In this lesson, you will gain an understanding of cultural sensitivity and its value to the business environment. Cultural sensitivity refers to being aware that cultural differences and similarities between people exist without assigning them a value (as “good” or “bad,” etc.)
To gain a better understanding of the importance of cultural sensitivity as it relates to business environments, do the following:
1) View this narrated PowerPoint presentation created by CCP Professor Shante Antrom.
2) Read the article, “Why Cultural Sensitivity Should Be A Forethought, Not An Afterthought”
3) Though not required, it is suggested that you view this Ted Talk video
In 50 to 100 words, answer the following:
Why should business leaders and business owners prioritize cultural sensitivity in their workplace? Provide detailed responses, which include information from the article Why Cultural Sensitivity Should Be a Forethought, Not an Afterthought.
How does the company you work for prioritize cultural sensitivity?
Lesson 3: In order to be successful at school and at work, you need to make certain that you are well-rested, eating well, managing your time, and dealing with stress effectively. Do you know someone who is always rushed, always stressed, living off of processed junk food, and not getting enough exercise? Chances are they aren’t practicing good self-care. Self-Care means looking out for yourself and taking care of your body and mind. Self-care is essential to your physical and emotional well-being and to your success at school. We all have bad days, we all feel stressed and rushed at times, and most of us are guilty of an occasional lapse in self-care – like not exercising or staying up too late.
Overall though, you will find that you are more productive and feel better about yourself when you make wise choices about these things.
Below are some videos about self care topics. Choose and watch at least THREE videos that interest you and then answer the questions on the Self-Care Worksheet.
Happiness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPbjK3MmjL0 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Here is an article about Stress Management:
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-management.htm (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Handling a Lousy Week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_X0K4ZrvFQ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Exercise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG7n2QiaMB8 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Diet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knito0z6URE (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Time Management:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM8LgOWeNvg (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Time Management: A short, humorous look at “Good Student” vs “Bad Student.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ0t52Tj3HI (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Why Sleep is Important:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVQlcxiQlzI (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYANFaEGGXQ&feature=youtu.be (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Answer the following in 50 to 100 words:
1. Based upon the material provided here, what are some ways that you already care for yourself?
2. Name something described in the lesson that you would like to start doing to improve your self-care? What are some steps you can take?
Lesson 4: Employers receive lots of job applications and good firms can choose from among many job seekers. So what are these employers looking for? Take a look at the resources below to find out:
What Employers Look For:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2016/03/02/12-qualities-employers-look-for-when-theyre-hiring/#5047b19d2c24 (Links to an external site.)
What employers want:
http://www.americasjobexchange.com/career-advice/what-employers-want (Links to an external site.)
In 50 to 100 words, answer the following:
1. What do you believe your employer would say is your greatest strength? (If you are not yet employed, what would you anticipate a future employer would say?
2. What behavior or trait described in the lesson do you think you could work on that would make you an even better employee?
3. What strategy would you use to improve?
Lesson 5: How to Signal That You are Professional, Ethical and Reliable
Have you ever heard of the concept of “signaling?” Signaling is when your behavior is intended to “signal” something to someone else. Have you ever seen a cat who feels threatened by another animal? The cat’s fur will fluff up and stand on end. The cat signals to the threatening animal “I am big and strong and you don’t want to mess with me!”
In business, you might want to signal certain qualities to your coworkers, clients, and importantly – your supervisors. You will want these people to perceive you positively. Unfortunately, signaling works two ways: certain behaviors can “signal” that you are unprofessional and other behaviors can signal that you are unprofessional or unsophisticated.
Here are some behaviors that likely signal a lack of sophistication:
Wearing clothing that reveals a lot of skin to school or work (midriffs, tank tops, low cut clothing).
Engaging in a loud and/or very personal phone (or in-person) conversation in a hallway, while walking down the street, on a bus, or subway – or anyplace where others who are not in on the conversation can hear you.
Using foul language.
Complaining (especially without proposing a solution).
Blasting music or playing music so loudly while using headphones that others can hear what you are listening to.
Arguing in public.
Not cleaning up after yourself or failing to throw your trash in a garbage or recycling receptacle.
Gossiping.
Failing to tend to hygiene (not having a neat and clean appearance).
Wearing too much cologne, makeup, jewelry, or other accessories.
Flouting the rules by littering or smoking in a no-smoking zone. Tossing cigarette butts on the ground.
Telling off-color jokes or stories. Saying discriminatory things about other people based on race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression.
While only a few of these are strictly forbidden or illegal, every one of these sends a signal to others about sophistication and refinement. It’s likely that you can come up with additional examples of behaviors that you find unflattering in other people – but unless you have been in the position of being able to hire or promote someone, you might not have thought much about how damaging behaviors like these can be.
On the other hand, the following behaviors signal to others that you are professional, sophisticated, and refined:
Keeping private conversations private
Meeting deadlines
Being on-time
Cleaning up after yourself
Dressing appropriately and not letting your clothing “speak” for you
Being kind
Returning phone calls and emails
Speaking and writing using conventional English (i.e. using “going” instead of “gonna.”
