<strong><em>“I have always liked the feeling of being prepared. Preparation is protection you can create for yourself; for some people, the hard part may be balancing precautions with paranoia, but in my experience, you can never be too prepared."</em> </strong>
- Alyssa Mastromonaco, President Obama’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations*

<center><img src="https://courses.edx.org/assets/courseware/v1/a240415dff10723398b7e2a2a803dd25/asset-v1:UBCx+COMM220x+2T2020+type@asset+block/Barack_Obama_talks_with_Alyssa_Mastromonaco__Deputy_Chief_of_Staff_for_Operations__2012.jpg" alt="President Barack Obama talks with Alyssa Mastromonaco, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, and Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest as First Lady Michelle Obama talks with her Chief of Staff, Tina Tchen, aboard Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 27, 2012." width="552" height="368" /></center><em>President Barack Obama talks with Alyssa Mastromonaco, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, and Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest as First Lady Michelle Obama talks with her Chief of Staff, Tina Tchen, aboard Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 27, 2012.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)</em>

Whether you’re planning the logistics behind the President of the United States of America’s foreign tour to the Middle East (like Mastromonaco), or how to present the newest financials at your company to investors, preparation is paramount to achieving your communication purpose.

The best public speakers make it seem like it’s the most natural thing to stand on a stage and speak eloquently. When we picture our favourite writers, we often visualize them sitting at a keyboard tapping away fluently, words filling the screen. But what we don’t see are the hours spent planning, organizing, storyboarding, to make sure the message is presented in a clear and logical fashion.

As I discuss the different approaches to planning and organizing your communications, think about how you’ve prepared in the past. Do you already have a reliable system in place, or do you often “wing it” when it comes to written and oral communications? Does preparation give you more confidence or make you nervous? Feel free to share your thoughts using the course hashtag (<a class="twitter-hashtag-button" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?button_hashtag=UBCxBizCom" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-show-count="false">#UBCxBizCom</a>).

<strong>By the end of this module, I want you to be able to understand and apply the following principles:</strong>
<blockquote>
<ul>
 	<li><strong>Develop a planning process tailored to your strengths and weaknesses.</strong></li>
 	<li><strong>Select an appropriate organizational scheme for your oral and written communications.</strong></li>
 	<li><strong>Practice how to overcome anxiety associated with public speaking and writing.</strong></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
Ready? Let's move on.

<hr />

<h2 class="mb-0 h3">Planning Your Process</h2>
Planning a message is an integral aspect of the communication process. In this video, I’ll explain how to approach it.

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://tesoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/UBCBUS2B2017-V000200_DTH.mp4"][/video]
<h2></h2>
<h2 class="mb-0 h3">Organizing Your Ideas</h2>
A strong organizational structure will make it easier for the audience to interpret your message. Watch the following video to hear my thoughts on how to organize your ideas in preparation for communicating.

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://tesoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/UBCBUS2B2017-V000400_DTH.mp4"][/video]

&nbsp;
<h2 class="mb-0 h3">Easing Your Anxiety</h2>
Do you get anxious before or while communicating? You are not alone! Let’s talk about some strategies for coping with these fears and even harnessing your energy.

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://tesoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/UBCBUS2B2017-V000300_DTH.mp4"][/video]

&nbsp;
<h2 class="mb-0 h3">In the Field Interview 2</h2>
Throughout the Business Communications course, we will be showcasing experts in areas that we are discussing in each module. These <em>In the Field</em> interviews will provide you with real-world examples of how the concepts covered are applied in actual business settings.

This <em>In the Field</em> interview is with Claire Immega, who is a lawyer specializing in dispute resolution and litigation at a firm in Vancouver, British Columbia. She has a broad legal practice and assists clients with contract disputes, corporate disputes, fraud, professional regulation and discipline and commercial leasing. She’s represented construction businesses, commercial landlords, dentists facing investigation and discipline and many other people.

Claire has appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia and a number of administrative tribunals. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Toronto and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
<blockquote>
<ul>
 	<li><strong>Firm profile: </strong><a href="http://www.singleton.com/Our_People/Claire_Immega.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">http://www.singleton.com/Our_People/Claire_Immega.aspx</a></li>
 	<li><strong>LinkedIn profile: </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-immega-069a9558/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-immega-069a9558/</a></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
&nbsp;

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://tesoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/UBCBUS2B2017-V001300_DTH.mp4"][/video]

&nbsp;

&nbsp;