Rauch Center for Business Communication

By Communication Consultant Grace Kwon (Finance, ’23)

With summer slowly approaching, students are getting ready to take on a new and exciting opportunity—a summer internship. Before starting an internship, it is important to keep in mind certain fundamentals, such as how to develop good communication with colleagues—whether in-person or online. Here are some ways that students can effectively communicate with workplace peers:

1. Communicate kindly and respectfully

Make sure to communicate with your co-workers and manager in a respectful and kind manner. Use a friendly tone when speaking and communicating with others, as this will promote positive relationships. A respectful environment where everyone speaks nicely and kindly will reduce workplace stress and problems, and also improve teamwork.

2. Speak to the individual in-person/face-to-face as much as possible

If your internship is in-person for this upcoming summer, it is recommended to speak with your manager and fellow colleagues face-to-face as much as possible. Typically, meeting with someone in-person and discussing the issues firsthand is more efficient than simply texting or emailing. Additionally, speaking face-to-face with your manager or colleague will allow you to strengthen your relationship with them and gain their trust, which is essential in a workplace environment.

3. Ask for feedback

Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from your fellow peers or boss! By asking for feedback, you can know what you do well, what you struggle with, and what you can improve upon; this will help you grow as a professional in the workplace. Especially when you are first starting off at an internship, it is crucial that you constantly ask about your progress, and view all feedback as an opportunity to grow. If your manager does not directly give you feedback, then you could always ask them directly.

4. Ask questions

Like asking for feedback, don’t be afraid to ask questions! If you are confused on how to complete a certain task, then ask questions on how to correctly complete it, as this is better than incorrectly doing the task without assistance. As an intern, your main duty is to learn through this internship, and one of the ways you will improve yourself in the workplace is to ask the right and relevant questions.

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.

Works Cited:

https://legacycultures.com/importance-of-respect-in-the-workplace-and-how-it-affects-employees/#:~:text=A%20respectful%20environment%20reduces%20workplace,working%20in%20such%20an%20environment.

By Communication Consultant Julia Mancuso (Finance, ’24)

Alita Friedman spoke of her success in the business world combatting a global pandemic at Lehigh’s Women in Business Conference, The Power of You: Creating and Defining Your Path. As Vice President of Community Engagement, I was tasked with working with the Women in Business Executive Board for the implementation of the Conference. The event took place on Mountain Top Building C on Saturday, February 26th from 9:00am-3:00pm. The agenda for the conference included a networking breakfast, panel discussions, workshops, and a keynote address featuring Alita Friedman.

As women in business, this networking event provided the ability for Lehigh students to network with Lehigh alumni in various sectors of the financial services industry. When asked about the event, sophomore Grace Rosevear ‘24 reflected, “This experience provided me the opportunity to network with Lehigh alum and learn more about the various opportunities in each of the companies. The conference made me more motivated to get involved.”  Speaking with other students, freshman Jordana Weiner ‘25 said, “I really enjoyed the opportunity to network with great alumni and start furthering my professional goals.”

This event provided the opportunity for Lehigh students to network with a wide variety of firms. Down the hallways of Building C, conference sponsors lined up and presented students with merchandise in addition to tips and tricks as they navigate the recruiting process. This conference targeted a wide range of students and highlighted the many benefits of seeking opportunities at an early stage of your career. This conference provided Lehigh students with the opportunity to dive deeper into their business interests and network with both Lehigh alumni and business companies.

I personally appreciated how this conference embodied the firm ideals of strong women embracing their education and personal background. Since the speakers at the Conference were women, this provided a foundational base for the core behind Lehigh’s Women in Business group. Tackling a global pandemic in the last two years, the speakers affirmed the courage and strength it takes to combat these challenges, evidencing strong confidence, resilience, and authenticity.

Whether you value solidarity in the midst of a continuing pandemic, or advancing your professional interests, it is never too early to start networking with like-minded professionals. If nerves are holding you back, we invite you to practice pitching yourself with an RCBC Communication Consultant.  We are peer tutors who can meet you wherever you are in your networking journey.

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.

By Communication Consultant Ross Bell (Management Consulting, ’23)

Whether you’re preparing for an interview or attending a networking event, you should be prepared with an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch gives you the opportunity to summarize yourself in the amount of time you would ride an elevator– somewhere between 45 seconds to 1 minute.

Although there isn’t a one-size fits all formula, here are some important tips for you to create the perfect elevator pitch.

1. Include the most important aspects about yourself– catered to the person you are talking to 

First, begin with a grabber. You could use an interesting question or a fact – the goal is to be memorable. Next, mention some of your relevant experiences – these can include on-campus and off-campus extracurriculars or previous work experience, but be sure to tailor the elevator pitch specifically to the job posting or employer. Also use the language from the job posting or company mission and values. Remember that people process structured information better than unstructured information – for example, you might say that there are three key reasons why you are a perfect fit for the internship or job.

