Professional Communications

Encoding

the process of turning internal thoughts into a message someone else can receive

Decoding

the process of unpacking a message’s meaning

Proxemics

the study of how people use space

Corporate

pertaining to a large company

Revenue

money coming into the business

Conventions

customs

Gig

short-term contract

Modes

means of communication

Focus group

structured group interview

cognitive biases

preexisting mental frameworks

subjective

based on personal perspective

empathy

the ability to understand and relate to the feelings of another person

preemptive

preventative

Interpersonal conflict

conflict between or among persons

Free market economy

a system in which goods are bought and sold with little government interference

Social styles

ways of interacting with others

Employee morale

employee well-being, collective spirit and job satisfaction

Jargon

specialized technical vocabulary

Resilient

able to bounce back from challenges

Regulate

control

Communication apprehension

fear or anxiety about a communication situation

Mass communication

communication meant for a broad audience

Propaganda

the use of biased information to promote a particular point of view, often with political implications

service-based organization

an organization that focuses on selling intangible “products,” such as creative work or consulting, rather than on extracting natural resources or manufacturing goods

demographics

population statistics

othering

the process of creating inequality by differentiating between people inside and outside a group

culture

the way of life of a certain group

stereotyping

seeing all members of a group as identical

hierarchy

the system by which people are ranked according to their importance

values

the beliefs and principles people hold dear

biases

preformed opinions

cultural perspective

the distinct way that different people view situations or concepts, depending on their background

Microaggressions

statements or actions that express subtle discrimination

Psychological safety

the belief that you’re free to speak up in a group, without being threatened, blamed, or punished

Generic message

a message that’s suitable for a general audience rather than for specific members of the audience

Internal audience

colleagues and supervisors within your organization

External audience

people outside the organization

Personal audience

a person, or group of people, who can be identified by name

Mass audience

a vast group of people who are identified by certain shared characteristics rather than as individuals

impromptu

unplanned

Slide decks

slide presentations

Manual dexterity

skill with your hands

Innate

inborn

Work ethic

belief in the virtue of hard work

Off the cuff

without preparation

Gaffe

embarrassing act

Deliverables

items due

Typography

font choices

Social influence

influence that comes from social interaction, not official authority

Stakeholders

parties with interest invested in a situation

Secondary research

investigation relying on published sources

Primary research

hands-on investigation

Verbalizing

expressing thoughts through words

Succinct

brief and clear

repurpose

reuse in a context different from the original situation

ROI

return on investment

vernacular

everyday speech

copy

text used to market a product or service

Collateral

promotional materials