UNIT 3. ENGLISH FOR EMPLOYABILITY
Structure
3.0
Objectives
3.1
Introduction
3.2
Style and Techniques for Effective Communication
3.2.1 Style for Effective Communication
3.2.2 Techniques for Effective Communication
3.2.3 Check your Progress
3.3
Description, Narration and Demonstration in English
3.3.1 Description
3.3.2 Narration
3.3.3 Demonstration
3.3.4 Check your Progress
3.4
Unit Summary
3.5
Self-Assessment Questions and Exercises
3.6
Further Reading
3.1 OBJECTIVES
This Unit focuses on communication skills related to employment. It shall help you understand
the different styles of communication in detail. Along with each of their features, you shall
become aware of their pros and cons. You shall learn about various significant tips and
techniques that result in effective communication. You shall also become aware of the
concepts of description, narration and demonstration in English- how these differ from each
other and how these can be helpful in relation to employability.
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3.1 INTRODUCTION
The English language acquires a global status for ages. And in terms of employability, good
communication skills can be a game-changer. English serves as a crucial medium both in
getting employment, that is qualifying the interview, and also performs a special role in
communicating within the organization. The need for communication skills is important in
virtually every career.
But many students and job aspirants in India and worldwide have been found to lack the
necessary communication skills and the confidence required to present themselves in the
English language. Poor communication style has been a major barrier for many young job
aspirants in getting their dream job. While those students with good communication skills can
fluently talk to others and persuade the interviewer with their viewpoints. Most importantly
a confident speaker always commands others’ attention in a few seconds.
Communication is the process of exchanging or sharing knowledge, information, or ideas.
Communication is effective only when the message conveyed is listened to and understood
by the respondent or listener. So, the thought presented is to be done in an effective manner.
Once the sender gets back positive feedback, that it can be actually concluded that the
communication has been effective.
Using or understanding body language and listening carefully are two of the most operative
ways one can involve in an effective communication. Both these factors build a lasting
relationship with the person you are interacting with. These two can be extremely beneficial
in social interactions at jobs – both in securing a job and in building associations at the
workplace. Needless to say, that good communication leaves everyone satisfied since the
message has been understood and perceived in the best possible manner. It lessens the
chances of any kind of miscommunication or remaining conflicting ideas and eventually
renders the task efficient. Good communication allows resolving conflicts in a peaceful
manner without much confusion.
Communication helps in maintaining a motivational surrounding at jobs. One can better
regulate all the tasks meant to be done. It helps in clarification and information regulation.
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Communication simply brings efficiency to all the procedures that otherwise may seem
baffling. Decision-making bodies along with all other managerial bodies function with the help
of communication – they command a course of action, control and check on the workings of
the employees and improve their overall performance collectively. Also, well-communicated
employees are always in a better position than uninformed employees. Such employees
exactly know the right place and time to be in and can easily adjust their workings with the
policies and frameworks. They are also clear as to who should they address their grievances
to. They can also perform well in organizational meetings or seminars and therefore initiate
development. Thus effective communication becomes instrumental in the daily functioning
and growth of organizations.
3.2 STYLES AND TECHNIQUES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Communication happens when all parties are engaged in uncovering and understanding the
meaning behind the words. It is not something that one person can do alone. If a message is
not conveyed effectively, it can cause confusion, misunderstanding, or dissatisfaction. In the
context of business communications, a worst-case scenario can result in significant financial
losses. Effective communication at work is about knowing what style of communication is
suitable in which scenario and knowing your employees and choosing the right message and
channel for transmission. Effective communication strengthens the connections between a
company and all of its stakeholders and benefits businesses in numerous ways.
3.2.1 STYLE FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Each of us has a certain way we like to communicate. And chances are that there are some
people who you prefer working with, simply because you either communicate in a similar way
or complement the way each other work.
Communication style is the way one interacts. It determines how one speaks, acts, and reacts
in different situations. There are five primary communication styles witnessed in most
workplaces: 3
1) Passive communication style
Passive communicators are typically of quiet demeanour with a no attention seeking
attitude. They prefer being in their quiet comfort zone. Some of their tendencies include
apologetic body language, inability to say no, poor posture, fidgeting, no eye contact,
extremely soft spoken and an easy-going attitude.
Such communicators should look for conducive opportunities to try and speak up their
mind and share their ideas. It should be noted that passive speakers are treated with
positivity. Initially they should be given the apace to interact through mails and then
encouraged to improve their verbal communication skills. Once they learn to improve
their body language and mindset, passive speakers have great scope for communicating
effectively
2) Aggressive communication style
Aggressive communicators express opinions and ideas very strongly, often through
overbearing gestures. This style in most situations seems to appear intimidating and
controlling in a job interview but is also a welcome style when considered for leadership
roles. Some of the typical features of aggressive communicators are constantly
interrupting people while they are saying something, invading others’ private spaces,
presenting a bossy posture, using hostile gestures, keeping concentrated eye contact, and
reacting before thinking.
