Business Professionalism

Authors

Beth Pouska, Central New Mexico Community CollegeFollow

Files

Description

Business Professionalism by Beth Pouska is an open educational textbook that introduces students to the essential attitudes, behaviors, and communication skills needed to succeed in professional environments. The book emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, goal setting, and personal responsibility as the foundation of professional growth. It explains how individuals can develop productive habits such as effective time management, stress control, and ethical decision-making. By encouraging readers to understand their values, motivations, and strengths, the book helps them build a strong professional identity that supports long-term career success.

The text also focuses heavily on workplace interaction and communication. It explores topics such as professional etiquette, first impressions, verbal and nonverbal communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, and cultural awareness in diverse workplaces. Readers learn how to communicate clearly, collaborate respectfully with colleagues, and manage disagreements in a constructive way. Overall, the book serves as a practical guide for students transitioning into the workforce, providing the knowledge and soft skills necessary to build professional relationships, navigate workplace challenges, and grow into effective and responsible professionals.

Publication Date

Winter 3-14-2026

Publisher

Central New Mexico Community College

City

Albuquerque

Disciplines

Business

Comments

Introduction

Part 1: Personal Skills

1. Chapter 1: Goals and Motivations

2. Chapter 2: Values and Decision Making

3. Chapter 3: What is Emotional Intelligence?

Part 2: Time and Stress

1. Chapter 4: Time Management & Goals

2. Chapter 5: Procrastination

3. Chapter 6: Stress

Part 3: Business Etiquette

1. Chapter 7: Business Etiquette

2. Chapter 8: First Impressions Matter

3. Chapter 9: General Guidelines for Graceful Conduct

4. Chapter 10: Conducting Yourself Gracefully at Work

Part 4: Communication Skills

1. Chapter 11: Building Better Communication Skills

2. Chapter 12: Mastering Written and Electronic Communication

Part 5: Global Communication

1. Chapter 13: Working in a Global Environment

2. Chapter 14: Inclusivity and Communication

Part 6: Persuasion and Negotiation

1. Chapter 15: Persuasive Presentations

2. Chapter 16: Conflict and Negotiation

Part 7: Career Exploration

1. Chapter 17: Career Development Process

2. Chapter 18: Personality, Skills and Interests

3. Chapter 19: Resumes & Cover Letters

4. Chapter 20: Interviewing

5. Chapter 21: Networking

Part 8: Fundamentals of Team Building and Effectiveness

1. Chapter 22: Defining Teams & Groups

2. Chapter 23: Cooperation

3. Chapter 24: Power in Teams and Groups

4. Chapter 25: Cultivating a Supportive Group Climate

Part 9: Ethics and Leadership

1. Chapter 26: Why Ethics Matter

2. Chapter 27: Navigating Ethical Challenges

3. Chapter 28: Integrity and Professional Growth

4. Chapter 29: Leadership

1. Appendix

Recommended Citation

Pouska, Beth. "Business Professionalism." (2026). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/unm_oer/9

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License