DECA Business Admin Core

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Empathy

[Emotional Intelligence] The ability to understand others’ feelings and perspectives. Example: A manager listens carefully to an employee’s personal issue.

Self-awareness

[Emotional Intelligence] Recognizing one’s emotions and their effect on others. Example: Knowing when stress affects your tone with coworkers.

Self-control

[Emotional Intelligence] Managing emotions in stressful situations. Example: Staying calm when a customer complains.

Adaptability

[Emotional Intelligence] Adjusting to new conditions or challenges. Example: A business changes its marketing when demand shifts.

Teamwork

[Emotional Intelligence] Working cooperatively with others to reach goals. Example: Staff collaborate on a new store layout.

Conflict resolution

[Emotional Intelligence] Addressing disagreements to reach a solution. Example: Mediating a dispute between two employees.

Motivation

[Emotional Intelligence] The drive to achieve goals and improve performance. Example: Employees striving to hit sales targets.

Leadership

[Emotional Intelligence] Guiding and inspiring others to accomplish tasks. Example: A supervisor encourages staff during a busy season.

Integrity

[Emotional Intelligence] Adhering to strong moral principles and honesty. Example: Reporting a mistake to your manager immediately.

Trustworthiness

[Emotional Intelligence] Being dependable and honest in actions. Example: Keeping client information confidential.

Respect

[Emotional Intelligence] Valuing others' opinions and rights. Example: Listening without interrupting in meetings.

Responsibility

[Emotional Intelligence] Being accountable for one’s actions. Example: Admitting when you miss a deadline.

Initiative

[Emotional Intelligence] Taking action without being told. Example: Creating a new process to save time.

Cultural awareness

[Emotional Intelligence] Understanding and respecting diverse backgrounds. Example: Adapting advertising to suit local customs.

Work ethic

[Emotional Intelligence] Commitment to doing one’s best and staying reliable. Example: Arriving on time and meeting goals consistently.

Patience

[Emotional Intelligence] Remaining calm while dealing with delays or difficulties. Example: Assisting a confused customer politely.

Accountability

[Emotional Intelligence] Accepting responsibility for outcomes. Example: A project leader admits errors and fixes them.

Emotional resilience

[Emotional Intelligence] The ability to recover from setbacks. Example: Staying positive after a failed sales pitch.

Positive attitude

[Emotional Intelligence] Maintaining optimism even under stress. Example: Smiling through a busy shift.

Interpersonal skills

[Emotional Intelligence] Skills that help people interact effectively. Example: Using active listening to build rapport.

Honesty

[Emotional Intelligence] Being truthful in communication and actions. Example: Informing a customer when a product is delayed.

Dependability

[Emotional Intelligence] Following through on commitments consistently. Example: Always completing assigned work on time.

Self-confidence

[Emotional Intelligence] Believing in your abilities and decisions. Example: Presenting an idea assertively to management.

Flexibility

[Emotional Intelligence] Adjusting to changes or new directions easily. Example: Changing shifts to support a teammate.

Ethical behavior

[Emotional Intelligence] Acting with integrity and fairness. Example: Refusing to mislead a customer about product quality.

Listening skills

[Emotional Intelligence] Paying attention and understanding others when they speak. Example: Repeating back key points to confirm understanding.

Courtesy

[Emotional Intelligence] Politeness and good manners in professional settings. Example: Greeting every customer warmly.

Diversity awareness

"[Emotional Intelligence] Appreciating differences in culture

Empowerment

[Emotional Intelligence] Giving others the confidence or authority to make decisions. Example: Allowing employees to resolve customer issues directly.

Team spirit

[Emotional Intelligence] Supporting and valuing team success over personal gain. Example: Helping coworkers complete a big order.

Recognition

[Emotional Intelligence] Acknowledging others' achievements. Example: Congratulating a teammate on meeting their quota.

Delegation

[Emotional Intelligence] Assigning responsibilities to others effectively. Example: A leader entrusts a project to a reliable employee.

Body language

[Emotional Intelligence] Nonverbal cues that show attitude or emotion. Example: Nodding to show agreement during a presentation.

Feedback

[Emotional Intelligence] Constructive information shared to improve performance. Example: A manager praises good work but suggests improvements.

Empowerment

[Emotional Intelligence] Giving others autonomy to make decisions. Example: Allowing staff to issue refunds without manager approval.

Social awareness

[Emotional Intelligence] Understanding social dynamics and group needs. Example: Adjusting tone based on team mood.

Stress management

[Emotional Intelligence] Handling pressure productively without burnout. Example: Taking short breaks during long shifts.

Professionalism

[Emotional Intelligence] Behaving appropriately in workplace settings. Example: Dressing neatly and meeting deadlines.

Transparency

[Emotional Intelligence] Openly sharing relevant information. Example: Explaining policy changes to all employees.

Encouragement

[Emotional Intelligence] Inspiring confidence and motivation in others. Example: Cheering a coworker before a presentation.

Diplomacy

[Emotional Intelligence] Handling sensitive matters tactfully. Example: Mediating a disagreement without taking sides.

Confidence

[Emotional Intelligence] Trusting in your own judgment and skills. Example: Pitching an idea to executives assertively.

Kindness

[Emotional Intelligence] Treating others with compassion and care. Example: Offering help to an overwhelmed coworker.

Tolerance

[Emotional Intelligence] Accepting differing views or behaviors. Example: Listening respectfully to differing cultural perspectives.

Generosity

"[Emotional Intelligence] Willingness to share time

Open-mindedness

[Emotional Intelligence] Being willing to consider new ideas. Example: Accepting constructive criticism gracefully.

Respect for authority

[Emotional Intelligence] Recognizing and following leadership directives appropriately. Example: Accepting supervisor feedback without argument.