Such communicators should slow down a little and strive to remain calm. Meditative and
stress combating techniques might be of help to them. They should try and keep the
communication professional as far as possible, because indulging in intimate personal
conversations may tickle their aggressive style. Learning more about positive
communication skills can benefit them and allow them to overcome some of their
destructive tendencies. Once the dominating attitude is suppressed, they can be called
effective communicators.
3) Passive-aggressive communication style
Passive-aggressive communicators give the idea of passiveness on the surface but often
keep more aggressive feelings that drive their actions. While their words might sound
affable, their actions don’t always align with what they say. Passive-aggressive
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communicators can gently deploy a situation into one that benefits them. Some passiveaggressive communicators use this approach because they feel powerless or manipulated,
though this isn’t necessarily the case usually. Passive-aggressive communicators may
display attributes like muttering, using sarcasm exhibiting denial, presenting a happy face
when they are clearly upset and giving the silent treatment.
If one has passive-aggressive tendencies, they should look for opportunities to
communicate their thoughts and needs openly. They should keep looking for ways to
pursue clear and honest lines of communication to ensure they feel heard. Once they
begin to feel the positivity around, they can communicate effectively.
4) Assertive communication style
These kinds of communicators prefer to share their thoughts and ideas confidently, but
they’re always respectful and polite. They readily take on challenges but know how to say
“no” when the situation demands stepping back. These individuals recognize their own
limits and protect their space without being overly aggressive or defensive. Assertive
communicators display an impressive attitude of making others feel comfortable in their
presence. One is assured of a free flow of ideas around such communicators. A healthy
and productive discussion is their chief motive. These speakers exhibit features like
expansive gestures, collaborative and sharing tendencies, healthy expression of ideas and
feelings, good posture, a clear voice, and friendly eye contact.
The assertive style of communication is easily considered the most respectful and
productive type of communication in any organization. Such communicators are always
in demand because of their appealing and skilful communication style.
5) Manipulative communication style
Manipulative communicators are calculative in nature. They use deceit and influence to
control the outcome of the conversation and the actions of the people around them, as
well. This style is often characterized as insincere and patronizing. They are known for
using sugar-coated words. While some manipulation could be useful like in a customerfacing role where there is a need to calm down an irritated client, this style will lead to
some clashes within teams or departments if one employee is using it consistently.
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A manipulative communicator should gradually drive their energy into becoming an
assertive communicator. In this way, they can induce positivity through their
communication. A manipulator knows what he/she wants to achieve and has clear goals.
By prioritizing everyone’s needs, not just their own, they can surely achieve better results
without upsetting their colleagues.
These styles focus more on how the speaker communicates information within the
conversation. Each person will have a preferred method of communication, and
endeavouring to use it can help make sure that they are effectively getting their message
across. No matter what their style is, they can adjust it to fit these five types, depending
on the style of the person they are communicating with.
The four most commonly recognized business communication styles are:
1. Analytical style of communication
Analytical communicators sustain on numerical, data, and facts. Lengthy sentences and
emotional tone are of no significance to them. They only understand precise information
and therefore do not entertain any sort of ambiguity. So, when dealing with such
communicators, we should be ready with organized data. Rather than saying “consumer
price has gone really high”, we should say something like “overall consumer price has
increased by 9%.” One can always please them with logic and reasoning. The only problem
they have is their detachment. Their straightforwardness sometimes results in unhealthy
relationships with their co-workers.
2. Intuitive style of communication
Intuitive communicators have the knack of perceiving the broader scope of everything.
They will not ask you for minor details; they will instead intuitively see the big picture.
They can draw conclusions from their insight. Thus, a brief synopsis is enough for them.
They don’t like to be instructed step by step. Just tell them the heart of the matter and
they are good to go. Their involvement in new projects can facilitate out of box ideas and
solutions since they are perceivers. However, the habit of jumping to conclusions without
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bothering about the stepwise detail can cause heavy blunders. It is very much possible
that they will miss out on crucial information.
3. Functional style of communication
These communicators stand in complete contrast to intuitive communicators. They need
to know the nitty-gritty of the project. They like to know all the aspects of the matter they
are dealing with. Functional communicators clearly understand which processes will be of
maximum help to ensure success and therefore their ideas can be trusted. One demerit
of functional communicators is that their detail-oriented minds focus too much on the
process. This may lead to them losing sight of the ultimate goal of the intended project.
4. Personal style of communication
Personal communicators lay deep emphasis on valuable human interaction. They can be
placed just opposite to the analytical communicator on the spectrum of communication
styles. For them, the emotional health, the situation, and the thinking of their co-workers
matter the most. They speak according to their respondent’s mood, thus trying to be a
diplomat communicator. The presence of this type of communicator facilitates cordial
solutions. Since they connect more on a human level, it is better that they are assigned
tasks as per this strength of theirs. The problem around such communicators is that it’s
not possible for everyone to work with them. People, in general, like to work swiftly and
communicate rationally and in these cases, personal style of communication seems to
somewhere fail.
