1. Presenting Yourself Professionally on the Telephone and in Voice Mail

Practice the phone skills you learned in this chapter. Leave your instructor a professional voice mail message. Prepare a mini-agenda before you call. Introduce yourself. If necessary, spell your name and indicate the course and section. Speak slowly and clearly, especially when leaving your phone number. Think of a comment you could make about an intriguing fact, a peer discussion, or your business communication class.

2. Presenting Yourself as a Professional When Texting

Your phone skills extend not only to voice mail but also to the brief text messages you send to your boss and coworkers. Such professional texts are often markedly different in style and tone from the messages you may be exchanging with friends.

Your Task. Send a professional text message to your instructor or to another designated partner in class responding to one of the following scenarios: (a) Explain why you must be late to an important meeting; (b) request permission to purchase a piece of important equipment for the office; or (c) briefly summarize what you have learned in your latest staff development seminar (use a key concept from one of your busi- ness classes). Use the recipient's e-mail address to send your text.

Do not use abbreviations or smiley faces.