The Critical Role of Cultural Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, and Mindfulness in Effective Communication
You are currently working in a communications and public relations firm. Your supervisor is aware that you have been studying communication competence and, in particular, the skills and responsibilities of competent intercultural communicators. She asked if you would be willing to share what you are learning with your coworkers. You readily agree to do a presentation titled, “The Critical Role of Cultural Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, and Mindfulness in Effective Communication.” She loves the outline you provided and has asked that you create a PowerPoint presentation, complete with speaker notes on each slide, to present to the group and later share with those who aren’t able to attend. Your goal is to not only explain communication competence as it relates to intercultural competence, cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness, but you also want to set an example by evaluating your own communication competence as a way to model professional growth and development. You’ve decided to cap off the presentation by connecting the concepts to a public figure whose actions have been in the news.
Your PowerPoint presentation will include the following:
Part 1: What Is Communication Competence?
This section of your PowerPoint presentation will include slides that explain and give examples of communication competence related to intercultural competence and cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness. You decide to
- Explain intercultural competence and cultural awareness and how both can support communication competence. Include relevant examples and/or quotes. (1–2 slides)
- Explain emotional intelligence and how it can support communication competence. Include relevant examples and/or quotes. (1–2 slides)
- Explain mindfulness and how it can support communication competence. Include relevant examples and/or quotes. (1–2 slides)
Part 2: Evaluating and Enhancing Communication Competence
This section of your PowerPoint presentation has two sections. In the first section you will strive to evaluate and enhance your own communication competence. In the second section, you will do the same for a public figure whose image is in need of repair.
- Section 1: Evaluating and Enhancing Your Own Communication Competence
- To evaluate your communication competence, take at least two of the quizzes presented in the Module 2 resources. Make sure one focuses on cultural awareness and the other on emotional intelligence.
- Summarize the evaluations, citing the sources that helped you assess your strengths and limitations. (1–2 slides)
- Describe at least 3 strategies that can help you enhance your communication skills in these areas. Again, cite your sources. (1–2 slides)
- Additionally, summarize insights you gained from this evaluation. (1–2 slides)
- Section 2: Evaluating and Enhancing the Communication Competence of a Public Figure
- Choose a specific political figure, celebrity, sports figure, CEO of a company, or other public figure who has recently been in the news and has exhibited offensive/sexist/racist verbal and/or nonverbal actions that have not met with public approval.
- Summarize this person’s competency as a communicator, i.e., his or her communication strengths and limitations related to cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness, related to recent events. Substantiate your thinking by citing the resources. (1–2 slides)
- Describe the practical advice/strategies you would offer this person to improve his or her communication competence in these areas to begin to repair his or her image. (1–2 slides)
Note: The last slide (or slides) of your PowerPoint presentation should list the resources you used for your presentation.
PowerPoint Presentation Guidelines The Assessment for this Competency is the creation of a PowerPoint slide deck presentation. Communicating effectively using presentation software like PowerPoint is a much sought-after skill in the business world regardless of industry. Creating one for this Competency will give you practice in this valued skill. So, take this opportunity to practice and create the best presentation you can. Requirements for this Assessment:
• Your presentation should be 8–16 slides. However, please note: If you need to use more than 16 slides that is fine as well, but use no less than 8.
• In addition to the 8–16 slides, you must have a title slide and a slide with your references.
• Text on slides should be succinct. Use as few words as possible to communicate core ideas. Less is often more. Stick to bulleted phrases or short sentences.
• Because your slides should be simple, the actual information you would present if you were speaking to a group MUST be included in the Speaker Notes that accompany each slide.
• Please follow the order of the Assessment in your presentation (Part 1, then Part 2: Section 1 and Section 2).
• Give credit where credit is due by providing citations in APA format, if warranted. All material borrowed or quoted must include appropriate citation information. This can be in smaller fonts. Please see the Walden Writing Center for more information on what type of information needs citations.
Best practices for a Power Point presentation:
• Keep a consistent look and feel by using a template, either the one provided or one appropriate to your presentation.
• Don’t go font crazy. Stick to one or two fonts that are easy to read.
• Consider changing the graphic layout of the slides every few slides. If all of the material is presented in the same format, audience members may stop paying attention.
• Avoid too many decorative graphic elements. Informational graphics are welcomed, but if the element does not help tell the story of the presentation, it is a distraction.
• Use the highest resolution graphic available. Low resolution graphics are fuzzy when projected.
• Always use spell-check and proofread your grammar.
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©2019 Walden University 1
IL4003: Skills and Responsibilities of Competent Intercultural Communicators: Evaluate communication skills that lead to effective intercultural communication competence.
Assessment Rubric
Rubric Criteria 0
Not Present 1
Needs Improvement 2
Meets Expectations Part 1: What Is Communication Competence?
