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My name is Gautam Bajaj and i am from Chandausi, a town in Uttar Pradesh. I have done my schooling from Sacred Heart Senior Secondary Convent School, which is an I.C.S.E board school in my hometown. Currently I am pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics from University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun. In my middle teenage years, i developed an interest in healthy eating and fitness has been one of my main interests since my childhood. These two factors resulted in my choice of this course for my Undergraduation.

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This is an era of start-ups, companies, entrepreneurs, businesses, etc. Statistically more than 50,000 start-ups are getting recognised each year, thus creating more than half a million job opportunities. In today's world every company wants to hire the best for themselves and to be the best employee you need to have certain attributes. This is on what the first week was based on i.e. Key attributes that employers want, which included a whole list of attributes along with its importance in the form of percentage with problem-solving skills, collaborative skills and strong work ethic at the top.

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Do You Have the 21st Century Skills Today’s Employers Are Seeking?

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Today’s employers are seeking professionals with 21st century skills that can be applied in many ways. What are these skills and why are they so valuable in the modern workforce? Join us as we dive deeper.

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This week we discussed about the communication cycle and the its components. We also watched a video related to this topic. Through this video we got to learn about  the working of a communication cycle and the importance of its 8 components.

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This self reflection is about analyzing a communication encounter which i had with one of my hostel mates. In this Communication, we both were the communicators and the message was about his thoughts on how we should actually make our careers based on what we really love to do apart from what society or any other person considers as the most suitable one for us. We talked about this as one of our mid or post dinner conversations and after listening to him i realized that we both share the same opinion about it. So i gave him a positive feedback by appreciating him for his thoughts.

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We have often heard this quote that,"Your first impression is your last impression" which is also true to most extent. So this week we focused on how to make a good first impression on someone that you are meeting for the first time.

We also watched a video about 12 things that can ruin your first impression which included a poor handshake, no eye contact, frequent checking of your phone, etc.

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For this week's self reflection i observed a close friend of mine as we were having a normal conversation and i found mostly positives and only a few negatives in him. Starting with the positive ones:-
1. Whatever the topic may be, he always listens to me attentively.
2. He shares his genuine thoughts.
3. He never takes an argument to an ugly level.
About the negative, i would no longer consider it as a negative as he working on it and has actually improved and i.e. making eye contact. Few months ago, he never used to make eye contact while talking or even listening but has now improved and makes frequent eye contacts.

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Body language is an expression of our emotions and non-verbal behavior in a conversation. It is one of the most important parts of our personality and plays a major role in giving out a decent first impression. So, this week was about the importance of a  good body language and how it shapes our personality.

YOUTUBE VIDEO
"YOUR BODY MAY SHAPE WHO YOU ARE " this video by Amy Cuddy defines the role of Body Language in shaping our personality and making us who we are. All our emotions are expressed through our body language for example we smile to show our happiness, we make straight face to show our seriousness, etc.

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Amy Cuddy: Your body language may shape who you are

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(NOTE: Some of the findings presented in this talk have been referenced in an ongoing debate among social scientists about robustness and reproducibility. Read "Criticisms & updates" below for more details as well as Amy Cuddy's response.) Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves.

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As this week's self reflection exercise we had to watch a documentary

''THE SECRETS OF BODY LANGUAGE"

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This week we had a Global Guest Talk with Tracy Irby, Director, Texas Women's University, Center for Women Entrepreneurs.
In the session, she discussed about the ROLE OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN BOTH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFES.

She talked the four types communication:

1.Verbal communication

2.Non-verbal communication

3.Written communication

4.Visual communication

She also discussed about the TOOLS EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN THE WORKPLACE, some of them are
recongize your audience, plan what to say,
be mindful of your Non-verbal communication,speak clearly, etc.

Later on she discussed about the STAR method: The Star interview technique offers a format you can answer a behavioural interview questions like,
Tell me about a time when....
What do you do when...
Have you ever..
Give me an example of..., etc.

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Communication is involved in almost every aspect of life and in today's world, proper communication is a necessity. So to master this art of communication we must be well known of the 6 Communication Truths That Everyone Should know which is a ted-talk session by Antoni Lacinai.

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6 communication truths that everyone should know | Antoni Lacinai | TEDxVasa

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Setting up of some personal goals in a communication can be used to boost our confidence as well to leave a positive effect.So this week we focused on some examples of verbal, non-verbal, oral and written communication goals.

YOUTUBE VIDEO
With the help of this video we learnt about the causes and consequences of miscommunication.
We also learnt how to prevent miscommunication with TRANSACTION MODEL which works on the basis of feedback mechanism.

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How miscommunication happens (and how to avoid it) - Katherine Hampsten

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'Nobody is perfect' this quote applies here also as everyone has some flaws in their communication which they can easily improve. So this week we focused on overcoming communication barriers and turning them into communication skills.

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Celeste Headlee: 10 ways to have a better conversation

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When your job hinges on how well you talk to people, you learn a lot about how to have conversations -- and that most of us don't converse very well. Celeste Headlee has worked as a radio host for decades, and she knows the ingredients of a great conversation: Honesty, brevity, clarity and a healthy amount of listening.

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As this week's self reflection we focused on ways by which we can handle a unpleasant communication:

First of all just listen to the respective speaker.