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3.2.2 TECHNIQUES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Some skills and techniques associated with effective communication include: 
Being a good listener
Communication becomes effective only when the listener listens actively. Passive listeners
make communication ineffective. What we need to know is that hearing the physical sounds
does not amount to active listening. Only when you engage with the speaker either verbally
or non-verbally, you are actually a good listener. Secondly, good listening is about
acknowledging what is being said to you. You can acknowledge by nodding or shaking your
head, by repeating what you understood, or by raising doubts/questions. All these cues
amount to active listening.

Using positive body language
Communication is made up of more than just the words we use. Body language shows how
one actually feels during the process of a particular conversation and so it has a huge role in
nonverbal communication. Some of your body language like continuous eye contact,
monitoring the tone of voice, smiling softly, holding your posture tall and proud, etc conveys
positive messages like good humor, compassion, competence, and an action-oriented
attitude. On the other hand, body language like slouching or a crumpled brow or quick eye
movements conveys the opposite. Hence the two types of body language—positive and
negative have the potential to create and break relationships with the listeners, respectively.
When a communicator receives positive body language on these words, it suggests the
communication has been effective.

Taking control of emotions and stress
While speaking it is elemental to keep the mind free of all kinds of disturbing thoughts and
stressful images. To be able to control one’s overbearing emotions and act professional is a
sign of a good communicator. One cannot be overwhelmed by their individual thought
process when he/she is communicating formally or professionally. You need to be emotionally
active and present while communicating. Your emotional enthusiasm should reflect the
words and manner of your speech.
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
Being aware of jargons
Jargon words are supposed to improve communication by simplifying a particular concept.
But jargon serves effective only when all others involved in the conversation are also aware
of the term's meaning and usage. For people who know the jargon and how to use it, it can
help them express definite ideas with clarity. In this way, everyone is on the same page and
are mutually understood. Hence, using jargon is a technique for effective communication. You
don’t need to frame sentences after sentences to explain a single concept. Jargons make the
speech precise and to the point. The meaning of the entire conversation is well expressed
without sounding wordy. It also prevents listeners from getting bored.

Taking responsibility for how you communicate
Understanding the environment and speaking accordingly is the task of a speaker, which if
done responsibly can result in effective communication. You should know where you are
speaking and in whose presence you are speaking. Knowing this allows you to choose your
communication style effectively.

Being truly authentic in your words and actions
For effective communication to take place, one should interact honestly with others. Also,
words and actions should align with each other. Honest words have the power to resonate
with everyone around. Nobody wants to listen to a liar or a manipulator. Truth resonates with
everyone and has the much-needed convincing power required for effective communication.

Having a cool and calm attitude
Possessing a cool demeanor is key to successful communication. A person with a reflection of
angst in their appearance cannot effectively communicate his/her message. An anxious or
aggressive speaker does nothing but hinders the effectiveness of communication. Words flow
like water when a person remains calm while communicating.

Using silence as a tool of communication-
Silence can be used effectively to draw the attention of the listeners. It is used before the
utterance or the word, on which the stress is to be given. Replying too soon can never be a
good communication trait. Hasty replies lead to communication failure rather than saving
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time. It causes even more perplexity thereby preventing you from learning more. If you have
doubts or questions, always wait for ten seconds before you interrupt anyone. It may happen
that the person speaking was already going to address the problem you had in your mind.
Therefore, one should always wait before responding and asking follow-up questions.

Asking questions
The speaker may ask questions to the listeners before he/she starts speaking, in order to draw
their attention. Questions can also be asked to create interest in the topic in the mind of the
listeners or audience. Asking questions can be beneficial in two ways major benefits: first,
they help you find out the answer/information you genuinely wanted, and second, it shows
the other person i.e., the speaker that you are attentive and have an interest in what they
have to say. Questions invariably keep the conversation swift and flowy.

Feedback
Feedback helps the speaker to know whether his communication is taking place effectively or
not. It completes the process of communication. It’s important that we know our listener’s
opinions; only then some sort of growth or development is possible. Of course, feedback can
be both positive and negative. However, good feedback is always mindful. It does not have
an insulting touch. Any sort of criticism should be coated in positivity. Also, before demeaning
someone’s work, you should be doubly sure of the matter you are actually criticizing.
Therefore, feedbacks are really fragile in nature, because most people are sensitive to
disapprovals. It is an essential element of the communication process so it should be practiced
honestly and wisely.

Observation
While communicating, the speaker must observe the body language and responses of the
listeners. And on the basis of these responses, he should communicate. Communication is a
two-sided process and so it is crucial that one observes the listener’s attitude/emotions and
frame their words/tone accordingly.