Explain intercultural competence and cultural awareness and how both can support communication competence. Includes relevant examples and/or quotes. LO 1.1: Explain how intercultural competence and cultural awareness support communication competence
Response is missing. Explanation of the intercultural
competence and cultural
awareness and how both can
support communication is
vague, inaccurate, and/or
incomplete and/or examples
and/or quotes are lacking.
Response provides a clear,
accurate, and complete
explanation of the intercultural
competence and cultural
awareness and how both can
support communication and
includes examples and/or quotes
to support points.
Explain emotional intelligence and how it can support communication competence. Includes relevant examples and/or quotes. LO 1.2: Explain how emotional intelligence supports communication competence
Response is missing. Explanation of emotional
intelligence and how it can
support communication
competence is vague,
inaccurate, and/or incomplete
and/or examples and/or quotes
are lacking.
Response provides a clear,
accurate, and complete
explanation of emotional
intelligence and how it can
support communication
competence and includes
examples and/or quotes to
support points.
Explain mindfulness and how it can support communication
Response is missing. Explanation of mindfulness and
how it can support
communication competence is
Response provides a clear,
accurate, and complete
explanation of mindfulness and
©2019 Walden University 2
Rubric Criteria 0
Not Present 1
Needs Improvement 2
Meets Expectations competence. Include relevant examples and/or quotes. LO 1.3: Explain how mindfulness supports communication competence
vague, inaccurate, and/or
incomplete and/or examples
and/or quotes are lacking.
how it can support
communication competence and
includes examples and/or quotes
to support points.
Part 2: Evaluating and Enhancing Communication Competence
Summarize the evaluations (at least one on cultural awareness and at least one on emotional intelligence) and cite the sources that helped assess your strengths and limitations. LO 2.1: Evaluate personal communication skills based on assessments
Response is missing. Summary of the evaluations (at
least one on cultural awareness
and at least one on emotional
intelligence) and citation of
sources that helped assess your
strengths and limitations is
vague, inaccurate, and/or
incomplete.
Response provides a clear,
accurate, and complete
summary of the evaluations (at
least one on cultural awareness
and at least one on emotional
intelligence) and cites the
sources that helped assess your
strengths and limitations.
Describe at least three strategies that can help you enhance your communication skills in these areas and cite your sources. LO 2.2: Describe strategies to enhance communication skills in the areas of cultural awareness and emotional intelligence
Response is missing. Description of the strategies
supported by cited sources that
can help enhance
communication skills related to
cultural awareness and
mindfulness is vague,
inaccurate, and/or incomplete.
Response provides a clear,
accurate, and complete
description of strategies
supported by cited sources that
enhance communication skills
related to cultural awareness
and emotional intelligence.
Summarize the public figure’s
competency as a communicator
and substantiate points by citing
resources.
Response is missing. Summary of public figure’s
competency as a communicator
and/or substantiation of points
Response provides a clear,
accurate, and complete
summary of public figure’s
©2019 Walden University 3
Rubric Criteria 0
Not Present 1
Needs Improvement 2
Meets Expectations LO 2.3: Evaluate communication strengths and limitations related to cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness
is vague, inaccurate, and/or
incomplete.
competency as a communicator
and/or substantiation of points.
Describe the practical advice/strategies you would offer the public figure to improve his or her communication competence in these areas to begin to repair his or her image. LO 2.4: Describe strategies to improve communication competence related to cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness
Response is missing. Description of the practical
advice/strategies you would
offer the public figure to
improve his or her
communication competence in
these areas to begin to repair
his or her image is vague,
inaccurate, and/or incomplete.
Response provides a clear,
accurate, and complete
description of the practical
advice/strategies you would
offer the public figure to
improve his or her
communication competence in
these areas to begin to repair his
or her image.
Mastery Rubric No Yes
Exceeds Expectations: Exceeds Expectations: Connections to Experience: Connects relevant experience and academic knowledge
LO1: Make connections to relevant experiences and academic knowledge in evaluation of
Responses to the items do not consistently make connections to relevant experiences and academic knowledge in evaluation of communication skills
Responses to the items consistently make
connections to relevant experiences and academic
knowledge in evaluation of communication skills
©2019 Walden University 4
communication skills that lead to effective intercultural communication competence.
that lead to effective intercultural communication competence.
that lead to effective intercultural communication
competence.
Professional Skills Building 0
Not Present
1
Needs Improvement
2
Meets Expectations
Written Communication: Write with clarity, coherence, and purpose
Written Communication WC 1.1
– Construct complete and correct
sentences.
Sentences are
incoherent and impede
reader’s access to ideas.
Sentences are incomplete and/or
include fragments and run-on
sentences, limiting reader’s access
to ideas.