Supportiveness

[Emotional Intelligence] Offering help or encouragement to others. Example: Assisting a teammate with a challenging task.

Time management

[Emotional Intelligence] Prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines effectively. Example: Using a planner to stay organized.

Active listening

[Communications] Fully concentrating and responding to the speaker to ensure understanding. Example: A manager repeats a customer’s concern to confirm it was heard correctly.

Verbal communication

[Communications] Sharing information through spoken words. Example: Giving directions to a team during a meeting.

Nonverbal communication

"[Communications] Conveying messages using gestures

Written communication

[Communications] Exchanging information using written words. Example: Sending a professional email to confirm meeting details.

Feedback

[Communications] Information given about performance or behavior to guide improvement. Example: A teacher praises effort but suggests clarity.

Barriers to communication

[Communications] Obstacles that prevent clear understanding. Example: Background noise in a call makes instructions unclear.

Communication channel

"[Communications] The method used to convey a message. Example: Email

Upward communication

[Communications] Information moving from employees to management. Example: Submitting a progress report to a supervisor.

Downward communication

[Communications] Messages from management to employees. Example: A manager sends out new safety procedures.

Horizontal communication

[Communications] Information shared among employees at the same level. Example: Two sales reps discuss a client order.

Formal communication

[Communications] Structured exchange following company hierarchy or rules. Example: Written reports to upper management.

Informal communication

[Communications] Casual or spontaneous exchange of information. Example: Discussing ideas at lunch with coworkers.

Persuasive communication

[Communications] Influencing others to accept an idea or take action. Example: A salesperson explaining product benefits to close a deal.

Presentation skills

[Communications] Ability to effectively deliver information to an audience. Example: Using visuals and clear speech during a pitch.

Tone of voice

[Communications] The emotion or attitude conveyed by how something is said. Example: Speaking calmly to de-escalate a conflict.

Listening skills

[Communications] Ability to accurately receive and interpret messages. Example: Nodding to show engagement during a client call.

Clarity

"[Communications] Expressing ideas clearly and concisely. Example: Using short

Professional language

"[Communications] Using respectful

Body language

[Communications] Nonverbal cues that show confidence or openness. Example: Maintaining eye contact in an interview.

Eye contact

[Communications] Looking at the person you’re speaking with to show attention. Example: Maintaining focus during a presentation.

Memo

[Communications] A brief internal written message for employees. Example: Sending a memo to announce a new policy.

Email etiquette

[Communications] Professional standards for writing and sending emails. Example: Using clear subject lines and proofreading before sending.

Phone etiquette

[Communications] Using proper manners and tone during phone conversations. Example: Answering with a polite greeting.

Business letter

[Communications] A formal written message used in professional settings. Example: Writing to request a partnership.

Report

[Communications] A document summarizing information for decision-making. Example: Submitting monthly sales results.

Conflict communication

[Communications] Discussing disagreements productively. Example: Remaining calm while addressing issues with a coworker.

Communication process

[Communications] The steps involved in sending and receiving messages. Example: Sender → Message → Receiver → Feedback.

Audience analysis

[Communications] Understanding the listeners to tailor the message. Example: Simplifying jargon for non-expert clients.

Persuasion

[Communications] Convincing others to accept your viewpoint. Example: Explaining ROI to persuade investors.

Message encoding

[Communications] Turning thoughts into communicable symbols or words. Example: Choosing words carefully for clarity.

Message decoding

[Communications] Interpreting the meaning of a message. Example: Understanding a supervisor’s tone as urgency.

Communication noise

[Communications] Any interference that distorts a message. Example: Mishearing instructions over a bad phone line.

Empathetic listening

[Communications] Listening to understand the speaker’s feelings. Example: A manager comforts a frustrated employee.

Jargon

[Communications] Specialized language used by a specific group. Example: Using marketing terms like 'CTR' or 'conversion rate.'

Paraphrasing

"[Communications] Restating someone’s message in your own words. Example: 'So you’re saying we need to change suppliers

Open-ended question

[Communications] A question that encourages discussion rather than yes/no answers. Example: 'How do you think we can improve sales?'

Tone

[Communications] The overall attitude or mood expressed through communication. Example: Using an upbeat tone to motivate staff.

Visual aids

[Communications] Tools that enhance understanding in presentations. Example: Using charts and slides to explain data.

Conciseness

"[Communications] Expressing information clearly using few words. Example: Writing short

Transparency

[Communications] Sharing information openly and honestly. Example: Informing employees about changes in company policy.

Profit

"[Financial Analysis] The financial gain remaining after all expenses are subtracted from revenue. Example: Earning $500 after paying $1

Revenue

"[Financial Analysis] The total income from sales before expenses. Example: A store earns $10

Expenses

"[Financial Analysis] The costs of operating a business. Example: Rent

Net income

"[Financial Analysis] The profit after all expenses

Gross profit

[Financial Analysis] Revenue minus the cost of goods sold. Example: Selling a shirt for $20 that cost $10 to make yields $10 gross profit.

Break-even point

[Financial Analysis] The level of sales where total revenue equals total costs. Example: A café must sell 400 coffees to cover monthly expenses.

ROI (Return on Investment)

"[Financial Analysis] A measure of profitability comparing gain from investment to its cost. Example: Spending $1

Budget

"[Financial Analysis] A financial plan for expected income and expenses. Example: Setting aside $2

Fixed cost

[Financial Analysis] Costs that remain the same regardless of output. Example: Monthly rent or insurance payments.

Variable cost

[Financial Analysis] Costs that change with production or sales. Example: Raw materials or hourly wages.

Interest

"[Financial Analysis] The cost of borrowing money