Empathy
The term ‘empathy’ means participating in someone’s feelings. In the process of
communication, empathy plays an important role. Only when the speaker participates in the
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feelings of the audience, the communication can be deemed effective. The work setting,
particularly is very demanding and crushing. Hence it is deemed necessary that all have and
show empathy to one another. Empathetic conversations build trust among employees and
they are motivated to put more effort and work more.

Using proper tools for communication
Choosing the best channel through which the message reaches the receiver without any
hindrance or interference can be a major source of effective communication. Different kinds
of communication demand different tools. A lengthy message can’t be explained through
emails. One should try to discuss those matters in meetings or seminars. Similarly, a one-line
message can always be transmitted through emails. These days face to face interactions is
constantly being replaced by digital or video conferencing, because of digitalization. Hence
proper tools must be used according to the time, place type, and length of the message to be
communicated.

Build connections
An effective communicator knows his/her audience and shapes the message accordingly.
Sometimes it is necessary that you do more than speak perfectly, in order to communicate
well. You need to go beyond your content and make efforts to who you are talking to, their
background, their likes, and dislikes, and so on. This will enable you to strike a chord with
them even before you have finished speaking and will ultimately bring you closer to your
audience. As you show interest in your conversation partner, you will observe them too
returning the favor.
3.2.3 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS
Q1. Discuss any three key techniques for effective communication according to you.
ANSWER
Few of the tips and techniques that makes us an excellent communicator include:
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a) Destress and calm down- Remaining cool and self-possessed is among the most
appreciated skills we can have. When we are communicating with someone, you
are doing so more for the other person’s benefit than for your own. We already
know what we mean, our thoughts, our ideas, and how we feel about them. The
other person doesn’t have a clue about how we really feel about a given topic until
we share those feelings with them. If the need arises, one should walk away and
take a moment to breathe and recollect oneself during heated conversations.
b) Empathize with others- To empathize, we should make efforts to put ourselves in
the other person’s shoes and try to understand their body language and nonverbal
cues. empathizing makes the conversation easier. If you feel the other person is
stressed or anxious, we can go slow with them by talking softly or by taking enough
pauses. This will let them understand our content and in turn, they too can give us
non-verbal cues. Eventually, they may find comfort and start speaking.
c) Practice active listening- It involves paying attention to the conversation and being
fully engaged in what is being said. Active listeners typically avoid interposing at
all costs, summarize what they have heard, and observe the body language of the
speaker. They wait to ask questions and prefer open-ended questions. They use
nonverbal cues such as nodding, eye contact, and leaning forward towards the
speaker. This facilitates an extra level of understanding. Active listening also builds
rapport among the communicators.
Q2.
Mention
the
differences
between
passive
communication
and
aggressive
communication.
ANSWER
Individuals who use the passive communication style often act indifferently. They prioritize
the need of others often at their own expense. They do not express their own needs and do
not consider standing up for themselves.
A passive communicator displays following characteristics:
 Soft spoken/ quiet
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 Poor eye contact/ looks down or away
 Allows others to take advantage
 Does not express one’s own needs and wants
 Lack of confidence
Examples of phrases that those who use a passive communication style would say or
may believe include:
“It really doesn’t matter that much.”
“I just want to keep the peace”
Through aggressive communication, a person expresses that only their needs, wants and
feelings are supreme or are worth attention. The other person is bullied and their needs are
ignored outrightly.
An aggressive communicator displays following characteristics:
 Easily frustrated and acts grumpy
 Speaks in a loud or dominating way
 Unwilling to compromise or adjust
 Use of criticism and insulting comments
 Often interrupts and does not listen
 Discourteous towards others
Examples of phrases that an aggressive communicator would use include:
“I’m right and you are wrong.”
“I’ll get my way no matter what.”
“It’s all your fault.”
Thus, it is clear that passive communication and aggressive communication stand contrary to
each other. While passive communicators fail to assert for themselves, assertive
communicators try to dominate others.
Q3. What are the typical features of an assertive communicator?
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ANSWER
Assertiveness in communication enables clarity of thought and opinions. An assertive
communicator honestly and directly expresses his/her feelings in a respectful manner giving
equal weightage to the listener as well. But respecting the other person’s views does not
mean compromising with one’s own thought process in any sort. Such communicators make
everyone feel heard but may not necessarily agree with all of them.
Assertive speakers are confident. They decide things on their own terms by considering
everybody’s viewpoints. They have complete faith in their beliefs and ideas and function
accordingly. While negating your opinion they will never sound demeaning. The most
appealing quality of such communicators is their adaptability and their attitude to
compromise. They have the potential to validate others’ feelings too and make them feel that
their needs have been heard. These people are good listeners too. Their problem-solving
attitude is very evident in the way they communicate. Assertive style is a great balance
between the aggressive and passive forms of communication. Assertive communicators
always deal with ease and effectiveness.
