DV104

What images come to mind when you think of the term professional? Do you picture an executive in a fancy suit strutting into a boardroom? Or, perhaps you envision a supervisor walking among cubicles and issuing orders to employees. While it is true that professionalism encompasses how we present ourselves outwardly, the meaning of the term goes far beyond appearances. Professionalism also encompasses inward characteristics and attitudes that affect how others in the workplace perceive us. The professional world can be full of challenging situations, including conflicting personalities, miscommunication, and cultural differences. In this course, you will learn about typical workplace etiquette protocols, communication standards, and cultural awareness strategies in order to navigate these common obstacles as smoothly as possible.

By this point in the Professional Development Program, you have started the process of honing your professional image by producing a tailored résumé and cultivating important interviewing skills. This course will guide you through additional strategies for establishing and maintaining your professional image in the workplace. Whether you are working on a construction site or in a medical facility, practicing professional etiquette will help ensure that your occupational environment is a positive and productive one. You will focus on integrating internal attitudes with external behaviors so that your personal attributes work together to enhance your professional image.

You will begin this course with an introduction to professional manners and common courtesy. Then, you will learn how to communicate effectively and courteously via common workplace communication modes - verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and virtual communication - paying particular attention to how technology affects these forms of workplace communication. In the last unit of this course, you will investigate the topic of workplace diversity in order to gain an awareness of differences and how to respond to and respect them.