Q&A Hero

Q: No matter how well you delivered your talk, your post-presentation activities should include a. resolving to improve your performance next time. b. formulating questions to obtain audience feedback. c. comparing the results to your mental imagery. d. letting the audience know that you overcame your anxiety. e. varying your rate of speaking and the pitch of your voice.

Q: When using the phone, what should be relied on to convey confidence and professionalism? A. The ability to multitask while on the phone B. The ability to send links to the audience to support information conveyed while conversing C. The ability to use tone of voice to convey meaning D. The ability to block out distractions E. The ability to keep calls short and to the point

Q: Online presentations may be challenging in what ways? a. Your audience is unable to ask questions. b. You or your participants may encounter technological problems. c. You are unable to share presentation slides. d. Handouts are more difficult to distribute to the audience.

Q: Because of the prevalence of instant messaging and emails, which of the following should be considered when writing a text or email for work? A. Coworkers will understand jargon and acronyms. B. Emoticons will enhance the meaning of your message. C. Messages must be answered immediately. D. Spelling, punctuation and capitalization are important for professionalism. E. Spelling, punctuation and capitalization rules have changed and do not affect how others view your level of professionalism.

Q: In which of the following areas is proper etiquette is less essential? A. Online B. With mobile devices C. In social settings D. In the workplace E. In after work activities not related to the job

Q: After making a presentation, you should a. review the videotape to compare your actual performance with your rehearsal. b. critique all aspects of your performance. c. focus on how you delivered your talk, not on what you said. d. take deep breaths and shake your wrists gently for relaxation. e. turn your slides or transparencies into handouts for distribution to the audience.

Q: When practicing team presentations it is essential that you a. find a large room with good acoustics. b. critique the performance. c. have a full-scale rehearsal with visuals. d. meet at a restaurant.

Q: When communicating with someone using electronic media, and you wish to ask a nonrelated question or introduce a nonrelated issue, what is the best way to introduce the topic? A. Through a new message B. In a new paragraph in the original message C. By highlighting the new topic in color D. By changing the subject line of the email E. By using a clear opening line to indicate change

Q: Voice recognition systems have created new issues for the workplace, including what? A. The expectation that employees will not be late as they have access to directions B. The creation of distraction and annoyance for others C. The expectation that dictated information will be accurate when transferred to text D. The expectation that receivers will be able to respond immediately to any inquiry E. The assumption that everyone else has access to the same technology

Q: If someone from the audience asks a question that you cannot answer, you should a. refer the question to another member of the audience. b. ask a colleague to answer the question for you. c. admit that you don't know and promise to find out. d. switch the focus to another part of your presentation. e. move on to another person's question.

Q: When upset with someone or something at the workplace, the best place to vent your frustrations is where? A. In an anonymous email B. On your Twitter feed C. On the corporate blog D. At home E. At after work social setting

Q: When preparing slides or transparencies, you should not a. use about seven lines of text per visual. b. show no more than 40 characters per line. c. type the text in all capital letters. d. use plenty of white space. e. include no more than three columns of data.

Q: During the question-and-answer period of a presentation, you should not a. refuse to admit you don't know the answer to a question. b. repeat each question so that the entire audience can hear it. c. look at the entire audience while answering questions. d. treat each questioner with courtesy. e. listen carefully to each question.

Q: Which of the following is true about mobile devices in the workplace? A. If using a personally owned device, the employer cannot dictate use. B. If an employer provides a mobile device to an employee, the employee can use it for personal use as well as business use. C. Employers have the right to dictate mobile device usage policies. D. Most employers understand that employees can multitask and simultaneously take care of personal as well as professional issues with a mobile device. E. Most employees understand that taking care of personal issues on a mobile device can be disruptive to the work area, and should practice proper etiquette by stepping into a hallway or other non-work area to conduct personal business.

Q: When conducting a meeting over a meal, which of the following would be the most appropriate topics of conversation? A. Politics B. Wine knowledge C. Family D. Religion E. Use of technology

Q: The goal of using visual aids is to a. immerse the audience in data. b. duplicate illustrations and tables from reports and journals. c. impress the audience with your technological skills. d. express your ideas effectively. e. provide a crutch to guide you through the presentation.