Q4. Is feedback necessary for effective communication? Give suitable reasons.
ANSWER
Feedback allows the sender of the message to analyze how effective his words have been. It
is an integral part of the process of communication which decides whether the information
has been decoded by the receiver or not. Feedback initiates the actual response of the
receiver. Communication is effective only after the desired reaction is achieved which comes
in the form of feedbacks. Feedback is considered necessary because it builds a relationship
between the two parties. At workplaces, feedback is a great medium to coordinate several
useful activities and tasks, thereby propelling organizational growth.
Both positive and negative feedback help in communicating effectively. Positive feedback
suggests that the speaker should continue at the same way and pace. It’s a green signal for
the speaker to go on. While a negative or no feedback at all is suggestive of the fact that the
sender needs to improve/change his channel or ways of communication. Therefore every kind
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of feedback allows the sender to understand better what and how things should be
communicated well. Feedback is a great input that the sender can comprehend and use to his
advantage.
Q5. Explain positive and negative body language with examples.
ANSWER
People exhibit positive and negative body language according to the situation they are in.
While positive body language helps in making a positive impression in interview situations,
negative body language is quite repulsive and leads to perplexity.
Positive body posture like the back straight but not rigid, and shoulders relaxed so we don't
look too uptight; aligning our body with the person we are talking to; keep our legs apart a
bit instead of crossed; leaning in a bit, and other postures shows that we really are listening
attentively. Positive arms and hands like keeping our arms relaxed at the sides, show we are
open to what someone else is communicating. Using our hands to gesture when we speak
establishes a kind of credibility with the listener. Keeping good eye contact by looking at the
person in the eye when he or she is conversing and keeping straight eye contact when we
speak, shows that we are interested in the conversation.
Negative body language is either a conscious or unconscious look of desolation, anger,
frustration, uneasiness, impatience, fear, boredom, or lack of confidence. Keeping our body
language in check takes some serious effort. In most instances, we may not even know we
are doing it. Looking around the room is a negative body language. Looking away from the
speaker is a sure sign of disinterestedness. It comes off as though one is scouting the place to
see who else they want to talk to. Lack of eye contact like staring into the empty space or
lowered eyelids is another major negative body language. Evidence from psychology shows
that moderate eye contact communicates confidence, interest, and puts people at ease.
Staring at our phone and not listening are negative body language too. Talking too fast or
blinking rapidly is a sign of nervousness and distrust. Lack of response is a major negative
body language.
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Q6. How does an intuitive communicator function within an organization? Also, mention the
drawbacks of hiring such a communicator.
ANSWER
Intuitive communicators are inherently more casual. They go with a big-picture approach to
convey their ideas. Details are of less importance to them and they prefer out-of-the-box
thinking. Intuitive communicators don’t need to hear things in linear order to understand
concepts and prefer a broad overview instead. Their birds-eye view enables them to
contribute big ideas, quite different from the general point of view. Their creative,
unconventional perspective allows them to come up with bold ideas. This makes them great
for brainstorming sessions or creative meetings. And in this way, they become valuable for
the organization. Their ideas often stand out, thereby enabling the growth of the
organization. They would like to be told about why the particular concept is important and
how it is connected to the ultimate objective, rather than being explained all the details of
the concept.
The disadvantage of hiring such a style of the communicator is that they tend to get annoyed
when people take too long to speak, and then also appear rude in cutting them off. One of
the biggest drawbacks is missing the important point in the process of jumping into
conclusions. Moreover, not all projects demand a bigger outlook; some projects are all about
details. It is here that the intuitive communicators might lose patience as they show little or
no interest in the details. In such kinds of assignments, they can seem unworthy and cause
irreparable damage.
Q7. Asking questions is regarded as an effective technique for good communication. Explain.
ANSWER
Asking the right question harms no one. Questioning is at the heart of effective
communication and information exchange. By using the right questions in a particular
situation, a whole range of communications skills can be upgraded. One can obviously gather
better information and learn more, can build stronger relationships, manage people more
effectively, and help others to learn too.
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Questioning is fundamental to effective communication. It is better when we all ask and are
asked questions when engaged in conversation. One should not deter from asking the right
questions at the right time. Although questions are usually verbal in nature, they can also be
non-verbal. Raising our eyebrows could, for example, could simply “Are you confident about
this?” Our facial expressions can ask all sorts of subtle questions at different times and in
different contexts. While we are asking questions, we indirectly control the entire flow of
conversation. Asking questions can be advantageous when attempting to build affinity and
show empathy or simply getting to know the other person better.
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3.3 DESCRIPTION, NARRATION AND DEMONSTRATION IN ENGLISH
3.3.1 DESCRIPTION
The term ‘description’ in plain words means a statement or a group of sentences that vividly
tells us/gives an account of how something or someone looks like or sounds like. In other
words, description is providing a mental image of something experienced. In the field of
literature, descriptive writing is a style of writing which concentrates on describing a
character, an event, or a place in great detail.
