Key Competencies in Business

The subject matter of the course pertains to the so-called “soft” competences, indispensable to carry out business: interpersonal communication, auto-presentation, teamwork or solving conflicts.

In module 1, you will get to know how to speak and listen effectively and what most frequent mistakes should be avoided. In module 2, we will deal with auto-presentation related issues. A participant will get to know how to manage his/her own image. He/she will get to know examples of how to be a good speaker, what psychological conditions of making an impression must be taken into consideration and what tactics can be applied to achieve a preset image related objective. Module 3 deals with issues connected with teamwork. We will analyse how to create an effectively working team, what difficulties and traps must be avoided. Within module 4, a participant will learn more about conflicts which as a matter of fact are omnipresent in everyone’s life. There, we will discuss issues related to reasons for conflicts, detectors and techniques of how to solve them.

Course curriculum:

Module 1. Interpersonal communication

Module 2. Auto-presentation

Module 3. Teamwork

Module 4. Conflicts

Addressees of the course and prerequisites:

The course is at the level for beginners. Therefore, formally confirmed knowledge making it possible to actively participate in the course is not required. However, certainly to effectively complete the course and to optimally absorb contents, willingness towards self-development, posing challenges to yourself and openness to new intellectual challenges are necessary. Because the course also includes a number of practical exercises, a participant is required to be engaged in work and to be self-critical in terms of performed tasks.

Conditions which must be fulfilled to get a pass:

A final test is in the form of a test with closed questions, where only one answer is correct. The passed test is the basis for receiving a course completion certificate.

Conditions which must be fulfilled to receive the certificate:

You will obtain the certificate if you pass the final test and gain minimum 51% of points for correct answers. The course completion certificate will automatically be generated within 24 hours from passing the course and it can be downloaded from the tab Moje kursy - Moje zaświadczenia (My courses - My certificates).

Educational effects:

1. Knowledge:

• A course participant knows elements of the communication model and basic rules on effective communication.
• A course participant knows image creation techniques in a verbal layer and non-verbal layer, as well as rules on creating a persuasive message.
• A course participant knows psychological and social conditions of teamwork, types of team tasks and rules on stimulation of effective work in a team.
• A course participant knows what a conflict is, what type of reasons most often generates conflicts and what are the most frequently applied techniques of solving conflicts.

2. Skills & abilities:

• A course participant can take the role of a good listener and sender, as well as diagnose communication errors.
• A course participant knows how to identify characteristics of a good speaker, distinguish auto-presentation tactics, determine “positive” or “negative” exemplary expressions of body language, recognize applied persuasion instruments.
• A course participant can determine what material and personnel resources are needed for a team to be able to perform its tasks, recognize types of tasks performed by teams, match an appropriate style of work (teamwork or individual work) to a concrete task, distinguish roles oriented towards a task, towards relations and towards oneself.
• A course participant can recognize what behaviours and statements generate conflicts, can recognize both effective and ineffective techniques of solving conflicts, prepare himself / herself for solving a conflict, identify features of a good negotiator and mediator, diagnose reasons for conflicts..

3. Social competences:

• A course participant is willing to take up new challenges.
• A course participant is open to different ways of behaviour and thinking.
• A course participant is motivated to self-education.
• A course participant better understands other people’s behaviours and reactions.

Course staff:

Ewelina Świergiel, eswiergiel@zpsb.pl a sociologist and political scientist by education, and I must admit that the direction of my studies fortunately corresponds with my interests. I like people, I like observing them, supporting them in development and sharing knowledge with them. I believe that each and every meeting with another person may be a valuable lesson about him or her, and also about us. For many years, I have been associated with the West Pomeranian Business School in Szczecin as a lecturer and dean of one of the faculties. I also willingly engage in local life, organizing and supporting events that promote entrepreneurship and self-development. I am a member of the management board of the Starogard Chamber of Commerce, District Labour Market Council and juries of economic competitions. In leisure time, I try to foster relationships with family and friends, and to take care of my self-development, as well as to actively spend time enjoying the charm of nature, regardless of the season of the year.