Q: A good way to minimize your anxiety about giving a presentation is to a. tell the audience how nervous you are. b. consider that people will remember how you speak, not what you say. c. avoid eye contact with audience members. d. overprepare by practicing frequently. e. remember that audiences sympathize with and trust a presenter who lacks confidence.

Q: Which of the following is the most respectful use of mobile technology while at work? A. Making personal calls during work hours on your personal cell phone B. Remembering that your phone habits may not be acceptable to others in the workplace C. Texting a response to a phone message during a meeting D. Leaving a meeting to take a call E. When with others, texting a caller to indicate you are not available to talk

Q: One reason not to use visual aids in your presentation is that they a. help the audience understand what you are saying. b. help you persuade your audience. c. bombard the senses. d. make you look professional. e. enhance audience interest.

Q: When conducting a business meeting over a meal, when is the best time to begin the meeting? A. When waiting for drinks B. Before ordering food C. When waiting for food D. During the course of the meal E. After the entrée plates have been removed

Q: Which of the following is not a symptom of stage fright? a. sweaty hands b. rapid, pounding heart beat c. gasping for air d. speaking in a high-pitched voice e. speaking more slowly than usual

Q: The act of assigning a meaning to sounds based on your own values and beliefs is called decoding.

Q: When rehearsing a team presentation, you should a. aim your remarks at the highest-ranking person in the audience. b. refrain from adding to another member's response unless you are mentioning an omission. c. give feedback tactfully and accept it gracefully. d. pay attention to your posture to convey confidence and credibility. e. encourage spontaneity in introductions to build rapport.

Q: When leaving a voice mail, what information is least important for the recipient of the voice mail? A. Reason for calling B. Your name C. Your phone number D. Your email address E. Best time to reach you

Q: If your mind goes blank during a presentation, you should a. keep talking even if you repeat what you've just said. b. apologize for losing your place. c. try to joke your way out of it. d. start from the beginning of the speech. e. turn around or excuse yourself and collect your thoughts.

Q: When focusing on information and not speaking style, the listener is engaging in critical listening.

Q: One of the greatest challenges involved in rehearsing team presentations is a. planning who will do the research and who will deliver each part of the talk. b. how to prepare a presentation template to ensure consistency. c. avoiding nonverbal signs that weaken the case. d. assigning roles too early in the project. e. coordinating introductions and transitions.

Q: In terms of phone use, good etiquette suggests which of the following as being most important? A. Speaking softly so others in the work space are not disturbed B. Don't waste time identifying yourself–it is no longer necessary with caller I.D. C. Allow calls to go to voicemail whenever possible to keep a record of calls D. Identify yourself when answering the phone before asking how you can be of help E. Using voice mail instead of other means for messaging

Q: One reason to know your presentation well before you face the audience is so that you can a. ask questions to gauge the audience's knowledge of the topic before you begin speaking. b. practice adjusting the microphone's audio feedback and volume at the start of your talk. c. use jargon and slang if appropriate for all listeners. d. maintain eye contact with members in all corners of the room as you speak. e. speak more quickly than normal and make all your points before time runs out.

Q: Effective listening increases the level of trust between organizations and between individuals.

Q: All of the following will help achieve coherence in a team presentation except a. using a presentation template so visual aids look consistent. b. defining a technical term every time it is used, to avoid confusion. c. deciding beforehand on the best tone, format, and organization. d. deciding in advance how to refer to your visual aidsas charts, slides, or overheads, or with some other word. e. planning how the team will handle questions from the audience.

Q: As a junior member of an organization, how could you shape the nonverbal signals you send during a presentation to avoid the appearance of being "entry level" or "inexperienced"?

Q: To improve listening skills, one should ________. A. Limit nonverbal feedback to the speaker B. Listen with the same style regardless of the situation C. Listen passively D. Limit note taking so as not to be distracted E. Mentally paraphrase key points

Q: If you believe your listeners are likely to be hostile to you or your message, your presentation will have to a. include few examples to avoid overwhelming the audience. b. be more modest, downplaying your credentials. c. use language that is familiar to the majority of the audience. d. establish your credibility and possibly quote other experts. e. use complex terminology to demonstrate your mastery of the material.