In the business sector, description entails the idea of portraying in words how one can be
useful for the job or why one should be employed. And in order to explain this, an interviewer
should be giving a detailed account of his/her qualifications, achievements, work experience,
shortcomings, and so on. He/she should be able to show their skills and can be beneficial for
the company.
Correspondingly, when you are already hired and you start with a new role, your job
description should distinctively outline what expectations they have from you, and how you
are supposed to contribute to the team. In particular, you can use the key duties and
responsibilities listed in your job description to help you to establish your objectives and goals.
3.3.2 NARRATION
A literal definition of ‘narration’ denotes the use of a written or spoken commentary to
convey a story to an audience. This story generally follows a chronological order i.e., it should
supposedly have a beginning, a middle and an end.
It is a common perception that job interviews are supposed to be absolutely objective in
nature, with little place for emotions. But in a narrative interview, the interviewer is not
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merely looking for straight and rationally appealing answers to their questions, rather they
are expecting a story out of the interviewee. Sometimes it is the subjectivity in the form of
emotions that places you above other participants.
Oftentimes the recruiters are under self-illusion that they are hiring purely based on logic.
However, this rarely happens because human nature comes into play. Feelings have their part
too in the selection process. Emotions too drive the decision-making of the recruiters because
emotions drive how connected we feel towards a particular person. And ultimately it is those
connections that lead us to place someone in either a positive or negative light. One smooth
and quick way to lie on the positive side of the equation is simply by telling a story. One should
land up with a good convincing story on their resume, cover letter, and during their interview.
Research shows how one job candidate’s application gets noticed while another land in the
reject pile. It is surprising but factually sound to perceive those emotions serve as a catalyst
in appealing to the interviewer. It is a much-accepted belief nowadays that with the right
narrative, one can persuade anyone they want to, feel positive about them.
Storytelling is an influential tool when it comes to convincing and persuasion. In an interview
voicing personal views is important but risky at the same time. Science tells us that the
expression of your opinions is often more polarizing, although it is meant to be persuasive.
But if you blend both this objectivity and subjectivity and weave them into an engaging
narrative, quite surprisingly, you can tug at heartstrings. With the right narrative, you can gain
the attention of the recruiters. You can make them feel great, about you. All you have to do
is organize your thoughts into a story that elicits encouraging emotions. The same
straightforward information on your c.v. can be presented in the form of a narration. Once
these facts and information take the shape of a story, things start to sound interesting. The
storytelling technique always works when dexterously applied.
There are a few ways in which storytelling can be weaved into job applications. We often
incessantly make efforts to jam in as many positive attributes and experiences as we can in a
30-minute interview or a two-paragraph email, hoping something shall definitely work in our
favor. As a matter of fact, the opposite seems to be true. No one has the extraordinary
capacity to remember your plus points among thousands of resumes they must have
received.
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What is interesting to know is that the recruiters are looking for more than a plain list of skills
and experiences. They want to hire a candidate who possesses both the technical skills the
position requires along with the soft skills, also known as people skills. Soft skills include
authenticity, strong communication, mindfulness, inclusivity, and the ability to bring new
perspectives to a team. As mentioned earlier, personal touch to your c.v. can do wonders
instead of jamming it with a set number of jargon.
Having a theme in mind and promoting it throughout the job hunt is a sure sort of agenda.
Once the target audience is known, you can picture the one utmost important aspect about
you that you want to be known or remembered for, above everything else.
Before you
interact with a recruiter, hiring manager, or anyone, be prepared to offer a single, simple
theme that should stay with them, according to you. In storytelling, this is called the big idea
and this serves as the foundation of every good narrative. During the job hunt, the theme, or
big idea, should capture precisely what you will bring to an organization, and be woven into
all of your written and verbal communications.
For instance, if you are trying to join a marketing organization, the predominant theme in
your application materials could evoke the fact that you are a person inclined towards
innovation, imagination and growth. Further, every example you cite should point to how you
have used your creativity in the past, to help brands expand their sale and widen their
audience. In case you are fresh out of college candidate with limited or no work experience
at all, then you might as well use all your life experience as a theme. Your lived experience
and perspective- this alone provides you with a great foundation for telling the story of who
you are, what you represent, what you have done, the challenges you have overcome, and
the type of employee you will be if hired. The theme in your narrative is not just there to help
you take control of your story, rather it is an instrument you can use to influence the
perception or remembrance, a recruiter associate with you. Again, all the experiences you
mention on your resume, in your cover letter, and during your interview should directly
subsume into this single idea.
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3.3.3 DEMONSTARTION
Demonstration can be defined as proof or an example of something that you want to say and
establish. When you are searching for a job, demonstrating strong communication skills is
essential. And demonstrating all your skills in an appealing manner is an art. In the cover letter
and interview, you should briefly convey your knowledge of the company, and communicate
information that demonstrates you fit with the company and the advertised position.