Being respectful to people – including service workers (waitstaff, desk clerks, cab drivers) and subordinates
Recognizing and acknowledging the contributions of others (thanking others)
Giving your seat to someone who might need one or helping someone who is elderly, disabled, or struggling in some way
And so, this lesson’s professionalism topic is all about behaviors and etiquette in the workplace, at school – and most anyplace else, really!
While most of the examples above may seem like obvious “no-nos” there are plenty of other, more subtle ways to signal to others that you are a business professional.
You can learn about some of them using the resources below and then complete the assignment.
Professionalism:
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/professionalism.htm
Professional Ethics in the Workplace:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140831053426-77080879-10-golden-rules-to-professional-ethics-in-the-workplace
“Do’s and Don’ts” for the Professional Workplace:
The Do’s and Don’ts in a Professional Workplace
Cell Phone Use in the Workplace:
Cell Phone Etiquette in the Workplace
Article about Cell Phone Use in the Workplace:
If you work in business, it is likely that there will be times when you will need to attend an event that involves having a meal with others. Here is a presentation that covers dining etiquette.
Dining Etiquette Presentation
In 50 to 100 words, answer the following:
1. Did anything here surprise you or do you disagree with any of these work habit and etiquette guidelines? Explain.
2. What work habit or etiquette skill described in the lesson would you like to improve on? What strategy will you use to improve?
Lesson 6: Whether you believe it is fair or not fair, people will judge you based upon your appearance. (Yes – our appearance and attire may be dictated by our ethnicity, religion, or even disability, but for this lesson, I am not talking about those things, since they are typically protected by law.) This lesson is about the things that you can control about your appearance that are not related to anything protected by local, state, or federal law.
At school and in the workplace, people will make decisions, assumptions, and even judgments about you based upon whether you dress in a way that is deemed appropriate or inappropriate. As an extreme example, I’ll say that most people would not think of attending a loved one’s funeral dressed in pajamas. It’s widely understood that doing so would seem odd, out-of-place and even disrespectful. Unfortunately, it’s not always clear to people what is appropriate when they consider their appearance at school or in the workplace. In some instances, the line between what is acceptable and what is not is blurred and unclear. To make things even more confusing, the guidelines about what is acceptable keep changing! For example, folks who were born in the 1950s or earlier might recall a time when even a trip to a department store warranted “dressing up!”
Since most of you are majoring in a business field, this is particularly important. Different fields in business have different expectations about what is acceptable and what is not. Even in the same discipline, two firms might have very different expectations about how its employees should dress.
As a brief bit of advice, you should know that, in general, your appearance should not “upstage” you. (In other words, people should not remember you strictly for your appearance!) In business, your “look” should not be too casual, but it should also not be “overdone” by wearing a myriad of fancy designer labels. Both extremes are likely to make you look silly and have the potential to keep you from achieving your career potential. When “done right,” your clothing should be appropriate without overshadowing you.
For this lesson, I am sharing with you a very detailed PowerPoint presentation concerning appearance and attire in the workplace. The presentation describes generally appropriate business attire ranging from “business formal” to “business casual” for “men” and “women.” Keep in mind that clothing styles and formality continue to change/evolve. Few firms require their workers to wear formal business attire (suits) every day, but still, you should know what constitutes business formal, business ready, business casual, and purely casual dress.
Students who are non-gender conforming should still consider how these guidelines might apply to them to ensure that they are dressed appropriately for business.
Here is the presentation:
Workplace Attire PowerPoint PresentationPreview the documentView in a new window
Note: This presentation does not discuss religious garb. Students who wear religious garb should read this fact sheet from the Equal Employment Opportunity Links to an external site. Commission. Links to an external site.
Here is yet an additional resource regarding dressing for work:
https://www.forbes.com/2010/07/27/office-dress-code-work-clothes-business-suits-forbes-woman-style-what-to-wear-to-work_slide.html
Preparing a Suit for Wearing:
If you buy a new suit but you do not prepare the suit for wearing, then you run the risk of looking a bit odd! Take a look at this so that you know what to do before you walk out the door in your new suit!
In 50 to 100 words, answer the following:
1. Think about the career you hope to have. What do you expect you will wear on a typical day at work? Make sure that your description is specific OR attach a photo of yourself dressed appropriately for your career (or one of a model that you found on the web).
2. Creating a wardrobe for work isn’t easy! Imagine that you need to build your work wardrobe, but you are concerned that the clothes will be expensive, uncomfortable, or difficult to coordinate into attractive outfits. Come up with one strategy that will address one or more of these potential challenges.
Lesson 7: Interview Skills (Including dressing for an “Office Job” interview)
It is likely that there will be many occasions when you interview for a job. The interview is an opportunity for a potential employer to meet you, evaluate your skills, knowledge, and abilities, and determine if you will likely be successful in the job and a “good fit” for the company. That’s a lot to ask for a meeting that can take as little as half an hour! Of course you might be interviewed for longer than that, and some interview processes take place over several meetings – but still – you are being evaluated and judged based upon a people’s perceptions of you over a short amount of time.