After defining your background and skill set, link everything together. How does your background fit the job you are inquiring about? Perhaps a marketing major who has experience with animals could link these interests for a position as an analyst at PetCo. You want to end with a conclusion that is as memorable as the introduction.

2. Make sure you use proper body language

Just as important as your words is your demeanor. First, engage your listener(s) by using your hands while you are speaking– as long as it does not become a distraction. Second, don’t speak too quickly and don’t sound too robotic or rehearsed. You may practice your elevator pitch multiple times before the meeting, but avoid sounding overly rehearsed – think of it as a conversation. You want to memorize the outline of the elevator pitch but not a script so it sounds conversational, and you want your body language to be natural, like when you are talking with a friend. Being confident and speaking naturally is important to leave a great first impression.

Finally, making eye contact with your audience helps you establish trust with your listener(s). This can be more challenging over Zoom. Although it may seem awkward in the beginning, experts recommend looking directly at the camera and avoid reading anything from your computer screen.

3. Have more than only one elevator pitch

For your elevator pitch to be effective, it must be tailored to your audience. You need to cater directly to your listener and what is important to them– whether you’re at a networking event or at an interview. While the structure will stay the same, the work experience and extracurriculars you mention and your “link” to the employer should be tailored directly to your audience. You need to think through this as you prepare for your event.

4. Practice — a lot!

While it is good practice to review your elevator pitch numerous times before presenting, you want to sound natural. Instead of memorizing a script, focus on the structure and key components (introduction/grabber, body, and conclusion). You do not want to seem rehearsed — you want to establish a dialogue between you and your audience.

Looking for somewhere to practice? You can sharpen your communication skills at the Phillip Rauch Center for Business Communication. Send us an email or schedule an appointment with us!

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.

Works Cited:

How to Create an Elevator Pitch With Examples (thebalancecareers.com)

How To Prepare The Perfect Elevator Pitch (forbes.com)

8 Powerful Ways to Improve Your Body Language | Inc.com

By Communication Consultant Ross Bell (Management Consulting, ’23)

As we turn the corner on the coronavirus pandemic, businesses are continuing to evaluate their remote work policy. Facebook now allows all full-time employees to work from home if their jobs permit. JP Morgan Chase required all of its employees back to the office by last July. 

In a recent poll conducted by OnePoll, those 2,000 surveyed were asked to reflect upon their experiences with remote work. Participants were asked about their productivity, work-life balance, and more. Here are some of the key findings:

Nearly 48% of respondents say the company’s policy on remote work is now their number one desired workplace perk. Nearly 72% claim they would not consider working for a company that didn’t offer flexible work-from-home policies. This compares with only about 20% of employees claiming they worked from home before the pandemic. Where we work is now on the negotiating table– companies would be remiss if they fail to consider these new preferences. 

Not only does remote work enable us to feel a greater sense of autonomy, but it also provides a better work-life balance. According to the survey, 71% percent of respondents claim to have a better work-life balance, which they attribute to more flexibility in their work schedules and the ability to take breaks whenever they want. Employees also believe their work is becoming more recognized, according to the survey. Perhaps this is because online communication flattens the hierarchy in organizations. 

Although remote work may be here to stay, there are still some drawbacks. 

The first drawback is technology. 35% of employees did not have the right office equipment and 36% of employees failed to communicate with coworkers effectively, the survey revealed. While this may seem discouraging, numerous companies have invested heavily in remediating these technological issues to accommodate for the new remote-work lifestyle. But unfortunately, these are not the only drawbacks to the shift toward remote work. 

Some respondents also think their career advancement is being jeopardized. Almost 4 in 10 (36%) people believe “it has been a strain to effectively communicate with their leadership about career matters.” Although no further explanation was provided, I suspect this strained communication is the result of missing out on informal communication. Break room and hallway chats are sometimes how employees hear about new career advancement opportunities. 

Fortunately, the survey provides insight on how companies can best implement remote work: the key is to prioritize communication. 

More than half of respondents believe that managers who define expectations make a positive difference in their performance. 52% of employees believe that direct communication — perhaps designated “catch up meetings”– should be more frequent, and will better help employees understand their roles.

As you can tell, remote work is likely here to stay and managers should continue to find new ways to implement it effectively. Working from home provides employees with more autonomy and work-life balance, though it poses some challenges. Strong communication and constant feedback from employees can aid managers in implementing remote work effectively. 

You can sharpen your communication skills at the Phillip Rauch Center for Business Communication. Send us an email or schedule an appointment with us!

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.

Some information in this article comes from the following sources: 

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/12/09/how-the-coronavirus-outbreak-has-and-hasnt-changed-the-way-americans-work/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000368701530048X 

https://www.thebci.org/news/impacts-of-remote-working-and-the-future-of-the-office.html 

https://www.studyfinds.org/employees-remote-work-from-home-forever/