You can’t effectively communicate what you have to offer an organization if you don’t
recognize your own capacities, fortes, and weaknesses. In the cover letter and the interview,
prove with examples and results that you have the skills to help business professionals solve
their business problems. Hence knowing oneself and then demonstrating it in a skillful
manner is essential.
Good presenters and writers like to prepare in advance. They rehearse their presentations
and tweak their writing until they feel their messages are clear and compelling. Even if you
are a charmer and have faith in your talent, no one will be enthralled if you demonstrate little
preparation for the interview. For interviews, showing that you are aware of the important
things is imperative. So, predict the questions you could be asked, prepare for them, and
practice answering them. In letters, customize your message for that particular audience.
Time is money and there is no denying it. That’s why business people won’t have patience for
a disorganized and wordy paragraph or a rambling answer with the bombastic word during
an interview. Verbosity is hardly appreciated in such scenarios. It should be taken heed that
providing headings, suitable subheadings, and bullet points in your written correspondence
will help the busy reader easily navigate through your message. In general, make the first
sentence of each paragraph the main point, and then support that point.
3.3.4 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS
Q1. State the chief differences between a description and narration.
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ANSWER
Description is a list of sentences or a detailed account of your qualifications, achievements,
work experience, shortcomings, and so on. In business sector, description entails the idea of
representing in words how one you be useful for the job or why one should be employed.
On the other hand, narration is putting forward the same details, but in a different manner
altogether. Narration means telling a story in such a way that it sounds interesting. When you
answer the questions that is factually true but with a pinch of emotions, it has an appealing
effect. It is through the manner you tell the story that the listener is left impressed or
unimpressed with you.
Hence both description and narration provide the same information but in a different way.
While the description is a straightforward detail, the narration is like a fascinating tale.
Q2. What is meant by narration in business communication?
ANSWER
It is a common perception that job interviews are supposed to be absolutely objective in
nature, with little place for emotions. But in a narrative interview, the interviewer is not
merely looking for straight and rationally appealing answers to their questions, rather they
are expecting a story out of the interviewee. Sometimes it is the subjectivity in the form of
emotions that places you above other participants.
Oftentimes the recruiters are under self-illusion that they are hiring purely based on logic.
However, this rarely happens because human nature comes into play. Feelings have their part
too in the selection process. Emotions too drive the decision-making of the recruiters because
emotions drive how connected we feel towards a particular person. And ultimately it is those
connections that lead us to place someone in either a positive or negative light. One smooth
and quick way to lie on the positive side of the equation is simply by telling a story. One should
land up with a good convincing story on their resume, cover letter, and during their interview.
Research shows how one job candidate’s application gets noticed while another land in the
reject pile. It is surprising but factually sound to perceive those emotions serve as a catalyst
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in appealing to the interviewer. It is a much-accepted belief nowadays that with the right
narrative, one can persuade anyone they want to, feel positive about them.
We often incessantly make efforts to jam in as many positive attributes and experiences as
we can in a 30-minute interview or a two-paragraph email, hoping something shall definitely
work in our favor. As a matter of fact, the opposite seems to be true. No one has the
extraordinary capacity to remember your plus points among thousands of resumes they must
have received.
The recruiters want to hire a candidate who possesses both the technical skills the position
requires along with the soft skills, also known as people skills. Soft skills include authenticity,
strong communication, mindfulness, inclusivity, and the ability to bring new perspectives to
a team. As mentioned earlier, personal touch to your c.v. can do wonders instead of jamming
it with a set number of jargon. Having a theme in mind and promoting it throughout the job
hunt is a sure sort of agenda. Once the target audience is known, you can picture the one
utmost important aspect about you that you want to be known or remembered for, above
everything else.
Q3. Does narration serve as a useful technique in job interviews? Explain from the perspective
of a recruiter.
ANSWER
A recruiter’s mind is often loaded with heaps of information as there are thousands of
applicants applying at a time. In no way is it possible for him to remember them all. Here,
narrative works, as it touches the heart of the recruiter, and not his mind. When someone
tells his/her story, it has the possibility to strike a kind of connection with the recruiter and
therefore the possibility of him remembering it also opens up.
What is interesting to know is that the recruiters are looking for more than a plain list of skills
and experiences. They want to hire a candidate who possesses both the technical skills the
position requires and soft skills, also known as people skills: authenticity, strong
communication, mindfulness, inclusivity, and the ability to bring new perspectives to a team.
Resist the temptation to pepper your resume and cover letters with jargony keywords, and
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instead, be thoughtful about the words you use to convey your voice and tone. A personal
touch to your c.v. can do wonders. Thus, it would be wiser to use your time prioritizing the
information that will be most relevant to them. It is better to present yourself like a real
human with real stories.
Q4. How important is preparing a narrative before going for an interview.