Interviewing can be a bit like going out on a “blind date” with someone for the first time. You’ll want to make a good impression. Keep in mind though – the goal of a job interview is to get a job offer. Once you have a job offer, then you can ask probing questions about salary, raises, vacations, flexible work schedules, etc. Some people mistakenly believe that their role as a job candidate is to find out as much as possible about the company WHILE ON THE INTERVIEW. They might ask their interviewer inappropriate questions such as “What are raises like?,” “How much vacation will I get?,” or “Can I work from home?”
While you might need answers to these questions, the interview is not the time or place to ask. You can find out a good deal about a company’s policies and practices by doing some research online or asking a friend who already works there. Even if you can’t find these answers for yourself, the time to ask is AFTER you have been given an offer.
Below are more resources than you need. Look through a few of them and then answer the questions.
Boost your interview IQ
Winning Interview Skills
15 Things You Should NOT Do on an Interview
Interview Mistakes
Interview Skills You Need and How to Improve at Them
I know that we covered business attire and appearance last week, but interview dressing is a bit different. In general, it’s a bit more formal and polished.
Dressing for Success
Dress Codes in the Workplace
For fun, read this: Worst Answers to Interview Questions
Answer the following questions in 50 -100 words:
1. Imagine that you have an interview in two weeks for a position at a firm where you would love to work. Based on the information in this lesson, list at least three steps you will take to prepare for the interview.
2. Which interview skill described in the lesson do you feel least comfortable with? What is a strategy that you can use to make sure that you overcome the challenge before the interview?
Lesson 8: One of the complaints that I hear most often from students is that they do not enjoy “group assignments.” Interestingly, many people enjoy being part of a group or team. In the truest sense of the word all of the following are groups or teams:
group of friends
marching band or orchestra
musical groups
dance groups
family
scouts
church/faith related group
school clubs
volunteer organizations
athletic teams
Still, when teachers tell students that there will be a group assignment, everyone groans!
Quite often, individual students will say that they don’t like to work in teams because they feel that they end up doing the majority of the work. Sometimes, more than one person from the same team will claim to have done most of the team’s work! Other students complain that one person became “bossy,” they didn’t like the task that they were assigned or they felt “left out.” It can seem as though no one is happy.
Still, we live in a social society, and much of work in the “real” work world requires teamwork, group work, and cooperation. Mastering team work can help you to demonstrate your leadership and “team-playership” skills, make friends, and advance your career (Really it can! Employers love people who work well with others!) It can take hard work and understanding – but “group assignments” at school and work really do have the potential to be as rewarding an experience as participating on a winning soccer team.
Here are some resources for you to view before completing this week’s assignment.
http://ugradweb.babson.edu/Data/toolkits/OB/GroupSurvivalGuide/index.html
http://www.jongordon.com/positive-tip-team-member.html
How to be a Great Team Player
Answer the following questions. Your answer should be at least 50 words!
1) Do you enjoy working in groups or do you prefer working alone?
2) Since most career positions will require that you spend some time working with others, which of the skills described in the lesson can you work on to make yourself a better team player?
Lesson 9: Conflict is inevitable and it can even be valuable. Disagreements can lead to greater understanding and may even lead you to change your perspective to a more mature and thoughtful one. But conflict can be difficult and many people mistakenly avoid conflict altogether. Doing so can only exacerbate resentment and hard feelings. Since conflicts will continue to arise, it’s best to have a working strategy that you can turn to so that the conflict can be addressed and resolved – hopefully with as few hard feelings as possible.
Review these resources concerning conflict management:
Managing Conflict at Work:
http://money.howstuffworks.com/business/starting-a-job/10-tips-for-managing-conflict-in-the-workplace.htm/printable (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
In this video, a Psychologist discusses a helpful model for conflict resolution:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSGy5yvC0hM (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDfSYz0PX9g (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Answer the following questions. Be sure to write at least 50 words!
1) Imagine that you are experiencing conflict at your job because a co-worker is often late getting information to you that you need to do your job. Describe you would use the STABEN model described in the video to help resolve the conflict. Be SPECIFIC!
Lesson 10: One of the most important professional relationships that you form will be with your boss. While there is no doubt that some bosses are better than others, you play an important role in the kind of relationship that you and your boss will have. Bosses are human beings; they make mistakes and they have character flaws like everyone else. If you put yourself in the position of your boss, you may find that you are more sympathetic towards them.
Remember, having a poor relationship with your boss can have a negative impact on your career (and your stress and happiness levels!). Having a healthy relationship with your boss can lead to career advancement, a great reference should you seek a new job, and less stress!
Below are some resources that can help you to make the most of the relationship you have with your boss.
http://www.payscale.com/guides/career-success-guide/establish-a-good-relationship-with-your-boss (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/steps-can-build-relationship-manager-19401.html (Links to an external site.)
Answer the following questions. Your answer should be at least 50 words!
1) If you are currently working and you have a boss, how do you think your boss would describe you as an employee?
2) Whether your relationship is good or not, what can you use from the lesson that can help you improve your relationship?
OR
1) If you are not currently working, imagine that you are starting a new job in an office. Come up with three things discussed in the lesson that you could do in the first few weeks to help you build a good relationship with your boss.
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