LEADERSHIP AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
This semester, I chose to participate in an Honors Seminar titled "Leadership and Effective Communication", a seminar designed to enable DAAP students to work professionally in a creative environment. While at first I had concerns about the course relating to my field, I soon realized that I had much to learn about subjects ranging from elevator pitches and work-appropriate dress to formal dining manners and giving a toast.
The first week, we began the course by learning about elevator pitches. I have always felt confident with public speaking, but I had never practiced a speech so concise and persuasive as an elevator pitch. I spoke about my future as a designer and pitched the idea of hiring me, Grace, as a design intern. Like I said before, I always thought I was comfortable in front of an audience... until this performance. This experience taught me to loosen up in voice and physical posture, make stronger eye contact with my audience, and advertise myself in a concise and polite manner. Originally, I had undervalued these skills, but have since realized that soft skills are fundamental for securing a job and succeeding in the workplace. Following this seminar, I have given elevator pitches several times and have felt more comfortable than my peers, who lacked this preliminary exercise.
In later weeks, we studied workplace attire by being inspected by a designer from Saks Fifth Avenue; learned effective resume design from a Graphic Design professor; and practiced cover-letter writing with human resources employees. My favorite experience, however, was our last class: each member of the seminar traveled to a five-star restaurant to learn the detailed art of fine dining. We learned which piece of cutlery matched which course of the meal, and studied the most polite way to eat food, even if the food itself is messy. Our last assignment was to make a toast to another person at the table, and by the end of the toasts, we were all much better friends than we had started the course.
This seminar impacted me in ways I had not foreseen. I learned valuable soft skills that I may not have picked up anywhere else, and I made a network of other young professionals with whom I can work in the future.
The first week, we began the course by learning about elevator pitches. I have always felt confident with public speaking, but I had never practiced a speech so concise and persuasive as an elevator pitch. I spoke about my future as a designer and pitched the idea of hiring me, Grace, as a design intern. Like I said before, I always thought I was comfortable in front of an audience... until this performance. This experience taught me to loosen up in voice and physical posture, make stronger eye contact with my audience, and advertise myself in a concise and polite manner. Originally, I had undervalued these skills, but have since realized that soft skills are fundamental for securing a job and succeeding in the workplace. Following this seminar, I have given elevator pitches several times and have felt more comfortable than my peers, who lacked this preliminary exercise.
In later weeks, we studied workplace attire by being inspected by a designer from Saks Fifth Avenue; learned effective resume design from a Graphic Design professor; and practiced cover-letter writing with human resources employees. My favorite experience, however, was our last class: each member of the seminar traveled to a five-star restaurant to learn the detailed art of fine dining. We learned which piece of cutlery matched which course of the meal, and studied the most polite way to eat food, even if the food itself is messy. Our last assignment was to make a toast to another person at the table, and by the end of the toasts, we were all much better friends than we had started the course.
This seminar impacted me in ways I had not foreseen. I learned valuable soft skills that I may not have picked up anywhere else, and I made a network of other young professionals with whom I can work in the future.
THE ELEVATOR PITCH
Below is an example of an elevator pitch that is concise, friendly, and marketable. This is a strong example of work from Leadership and Effective Communication, because it practices strong verbal communication and the marketing of oneself.
Hi everyone! My name is Grace Hertlein, and I'm a first year graphic communication design student at the University of Cincinnati. As a developing designer, one of my main focuses is user interaction with design. So who here has a smartphone? And who here uses the app, Snapchat? Over the past year, I've developed a series of "geofilters" - or location-based graphics that users like you can see when they're using the app, Snapchat. This has been an amazing way to combine my love for interaction design with my knowledge of concepts like color theory, shape, and composition. I feel that this experience is one that would allow me to excel a member of your team! Thank you for your time.
Hi everyone! My name is Grace Hertlein, and I'm a first year graphic communication design student at the University of Cincinnati. As a developing designer, one of my main focuses is user interaction with design. So who here has a smartphone? And who here uses the app, Snapchat? Over the past year, I've developed a series of "geofilters" - or location-based graphics that users like you can see when they're using the app, Snapchat. This has been an amazing way to combine my love for interaction design with my knowledge of concepts like color theory, shape, and composition. I feel that this experience is one that would allow me to excel a member of your team! Thank you for your time.