Professional Skills: Digital Communication

Overview

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Learn how to navigate emotional expression in digital spaces with confidence. This course equips professionals with actionable strategies to reduce miscommunication and strengthen digital connections. From texts and emails to video conferences and chat platforms, digital communication is part of daily professional life. Yet conveying and interpreting emotion in these spaces can be challenging. This self-paced course, led by Dr. Nicholas Proferes of ASU's School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, explores how to express, decode and manage emotion effectively in digital settings. Learners will explore the foundations of the communication process, examine the unique barriers and biases present in online platforms, and develop skills to overcome miscommunication with empathy and clarity.

Syllabus

Using the communication process

This module delves into the fundamental aspects of the communication process, particularly within digital environments. You will explore the causes and resources that influence effective communication, learn how to apply a structured communication process to your interactions, and practice asking clarifying questions to ensure understanding. This module aims to equip you with the tools to communicate deliberately and avoid common pitfalls in digital exchanges.

Showing emotion in digital ways

In this module, you will learn how to effectively convey and interpret emotions in digital communication. Understanding that digital interactions often lack the non-verbal cues of face-to-face communication, this module provides strategies for preparing messages with appropriate emotion and recognizing emotional nuances in others' digital communications. You will also practice these skills and reflect on how to improve your emotional expression in various digital formats.

Choosing an appropriate medium

Selecting the right communication medium is crucial for effective digital interaction. This module will guide you through the process of choosing the most appropriate medium for your message, considering factors such as audience, purpose, and desired outcome. You will learn to inform your choice of medium based on these considerations, practice making informed decisions, and reflect on the impact of your choices on communication effectiveness.

Responding to digital miscommunications

Digital communication, while efficient, is prone to misinterpretations. This module focuses on strategies for effectively responding to digital miscommunications and confusions. You will learn to identify the causes of such misunderstandings, react constructively to emotional messages and errors, and apply techniques to de-escalate and resolve conflicts. The goal is to equip you with the skills to navigate challenging digital interactions with professionalism and clarity.

Course conclusion

This concluding module encourages you to provide valuable feedback through a survey, which helps in the continuous improvement of our educational offerings. Finally, it marks the completion of your course, acknowledging your dedication to enhancing your digital communication and emotional intelligence skills.