Don't try to interrupt, avoid this habit of interruption.

Don't be busy on the phone, put the phone aside.

Try to understand them.

Try to keep your opinions to yourself until asked.

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This week we had our second Global Guest Talk session with JERRY SALSBURG, he is a Leadership Coach, Expert Facilitator and Trainer Greater Orlando Organizational Development Network, USA
This session was based on 'How to be a Successful Leader'. We focused on the qualities that one must possess in order to be a successful Leader and the ways to develop them. Some of these qualities are Awareness of other's emotions, ready to take risks, taking responsibility, being confident, etc

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This week we focused on different types communication styles and their impacts on individual's behaviour. There are four types of communication styles:
1. Passive Communication:-  A style in which individuals have developed a pattern of avoiding expressing their opinions or feelings.
2. Aggressive Communication:- A style in which individuals express their feelings and opinions and advocate for their needs in a way that violates the rights of others.
3. Passive-Aggressive Communication:- A style in which individuals appears to be passive but are actually aggressive.
4. Assertive Communication:- It is the most sensible style of communication in which individuals clearly state their opinions and feelings, and firmly advocate for their rights and needs without violating the rights of others.

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QUIZ: What's Your Communication Style? | Glassdoor

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Find out which of the five main communication styles you use, plus what that might mean for your career.

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SELF-REFLECTION EXERCISE

An improved communication style can help in communication issue in following ways:

1. Be calm and soft-spoken.

2. Stay connected to the conversation.

3. Listen to every part of the communication spoken by the speaker.

ACTIVITY
AN online quiz where I got to know about my communication style. I got to know that I am a ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATOR.

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In this session we got to know about LISTENING FOR IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING.

PASSIVE LISTENING: It is a type of listening without asking questions or interrupting the speakers. Usually passive listening occurs in students and it is caused by a dull or boring lecture.

ACTIVE LISTENING: It is the type of listening where it keeps you engage in a conversation with the other individual

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In this session we got to know about LISTENING FOR IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING.

PASSIVE LISTENING: It is a type of listening without asking questions or interrupting the speakers. Usually passive listening occurs in students and it is caused by a dull or boring lecture.

ACTIVE LISTENING: It is the type of listening where it keeps you engage in a conversation with the other individual

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PODCAST- HOW TO BECOME A BETTER LISTENER.

Listening isn't the same thing as hearing, it is an active process and it needs to practiced and refined.

You need to be aware.

You have 2 ears and 1 tongue so that you listen  more and speak less.'

Listening is always neglected in school, they will teach you how to read and write but not how to listen carefully.

BENEFITS OF LISTENING:

1. Listening is always a receiving communication.

2. Increases the ability to make a good decision.

3. Listening for understanding it deepens our relationships and bond with each other.

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This week we learnt about VOICE MODULATION, WORD STRESS and SENTENCE STRESS.
Tips for Voice-Modulation:

1. Articulate every word correctly, to ensure clarity on your part.

2. Adjust volume of your voice.

3. Change your tempo.

4. Show emotions when appropriate.

5. Display confidence and enthuasiasm in your speech.

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Voice Training Exercise | Easy steps to improve the sound of your voice

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This week we got to know about the CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION.

We were given an advertisement to watch first in a subway a Asian man fell asleep on the shoulder of a stranger, but in New York this is quite strange.

then second was when a English man visits a Chinese restaurant, English believe its a slur on your host food, if you don't clear the plate, whereas the Chinese feel you are questioning the generosity if you do this.

Third was of a Golf: In America, if you had a hole in one you are expected to but everyone a drink however if you are in Japan it is a traditional to buy your playing partners a lot of expensive gifts.

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In this event we were given movies to watch which were based on living conversation and I chose THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

Now we were supposed to answer some questions.

1. Your learning takeaways/life lessons?

Answer: At the very beginning of movie Chris's wife leaves him and her son all alone, so in this tough condition where he was jobless he deals with all his son's needs and also loves him a lot, in this way Chris all alone raised his child in such a difficult condition and he never gave up. In this I learnt that whatever never give up and just believe in yourself
2. Can you relate/connect any concepts/topics (discussed in Living Conversation) to the movie?

Answer: Yeah I can relate some topics like The role of body languages in which we learnt that body languages are very important I remembered a scene where Chris(Will Smith) went for a job interview with a improper attire and through his dressing sense the interviewers judged him and disqualified him for the job interview. And the second I remembered that Chris was very good in speaking he had a good speaking skills in this way he communicated very well with people.
3. Your favorite scenes/dialogues?
My favorite dialogue from this movie was ''Don't let anyone stop you from dreaming''.

4. Your quick overview and/or critical remarks.

This movie is about a struggling salesman, Chris Gardner (Will Smith) who blows all of his family's savings on a bunch of Bone density scanners, and then his wife, Linda (Thandic Newton) leaves him all alone with their son only. Now Chris is left to deal with a harrowing year of financial ups and downs. and then time by time Gardner earns money and he is then able to fine a stable home and at the last he was settles and the epilogue reveals that Gardner went on to form his own multimillion dollar brokerage firm.

At the last I would say that you should have a watch to this wonderful movie.