Q: Identify the correct statement about collaborative presentations. a. The coordinator should ensure that all group members receive equal "podium time" during the presentation. b. To avoid problems, each member should be involved with all aspects of the presentation. c. As long as individual members practice their sections, a full rehearsal is not necessary. d. The overall presentation should look as if it were prepared and delivered by one individual. e. Provide definite breaks between speakers and between topics to allow the audience time for reflection.

Q: Physical appearance is a nonverbal signal that can be controlled by the communicator.

Q: Which of the following is considered one of the most common barriers to effective listening? A. Misinterpretation B. Passive listening C. Selective perception D. Defensive listening E. Selective listening

Q: The role of the team leader in a collaborative presentation is to a. manage planning and handle delivery for coherence purposes. b. have overall project responsibility and develop a cohesive strategy. c. assign roles early in the process to avoid running out of time. d. provide a presentation template for consistency in visual aids. e. ensure that all group members participate equally in all aspects of the presentation.

Q: Presentations to small groups a. require more of a "you" attitude than talks to larger groups. b. increase the presenter's options for visual aids. c. require very emphatic gestures to oversell the key ideas. d. are delivered in a more formal tone than normal conversations. e. require time to understand any heterogeneous listeners.

Q: Listening is a type of nonverbal communication.

Q: Tuning out information that does not support one's core belief system is an example of what? A. Misinterpretation B. Passive listening C. Selective perception D. Defensive listening E. Selective listening

Q: Which of the following is not a correct guideline for using humor in presentations? a. Avoid humor when covering very serious topics. b. Offensive language and singling out one ethnic group are never appropriate. c. "I heard a funny story the other day" is not an effective lead-in to humorous remarks. d. Avoid directing humor at yourself, which hurts your credibility as a speaker. e. Humor is most effective when it comes as a surprise to the audience.

Q: Identify a psychological need that you should analyze when learning about the audience for an oral presentation. a. age b. organizational status c. attitudes d. education e. demographics

Q: When a listener molds a message to their own ideas, they are using what type of skill? A. Selective listening B. Defensive listening C. Selective perception D. Passive listening E. Multitasking

Q: Identify a communication plan that would enhance communications between an organization and stakeholders.

Q: The ending of your presentation should a. summarize the main points you made. b. include a quotation from a famous person. c. refer to the lack of time for more supporting evidence. d. avoid conclusions and recommendations that could bias the audience. e. fade out slowly to leave your audience on a high note.

Q: When you plan an oral presentation, you should do all of the following except a. understand your audience's needs and knowledge. b. define your purpose. c. decide on the timing. d. decide on the delivery method. e. simulate the actual presentation conditions.

Q: When minimizing potential barriers to successful listening, which of the following factors is least often in the control of the listener? A. Interruptions B. Multitasking C. Phone reception D. Distractions E. Checking mobile devices

Q: When there is a need to confront a difficult situation at the workplace, it is best to use email, allowing the sender time to think through and shape their message appropriately.

Q: When you know that a proposal you are presenting has several negative aspects, you a. must address each point in great detail to avoid losing credibility. b. should disregard or discredit the negative points as you build your case. c. should mention important pros and cons and show that your proposal is still valid. d. can effectively weaken the argument against any unsupportive evidence. e. should wait to discuss these points if questions about them arise.

Q: Knowing your purpose enables you to ____ after you deliver your presentation. a. analyze your audience b. understand your audience's motivations c. evaluate the quality of data d. review the quality of visual aids e. assess your effectiveness

Q: During which phase of the listening process will the listener's culture pose the biggest challenge? A. Receiving B. Decoding C. Remembering D. Evaluating E. Responding

Q: When a receiver can no longer determine what information is useful and what is useless, or think deeply about complex situations, they are suffering from information overload.

