Professional Communications Study Guide Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering basic communication terms, listening skills, presentation styles, workplace skills, leadership, persuasive techniques, and logical fallacies based on the Professional Communications Credit by Exam Study Guide.

Sender

The person who initiates the message.

Message

The information being communicated, such as "We have a new priority project."

Receiver

The person who gets the message.

Feedback

The receiver's response, for example: "Thanks, I'll get started today."

Noise

Anything that interferes with communication, such as slang, distractions, or loud sounds.

Intrapersonal Communication

Talking to yourself or engaging in self-reflection.

Interpersonal Communication

Communication occurring between people.

Mass Media

Communication to a large audience through channels like TV or social media.

Group/Small Group Communication

Communication that takes place in teams or small discussions.

Empathic Listening

Listening to understand feelings, used when someone is upset.

Appreciative Listening

Listening for enjoyment, such as when listening to music or poetry.

Critical Listening

Listening to evaluate a message or an argument.

Deliberative Listening

Listening to make decisions or take action, such as hearing graduation requirements.

Hearing

The passive act of perceiving sound.

Listening

An active process that requires focus and understanding.

Graphs and Charts

Visual aids that are best used for showing numerical relationships.

Impromptu

A delivery style where there is no preparation.

Extemporaneous

A delivery style that is planned but not memorized.

Manuscript

A delivery style where the speech is read word-for-word.

Memorized

A delivery style where the speech is fully remembered and rehearsed.

Accepting Criticism

Being coachable and open-minded toward feedback.

Email Etiquette

Maintaining professionalism with the understanding that company email can become public record.

Resume

A document including education, training, and work experience, excluding personal details like height, weight, religion, or politics.

Intrapersonal Conflict

An internal struggle or conflict in decision-making.

Interpersonal Conflict

Conflict occurring between individuals, such as siblings.

Organizational Conflict

Conflict involving workplace systems or group disputes.

Environmental Conflict

Conflict caused by the surroundings.

Autocratic Leadership

A leadership style where the leader makes decisions alone.

Democratic Leadership

A leadership style where the leader gets input and works with the team.

Laissez-faire

A hands-off leadership approach.

Ethos

An Aristotle appeal based on credibility, such as a celebrity endorsement.

Pathos

An Aristotle appeal based on emotion, such as a sad puppy photo.

Logos

An Aristotle appeal based on logic and facts, such as statistics and data.

Testimonial

A persuasive device where a celebrity says a product is great.

Bandwagon

A persuasive device based on the idea that "Everyone's doing it!"

Emotional Appeal

A persuasive device that touches your heart.

Repetition

A persuasive device involving repeating the same message.

Open-ended Questions

Questions that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no.

Technical Jargon

Specialized language used in specific fields such as medicine or engineering.

Symbol

Anything that represents an idea, such as a flag representing patriotism.

Perception

How an individual interprets or sees things.

Educational Barrier

A communication barrier occurring when language is too complex.

Cultural Barrier

A communication barrier involving the misunderstanding of traditions or norms.

Social Barrier

A communication barrier caused by slang or background differences.

Empathy

The IPOSSESS trait of understanding others' feelings.

Social Skills

The IPOSSESS trait of making connections with others.

Self-Control

The IPOSSESS trait of managing your own emotions.

Self-Awareness

The IPOSSESS trait of recognizing your own actions and feelings.

Hasty Generalization

A reasoning error where one judges everyone based on one instance, such as "One New Yorker was rude, so all must be rude."

Begging the Question

Assuming the truth of the very thing you are trying to prove.

False Analogy

Comparing two things that are not actually alike.

Digital Footprint

The trail of data left online by an individual; should be managed ethically.