Sentences structure effectively conveys
meaning to the reader.
Written Communication WC 1.2
– Demonstrate the effective use of
grammar and mechanics.
Multiple inaccuracies in
grammar and
mechanics impede
reader’s access to ideas.
Some inaccuracies in grammar and
mechanics limit reader’s access to
ideas.
Use of grammar and mechanics is
straightforward and effectively conveys
meaning to reader.
Written Communication WC 1.3
– Create cohesive paragraphs with
a clear central idea.
Paragraphs, or lack of
paragraphs, impede
reader’s access to ideas.
Construction of main idea and/or
supporting paragraphs limit
reader’s access to ideas.
Main idea and/or supporting
paragraphs effectively convey meaning
to reader.
©2019 Walden University 5
Written Communication WC 1.4
– Use supporting material to
support a claim.
Supporting materials
are not present.
Supporting material is used
inconsistently or inappropriately.
Supporting material is used to enhance
meaning. Writing is appropriately
paraphrased and uses direct quotes as
applicable.
Written Communication WC 1.5 –
Demonstrate appropriate essay
level writing skills, providing
transitions between an
introduction, body, and conclusion.
Ideas are disorganized
with no/poor
transitions.
Ideas are loosely organized with
unclear paragraphing and
transitions.
Ideas are organized with cohesive
transitions.
Written Communication WC 1.6
– Identify sources.
Sources are missing. Writing inconsistently identifies or
misrepresents sources.
Writing clearly identifies the source of
nonoriginal material and/or ideas.
Information Literacy: Apply strategies to evaluate information in order to effectively analyze issues and make decisions
Information Literacy IC 1.1
– Identify and locate credible
sources.
No sources or
noncredible sources are
present.
Sources are inconsistently credible,
appropriate, and relevant to the
topic and/or assessment.
Sources are mostly credible,
appropriate, and relevant to the topic
and/or assessment.
Information Literacy IC 1.2
– Analyze information sources.
Analysis is not present. Analysis superficially applies
aspects of sources that are most
relevant to the topic and/or
assessment and/or analysis is
unclear.
Analysis thoroughly and clearly applies
aspects of sources that are most
relevant to the topic and/or
assessment.
Engaging Multiple Social and Cultural Perspectives: Apply strategies to develop intellectual flexibility and broad knowledge that enables perception of the world through the perspectives of diverse social and cultural perspectives.
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Engaging Multiple Social and Cultural Perspectives EP 1.1 – Recognize the value of one’s own and others’ social and cultural perspectives.
Recognition is not present.
Response demonstrates a vague understanding of how different cultural and social perspectives might affect interpretations of issues.
Response demonstrates a clear understanding of how different cultural and social perspectives might affect interpretations of issues.
,
The Critical Role of Cultural Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, and Mindfulness in Effective Communication
Note: You will find the Assessment instructions in each section of each slide. Complete each of the slides and place your speaker notes in this section underneath each slide. Add slides to this template as needed.
1
Part 1: What Is Communication Competence?
(No speaker notes needed here.)
2
Intercultural Competence and Cultural Awareness
Explain intercultural competence and cultural awareness and how both can support communication competence. Include relevant examples and/or quotes. (1–2 slides)
3
Emotional Intelligence
Explain emotional intelligence and how it can support communication competence. Include relevant examples and/or quotes. (1–2 slides)
4
Mindfulness
Explain mindfulness and how it can support communication competence. Include relevant examples and/or quotes. (1–2 slides)
5
Part 2: Evaluating and Enhancing Communication Competence
(No speaker notes needed here.)
6
Section 1: Evaluating and Enhancing Your Own Communication Competence
To evaluate your communication competence, take at least two of the quizzes presented in the Module 2 Resources. Make sure one focuses on cultural awareness and the other on emotional intelligence.
Summarize the evaluations, citing the sources that helped you assess your strengths and limitations. (1–2 slides)
Describe at least 3 strategies that can help you enhance your communication skills in these areas. Again, cite your sources. (1–2 slides)
Additionally, summarize insights you gained from this evaluation. (1–2 slides)
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Section 2: Evaluating and Enhancing the Communication Competency of a Public Figure
Choose a specific political figure, celebrity, sports figure, CEO of a company, or other public figure who has recently been in the news and has exhibited offensive/sexist/racist verbal and/or nonverbal actions that have not met with public approval.
Summarize this person’s competency as a communicator, i.e., his or her communication strengths and limitations related to cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness, related to recent events. Substantiate your thinking by citing the resources. (1–2 slides)
Describe the practical advice/strategies you would offer this person to improve his or her communication competence in these areas to begin to repair his or her image. (1–2 slides)
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Presentation Resources
Cite the resources you used for your presentation. Add a slide (or slides) if needed.
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