Q: A presentation in which sales representatives receive up-to-date information on new products has the purpose of a. reporting. b. explaining. c. lecturing. d. persuading. e. motivating.

Q: Give two reasons why we document sources in writing reports.

Q: Technology should be used as a replacement for face to face communication whenever possible.

Q: During which stage of the listening process does the listener analyze the quality of the information? A. Receiving B. Decoding C. Remembering D. Evaluating E. Responding

Q: A publisher's presentation to a group of authors to describe how the publishing process works has the purpose of a. reporting. b. explaining. c. persuading. d. motivating. e. enhancing.

Q: List three examples of supplementary information.

Q: When faced with the need to communicate with staff located in several work sites and several countries, what types of technology could be used to enhance meeting capabilities?

Q: Which of the following is an advantage to written communication? A. Technology will correct errors in the message. B. Written communication can happen in real time. C. Written communication encourages quicker response time in the receiver. D. Written communication allows more time for receivers to understand and translate the message. E. Written communication can be longer and more detailed as the receiver will only read the communication when they have time.

Q: Which of the following is not a typical purpose of most business presentations? a. explaining b. motivating c. reporting d. persuading e. enhancing

Q: Contrast talking headings and generic headings.

Q: Which of the following is true regarding the use of technology on the job? A. Technology use can make up for a lack of essential skills. B. Technology is an aid to communication. C. Technology can ensure the message is read by the receiver. D. Technology can replace the need for face to face communication. E. Technology can ensure messages are well designed and accurate.

Q: Which statement about the degree of formality for a presentation is correct? a. Presentations for small groups should be more formal than presentations for large audiences. b. Your presentation should be less formal when you expect the audience to include individuals from other countries. c. When you anticipate repeating a presentation, you should make the presentation more formal. d. Routine topics require a more formal presentation. e. Complex topics or proposals concerning critical issues require a more formal presentation.

Q: Identify at least five diverse groups in an organization and identify communication skills and tools that might work best when communicating with those in a diverse or multicultural setting.

Q: How does preparing an outline help the report writer?

Q: Which of the following is not a result of information overload? A. Inability to differentiate between useful and useless information B. Inability to think deeply about complex situations C. Lower productivity D. Inability to respond to every message received E. Increase in employee stress

Q: To avoid anxiety, practice, develop a positive attitude, and concentrate on friendly faces.

Q: Stereotyping is the tendency to judge all other groups according to the standards, behaviors and customs of one's own group.

Q: Write a conclusion and recommendation based on the following findings: Over 75% of customers surveyed stated that the sales representatives lacked specific knowledge about the company's products. Over 50% of the customers surveyed stated that sales representatives demonstrated inappropriate interpersonal communication skills.

Q: Because of the increase in the use of technology, which of the following might help in determining what communications to work on first? A. The date and time the message was received B. The information that best supports blogs and social networking feeds C. The filtering feature that identifies high priority items D. The attachment icon that indicates additional important information E. The sender name feature to identify internal and external messages

Q: When critiquing your performance, concentrate only on how well you delivered the material during the presentation, not on pre-presentation activities.

Q: When speaking, women emphasize content and outcomes and place higher premium on relationship maintenance.

Q: Write a conclusion and a recommendation for the following findings: The population in Orem has increased by 18% in the last two years. Customers must wait an average of ten minutes to conduct business with a teller at our bank.

Q: To best maintain productive relationships with customers and suppliers, what type of communication tool is often most important? A. Blogs B. Face to face meetings C. Twitter feeds D. LinkedIn E. Emails

Q: In high context cultures, the primary role of communication is to build relationships, not exchange information.

Q: A formal report about a complex, serious problem typically includes all of the following except a. a formal writing style. b. use of the pronoun you. c. a table of contents. d. manuscript format. e. many supplementary parts.

Q: Briefly list and describe the four major organizational patterns for business reports.

Q: Which of the following is least likely to improve communication efforts? A. Developing a corporate presence on all available social media sites B. Using technology to aid in communication, not replace it C. Being proficient with basic features and functions of technologies D. Disregarding information that is not useful E. Speaking with coworkers face to face whenever practical