Dan Sonnenberg: AN INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS

Social etiquette in the workplace was Dan Sonnenberg’s approach to introducing us to the business world. In the three hour seminar that he presented, the command of English was his point of departure. One example of this lesson is that when facing a problem in the workplace, one has to pay careful attention to how a good report or e-mail (DR KEMPE) says a lot about how you think as an individual. Roy Blumenthal stresses that one should ideally aim for control over the resulting reader’s perception of whatever that is presented on a public forum. Going back to Sonnenberg’s seminar, one should not present an issue or problem without suggesting possible solutions to the problem. Being courteous is another communication skill that is valued in the workplace. I cannot help but wonder when one may draw the line between being courteous and being pretentious. My sense of creativity and unconventional behavior may be a challenge if I become a part of a strictly formal business environment, although it may not be detrimental to my character.