Effective Communication Skills

Dr. Kul Bhushan Kumar and Prof. R.S. Salaria

Copyright © Khanna Book Publishing Co. (P) Ltd.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser and without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above mentioned publisher of this book. ISBN: 978-93-82609-94-0

Edition: 2018

Published by:

KHANNA BOOK PUBLISHING CO. (P) LTD. 4C/4344, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110 002 Phone: 011-23244447-48 Mobile: +91-9910909320

E-mail: contact@khannabooks.com Laser Typeset by: Book One Graphics, New Delhi Printed in India by: India Book Printers & Binders, Delhi

Dedication

To my father in Heaven, my dearest mother, dear brother Sat Pal

Singh, my family members, my children Shivangi and Harshit

Raghav, my beloved wife Vandana, my students and all my

teachers who taught me the intricacies of English.

Prof. R. S. Salaria’s Slogan for Fellow Citizens

India . . .

. . . is a Great Country

AND

Indians . . .

. . . are Outstanding.

Preface

Globalization has brought in numerous opportunities for the teeming millions, with more

focus on the students´ overall capability apart from academic competence. Many students,

particularly those from non-English medium schools, find that they are not preferred due

to their inadequacy of communication skills and soft skills, despite possessing sound

knowledge in their subject area along with technical capability. Keeping in view their pre-

employment needs and career requirements, the book helps such executives and readers to

change their traditional mindsets from controlling to creativity; to employee empowerment

and organizational learning; to gain skills in the language which has become the

International lingua franca, a language of global economy. The book is designed and tailor

made for such job seekers. Almost all the chapters are full of gems and rubies, but the

chapters based on résumé writing, group discussion, conducting meetings, interview skills,

grammar, phonetics and phonology, etc., are the black pearls in the treasure trove. All the

chapters are dainty, detectable and delightful as part and parcel of your reading, writing,

and speaking skills.

The subject of ‘Communication Skills’ is of prime importance for the students of B. Tech.,

M.B.A., B.B.A., B.C.A., and even for those who are preparing for business qualifications.

Considering their syllabus requirements and recent changes in their syllabus, the book is

especially designed for university students who want to use their English for international

communication in professional contexts. I, therefore, hope that students, business

executives as well as general readers will like to browse through the book for its rich

contents.

The impetus to write a book on the subject came into my mind from my engineering and

business students who were looking for a suitable book to enter to their needs.

During my interaction with the students and teachers at various colleges under different

universities (while conducting language workshops), I realized that there is a pressing

demand of a book based on communication skills, containing relevant and selected

material. Prof. R. S. Salaria’s strenuous efforts in getting the syllabus of different

universities and later reviewing the topics and streamlining them opportune me to pen

down a book on communication skills the contents of which may cope up with the

prescribed UG/PG syllabus as well as for the university examinations.

Therefore, the purpose of the book is to empower students with the language and life

skills they need to carryout their career goals. The book provides ample opportunities for

students to build awareness and practice the language in real-life scenarios. Its integrated

skills approach develops the students´ self-confidence to survive and succeed in

professional and social encounters within the English speaking global community.

I am sure that the readers of this book will definitely gain a command with the necessary

exposure on the concerned subject for scoring high in their final examinations.

. . . Dr Kulbhushan Kumar

About the Book

The book in your hand is a modest attempt to discuss the kaleidoscopic nature and

paramount international significance of English Language and of Communication Skills.

The purpose of the book is to familiarize its readers with different aspects and genres of

business communication. So, to solve the purpose, the book has been divided into sixteen

chapters that highlight

1. Introduction to Communication Skills

2. Types of Communication

3. Listening Skills

4. Speaking Skills

5. Reading Skills

6. Writing Skills

7. Oral Presentation Skills

8. Writing Business Letters

9. Reports, Tenders, Business Proposals, Memorandum

10. Résumé Writing

11. Group Discussion

12. Conducting Meetings

13. Telephone Skills

14. Grammar

15. Interview Skills

The purpose of the book is to empower students with the language and life skills they need

to carryout their career goals. The book provides ample opportunities for students to build

awareness and practice the language in real-life scenarios. Its integrated skills approach

develops the students’ self-confidence to survive and succeed in professional and social

encounters within the English speaking global community. Emphasis is on developing the

life skills students' need to deal with situations that they will encounter in the job market.

Therefore, the book provides students with the language and life skills necessary to pursue

business related career goals.

