Professional communication is critical for any workplace to function. I am currently part of a team at work (a local grocery store) that is changing things, and all the departments in the store must communicate efficiently and effectively. On Friday, we were all in a meeting, for all of us in the front end of the store (cashiers, head cashiers, and customer service), discussing what to expect with the holidays coming up, what was going to be expected of us, and what events were coming up within the store.  This was important because we have a new person in charge of customer service.  Communicating with him what works and what is a challenge for us is crucial because it gives him an insight into what goes on daily.  It also allows us to hear his ideas, what he plans to put in place, what he already did, and why he made certain decisions.   Having these meetings is crucial because I now know who my new manager is, and I learned about my readers.  When I have to construct an email, I know what will be helpful and persuasive to him.  Learning who my audience is in any email or digital communication can be crucial.  

    Working in customer service is based on effective communication. While most of my job is helping customers have a great store experience, I also need to communicate with management. Most of my communication with them involves digital communications, primarily by email. I also serve as the point person for organizations like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc., when they ask for donations for auctions and charity events.  Adding all the information in an email to the appropriate person in my corporate office to get it approved is an email that must be detailed and to the point.  Again, knowing who my audience is and who I am directing the email to is important because, with context, the charity or nonprofit will not get the donation.

     In the first chapter of our book, Anderson points out how vital the "dynamic interaction between your communication and your readers" is. Knowing who your readers are and being valuable and persuasive in your communications can help change minds in your organizations.

    In our reading for this week, the authors Fletchers and Thornton pointed out that soft skills, which include interpersonal skills, collaboration, business etiquette, initiative, and emotional intelligence, help employees engage positively at work.  This can be applied to my communications with my managers because working with different departments and, more importantly, the customers helps me provide a better workplace for the cashiers below me and my colleagues.

     In the end, in any type of communication, it is essential to know who you are speaking to and how to say it to advance your career.