ANSWER
Narrative or storytelling is a powerful means when it comes to convincing and persuading the
interviewer. In an interview, voicing personal views is important but risky at the same time.
Science tells us that expression of your opinions is often more polarizing, although it is meant
to be persuasive. But if you blend the two together and weave them into an engaging
narrative, quite surprisingly, you can attract anyone’s attention and change their opinion.
Increasingly, employers are using artificial intelligence platforms to quickly scan through a
thousand of resumes and make choices based solely on objective criteria (like keywords that
match with the job descriptions). These are important aspects to include in your resume,
which should be tailored according to the specific job you are applying to.
Whether we are a fresh graduate, out of college, or a seasoned industry veteran, many of us
enter the job-hunting process thinking it is best to offer a lengthy, chronological laundry list
of projects and activities we have been a part of. We incessantly make efforts to jam in as
much positive attributes and experience as we can in a 30-minute interview or a twoparagraph email, hoping something shall certainly connect, but what connects is actually the
narrative.
The job candidates have a lot of power. With the right narrative they can gain the attention
of the recruiters. You can make them feel great, about you. All you have to do is shape and
organize your ideas into a story that elicits positive emotions, resulting in a rush of the feelgood hormone, like a dopamine, in your listener’s brain. The same straightforward
information on your c.v. can be presented in the form of a narration. Once these facts and
information take the shape of a story, things start to sound interesting. Storytelling technique
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always works when dexterously applied. Hence it is crucially important to prepare a narrative
beforehand.
Q5. Write a short note on the process of demonstration.
ANSWER
Demonstration requires too
o
o
o
Know yourself
Prepare
Be concise and organized
Be accurate and truthful
3.4 UNIT SUMMARY
In business, much of the time is spent communicating, be that internally by conveying your
business goals, reinforcing your values, discussions and following up with colleagues and
teaching your team, or externally by liaising with third parties, speaking with customers or
marketing your product or service. This communication is only deemed successful when both
the sender and receiver perceive the same information. Without this understanding, a
message can turn into an error by being misinterpreted or poorly delivered.
People with intuitive communication styles are great at cutting out the nonsense and getting
to the point. These people are comfortable with big ideas and don’t let a lack of background
information stall them. Functional communicators are great at managing projects and these
communicators make sure nothing gets missed. Personal communicators build strong
relationships and have a network of people they can call upon. They are excellent at sensing
the aura in a business or meeting because they tune into participants’ emotions. Lastly, talking
about analytical communicators, they leave no stone unturned and you can trust them to get
right under the flesh of a situation. These logical individuals have a firm grasp of facts which
means they’re often experts in their field.
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Whether you want to move up the ladder or get your project across the finish line smoothly,
effective communication is crucial. Communication skills are one of the most important tools
in a professional’s toolbox. Daily business operations typically depend on verbal interactions,
emails, phone calls, or some other form of communication. Effective communication can be
a major factor in receiving a promotion, making a deal with a new client, or pitching an idea
to business executives. Using right channel for delivering your message, listening carefully,
considering your audience, taking feedback regularly, using short familiar words, anticipating
what questions may be asked, using nonverbal cues, etc are a few techniques to be kept in
mind when aiming for effective business communication.
While it is evident that job applications should be a clear description of all your strengths and
achievements, narration and demonstration can be a game changer. Narration lets you be
the director of your own story. It lets you sell the best that you have in fascinating way.
Through demonstration one can effectively present their qualifications or work experience.
3.5 LONG QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWER
1. Mention the different styles of communication. Which of them is best suited in the
workplace and why?
2. State the evident differences between functional and analytical communicators.
3. Write a short note on the characteristics of a manipulative communicator.
4. What role does silence play in communication.
5. How does active listening propel effective communication?
6. Is the functional style of communication beneficial for a company’s growth? Give suitable
reasons for your answer.
7. Analyse the chief features of a personal communicator.
8. Illustrate the differences between description and demonstration with suitable examples.
9. How does the process of narration differ from that of demonstration?
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10. Which of the 3 out of description, narration and demonstration will you prefer in business
communication and why?
11. What is demonstration in communication?
12. How does the concept of description help and impact a job seeker’s c.v.?
3.6 SUGGESTED READINGS
1. Business Communication by K. K. Sinha. Galgotia Publishing Company., New Delhi.
2. Business Communication by C. C. Pattensheti. R. Chand and Company Publishers.,
New Delhi.
3. Essentials of Business Communication by Rajindra Pal and J. S. Korlahalli. Sultan
Chand and Sons., New Delhi.
4. Effective Business Communication by Herta A. Murphy and Charrles E. Peck. Tata
McGraw Hill Publishing Company Limited., New Delhi.
5. Essentials of Business Communication by Pettett and Lesikar. Tata McGraw Hill
Publishing Company Limited., New Delhi.
6. Business Communication by Pettett and Lesikar. Tata McGraw Hill Publishing
Company Limited., New DelHI.
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