Letter to Cousin

Dear Keri,

I hope things are going well for you. It has been a while since we have had a chance to talk. I recently returned to school and am working towards a degree in Communication Studies. As somebody who is Deaf, I imagine you have even deeper insights into the importance of communication, since verbal communication within a hearing world takes more thought and effort on your part.

I am taking a particularly interesting class on technical and professional communication. To better understand the topic, I visited this site: http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-professionalism-in-communication-definition-skills.html. I see you as kind of a spokesperson for Deaf Culture and I know you have found ways to effectively communicate with people within the culture, but have used these platforms to educate hearing people about Deaf Culture and the issues and discrimination you face on a daily basis.

If you had a chance to click on the link, you would find that professional communication encompasses a lot of mediums: it can be face-to-face communication, emails, websites, phone calls, texts, and even graphic art can be facets of professional communication. The purpose of professional communication is to communicate effectively with others in a professional setting.

For professional communication to be effective, it needs to be clear and concise. As you have surely discovered in your YouTube Vlogs, every word counts. Likewise, when sending a written message, usually through email, it is paramount that the writer proofreads the message. Any written communication that is filled with errors will not be taken seriously.

Of course, as someone who is deeply attuned to nonverbal cues, you are very aware that what is not directly communicated is sometimes more important than the words that are written or spoken. In face-to-face communication in a professional setting, it is important that you speak clearly and to the point. When a speaker takes too informal a tone, it can appear that they are seeking approval instead of taking a stance. You might want to visit this website for more reading on informal communication and the danger that can come from that: http://fortune.com/2011/09/22/the-way-you-talk-at-work-like-matters-you-know/.

Similarly, in all written communication, there are aspects of the communication that cause people to come to conclusions, so it is important to take stock in the visual appearance of the correspondence. For instance, when you are posting to a professional blog, it is a good idea to have a professional design and image that supports your message instead of distracts from it. If you are part of a company, it is important that the visual brand is considered on all visual communication.

So, Keri, as you continue to rise as a voice of Deaf Culture, I hope you find some of what I am learning about professional communication to be useful. Good luck!

Your cousin,

Emily Heaton