Acknowledgments

Sometimes, certain quotations are true to the fact especially when we are sailing in the

same boat. The quotation which makes the subject of this book appropriate is, “A wearer

knows where the shoe pinches”. Well, few years back I slipped into the shoe of a

communication skills teacher from the language and literature teacher. In the beginning, it

was a tough subject for me to teach. For preparing a single lecture, I had to consult too

many books. Sometimes, even those books could not help me. I was unfamiliar with the

internet and websites. The only option with me was to take help from the senior faculty,

and yes, they were always helpful to me. But such things do not work for long. And then,

there came Prof. R. S. Salaria, to my help, like the first ray of the sun. He optimized me to

write a book on the subject “Communication Skills” that could cover the syllabus of most

of the prominent universities in India. So, first of all, my sincere thanks to Prof. R. S.

Salaria for his valuable guidance and sharing with me his rarest insights.

My special thanks to Dr. D. S. Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor, Uttrakhand University,

Dehradun, for showering his blessings upon me.

I thankfully acknowledge immeasurable debt from the core of my heart for His Holiness

Sh. Baba Iqbal Singh Ji Maharaj, Chancellor, Eternal University, Badu Sahib, (HP), and

Dr. Manmohan Singh Atawal, Vice-Chancellor, Eternal University, Baru Sahib (HP). They

have always been a source of inspiration for me. I expect that they will continue to shower

their blessings in the near future also.

Above all, I am thankful to an erudite scholar as well as a great humanitarian rolled into

one Dr. Lalji Misra, Head, Department of English and Research Studies, Kashi Naresh

Govt. P.G. College, Gyanpur, Sant Ravi Dass Nagar, Bhadhohi (UP). I earned my degree

of Ph.D. under him. I am thankful to his patronising touch of compassion.

Without the loving care and co-operation of my family members, I would not have made

any progress. I, therefore, heart fully acknowledge my father Sh. Bhagwan Dass Rathore,

(who is now no more) and my mother whose continuous blessings and good wishes have

sustained me in bringing the present book to completion. I, owe my thanks to my elder

brother Sh. Vaishno Das Rathore and Bhabi Smt. Rama, (Lansdale, Wolver Hampton,

England), for sending me books prescribed in various foreign universities on the concerned

subject. I express my deep sense of gratitude to the other members of my family, my elder

brothers, Sh. Om Prakash(late), Sh. Satpal Singh, Sh. Satish Kumar, and Bhabies Mrs.

Prem Lata, Mrs. Usha Kiran, Mrs. Anita, my naughty nephews Shivpratap Singh, Randhir

Singh and niece Anjali.

I am equally thankful to my beloved wife Vandana, whose constant inspiration, rational

suggestions, and painstaking efforts inspired and helped me in completing most of the

chapters of this book. I have no words to express her love for me.

I also thank to my kids Shivangi and Harshit whose valuable time I have taken away,

which I owe to them and rather I should have spent and enjoyed with them.

I have no words to express my thanks with an immeasurable debt of gratitude to Mrs.

Kamaljeet, Lecturer in Linguistics, BD Aryan College, Jalandhar Cantt., who had shared

her rarest insights and discussed some ticklish problems at length.

I want to thank the most important people of all—my readers. You are the first reason I

write and I hope you find value and enjoyment in my book.

The Management Guru, Prof. Yogesh Mohan Kaushik who has been dealing with the

target audience of my book very closely for the last thirty years has been a crucial

contributor to various factors of this book, I owe him my gratitude.

Finally, I must thank my publisher, Mr. Deepak Salaria, Managing Director, Salaria

Publishing House for publishing this book.

And, I must say that I am keenly waiting to the reactions of the readers of this book. I

would welcome their any suggestions for improvement in the subsequent editions.

. . . Dr Kulbhushan Kumar

Table of Contents

Preface ..................................................................................................................................................(vi)

About the Book ....................................................................................................................................(viii)

Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................................(ix)

Chapter 1: Introduction to Communication Skills ....................................................... 1-26

Chapter 2: Types of Communication ........................................................................ 27-44

Chapter 3: Listening Skills ....................................................................................... 45-84

Chapter 4: Speaking Skills ..................................................................................... 85-104

Chapter 5: Reading Skills .................................................................................... 105-122

Chapter 6: Writing Skills ..................................................................................... 123-142

Chapter 7: Oral Presentation Skills ...................................................................... 143-156

Chapter 8: Writing Business Letters ..................................................................... 157-196

Chapter 9: Reports, Memos, Orders .................................................................... 197-222

Chapter 10: Resume ............................................................................................ 223-254

Chapter 11: Group Discussion ............................................................................. 255-278

Chapter 12: Conducting Meeting ......................................................................... 279-298

Chapter 13: Telephone Skills ............................................................................... 299-312

Chapter 14: Grammar .......................................................................................... 313-368

Chapter 15: Interview Skills ................................................................................. 369-392