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Mastering Effective Business Communication Skills

Most business people find the ability to communicate effectively in a variety of formats and to a variety of audiences to be a tremendous asset.  Modes of communication typically encompass writing, reading, speaking and listening, while the target of these efforts might include customers, staff, colleagues, bankers, accountants and more.  Regardless of the specific situations in which they are used, there are a number of general communication skills highlighted in this article from Entrepreneur magazine which can be of great value.  These include:

  • listening deeply:  many of us fail miserably at this!
  • interpreting non-verbal cues:  one study cited in the article estimated that more than half of the meaning contained in face-to-face communications is non-verbal.
  • managing expectations:  being clear about results and timeframes is preferable to promising more than can be delivered.
  • providing productive pushback:  communicating skillfully under pressure can minimize conflicts.
  • being concise:  this helps the time challenges of the entrepreneur as well as those of the audience.
  • confidently stating value and differentiation:   these are essential components of building a brand.
  • knowing your why:  don’t limit the focus of communications to how masterfully something is stated; be sure to know the reason why it’s being communicated and the desired result.

For more details, take a look at the full article or at some of the business communication resources at the Naperville Public Library.

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Simply Said : Communicating Better at Work and Beyond
(Sullivan, Jay)
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Key Phrases for Powerful Communications
(Neal, James E.)
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The Storyteller's Secret : From TED Speakers to Business Legends 
(Carmine Gallo)
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The Commnuication Clinic: 99 proven cures for the most common business mistakes 
(Barbara Pachter and Denise Cowie)
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Communication Essentials for Dummies 
(Elizabeth Kuhnke)
Posted: 
Monday, March 13, 2017 - 13:30

Career Guidance at the Library

Students of all levels who are exploring careers, first time job seekers, and experienced employees contemplating switching jobs or a second career—all will find the information resources they need with Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center, one of Naperville Public Library’s online resources.

This comprehensive career research resource is organized into three main sections.

  • Industries and Careers: Covers 94 different industries and career fields and thousands of professions with detailed profiles.
  • Plan Your Education: Helps students find schools that are the best fit, including undergraduate, graduate, vocational or technical schools in the U.S. and Canada. An advanced search option allows you to filter your list by location, tuition, areas of study, campus housing and other characteristics. An extensive collection of financial aid directories is offered. College data is provided by Peterson’s.
  • Launch Your Career: Provides expert advice on writing resumes and cover letters, interviewing skills, finding apprenticeships and internships, business etiquette and other workplace skills. Various resume and cover letter templates are available for download. There are links to live job and internship postings through a partnership with the job aggregator indeed.com.

Convenient listings make it easy to zero in on the fastest-growing, highest-paying, and most in-demand jobs. There is a career advice blog with an archive of over 2,000 posts, with up-to-date content on networking, managing your online presence, and using social media in your job search. Additional features include a career interest assessment, a video library of interviews with professionals working in various fields, and a list of tips for graduates on “soft skills” provided by career expert Sue Morem.

Ferguson’s presents in-depth information in a straightforward manner. You can browse or take advantage of the site’s basic or advanced search options. Articles can be printed, emailed or saved to a folder (with a personal account). All videos are mobile friendly. Explore this comprehensive resource.

Posted: 
Monday, February 20, 2017 - 09:30

Find New Customers and Grow Your Business

One of the many online resources available at Naperville Public Library is called AtoZ databases. This resource offers access to a directory of businesses and of residences in the United States. With a little bit of experience, it is relatively simple to navigate this powerful source of data.

Now there is a very simple way to get that experience. AtoZ databases runs live training webinars on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. CST or 2:30 p.m. CST.

The Friday webinar is all about finding new customers and growing a business. Interested entrepreneurs can log into the AtoZ University website at www.atozdatabases.com/atozu to register for the webinar. For more information customers may also call 877-428-0101 or email to contactus@atozdatases.com.

Posted: 
Monday, January 30, 2017 - 10:45
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