Business Skills - Ilpintcs - Blogspot.in

12/8/13
Business Skills - The Essentials -- TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.
Business Skills - The Essentials

Courses
Course Objective
To help you to
Understand the importance of Business Skills at the workplace.
Reflect on your Business skills and understand where you stand
Work on the building blocks of Business skills
Prepare yourself for your learning program at TCS.
Your Course materials include a few online sessions, exercises
and selected online resources for theory and practice. The content focuses
primarily on the four primary areas of communication namely - listening,
speaking, reading and writing, and some handy tips on corporate etiquette.
Course Content
1.
The Grammar Clinic

I.
The Grammar Clinic-Part_1
i.
ii.
II.
Subject Verb agreement
iii.
Prepositions
iv.
Articles
i.
III.
Parts of speech a quick peek
Tenses Present, Past and Future
https://aspire.tcs.com/aspire/courses/business_skills/index.html
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Business Skills - The Essentials -- TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.
i.
2.
How do you say it?

i.
3.
ii.
ii.
iii.
Effective Reading Skills
Speaking versus writing

Spices of writing
Characteristics of Writing
Corporate Etiquette- Handy tips

i.
ii.
7.
Non Verbal Communication
How well do you write?

i.
6.
Effective Listening Skills
How good are your reading skills?

i.
5.
How do you say it?
Beyond words
i.
4.
Sentence Linkers and Indianisms
Grooming tips
Manners Matter
iii.
Performance boosters
iv.
Elements of Change
Conclusion and References

i.
Conclusion
ii.
References
Courses
https://aspire.tcs.com/aspire/courses/business_skills/index.html
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Grammar Clinic_Part 1
Course Contents | Prev : Next
Grammar Clinic
12/8/13
Grammar Clinic_Part 1 - TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.
Afraid you are not perfect? That's alright. Its never too late to start.
Let us start with your first lesson, the Parts of Speech in English..
Parts of Speech
Im sure you already know that words are divided into various
parts of speech according to the work they do in a sentence. The following are
the various parts of speech:
Parts of
speech:
Description:
Example:
Nouns
Names of persons, objects and things.
Lion, India
Pronouns
Words used instead of a noun.
I, We, You, She, He,

It
Adjectives
Words that qualify a noun.
John is a good boy.
Verbs
Words that describe an action or state.
They are talking.

He is hungry.
Adverbs
Words that qualify a verb.
She sings sweetly.
Prepositions
Words placed before a noun or pronoun to

mark its relation to another word.
We looked at the
sky.
Conjunctions
Joining words.
Rama and Krishna

are good boys.
Interjections
Words that express strong feeling or

excitement.
Alas! My best
friend is dead.
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The various parts of speech of a language are its building blocks.

Most of us dont realize this, but it is the unconscious awareness of the parts of
speech, that helps us to construct effective and correct sentences. The Parts of
speech form the foundation of a language.
Quiz
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Let us now move on to Basic Sentence Patterns in English
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Look at the table below.

Formula
1
S+V
2 S+V+O
Sentence Pattern
Example
Subject + Verb
The plane took off

Jim came
Subject + Verb + Object
Peter ate an apple.

I love my job.
3 S+V+Adv Subject + Verb + Adverb
Jessica is sitting on a chair.

I am here.
4 S+V+Adj Subject + Verb + Adjective
The book is expensive.

Rita is funny.
5 S+V+N
The lady is an Indian

Mr Patel is an engineer.
Subject + Verb + Noun
Well. What do you observe?

You are right. Every sentence has a subject and a verb.
Your sentence must always have a Subject and a Verb. The verb
must always relate to the subject it refers to. Words or phrases that come in
between the subject and the verb do not influence the verb in any manner. It is
important to identify the right subject!
This now brings us to the next point of discussion Subject-Verb
Agreement. Weve just learned that the verb must always relate to the subject
it refers to. This means the subject and the verb need to agree with each other
in terms of number.
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Subject Verb Agreement

Look at the following sentences. Can you identify any errors?
Janaki dont look happy.
Michael sing well.
These shoes doesnt fit me.
I doesnt drive.
Everyone are here.
Well, what do you think? Im sure you have identified the errors.
Why dont you check the answers yourself?
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We mentioned a little while ago that any sentence would have a

subject and a verb. But these two need to agree with each other. This is what
we mean by subject - verb agreement. The errors we noticed in the sentences
above exist because the subject and verb do not agree with each other. Lets
take a look at this in detail.
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Subject Verb Agreement- The Rules

A singular subject takes a singular verb.
A plural subject takes a plural verb.
For example:
The apple is green. (Third person singular)
Apples are good for health. (Third person plural)
The verb takes ans in the third person singular
For example:
The boy sings very well.
Mary likes ice cream.
Indefinite pronouns such as everyone and everybody feel plural to
some writers, but they are always singular and take a singular verb.
For example:
Everyone associated with this project is proud to be here.
Everybody wants to go to the beach.
Dont be confused by phrases that come between the subject
pronoun and its verb phrases that may contain plural words.
For example:
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One of the boxes is open.

The price of the books is very high.
Priya, who played the role of the teacher in the drama, is the best
actor.
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With fractional expressions (fractions or decimal equivalents), the

verb will be determined by what is being measured: is it COUNTABLE or not.
For example:
Two-fifths of the grain is ruined.
One-half of the employees were happy to know about the
celebrations.
Of all the gifts we have counted so far, fifty are wrapped.
Phrases such as together with, along with, and as well as seem to
join subjects, but they do not work the same as and. They are not conjunctions.
For example:
A majority of the student body is in favor of asking the Dean to
stay another year.
Some of the equipment in the store, as well as some pieces of
furniture was ruined in the flood.
The third year students, together with their teacher, are going to
the science exhibition.
When either and neither appear as the subject alone, they are
singular. This is true even though the subject seems to be two things.
For example:
Neither of these tables appears to be suitable.
The travel agent will lend me a train ticket or a flight ticket.
Either is fine with me.
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When either and neither act as correlative conjunctions, the subject

that is closer to the verb determines the number (singular or plural form) of the
verb.
For example:
Neither the professor nor the assistants are at fault.
Either the assistants or the professor has to be responsible for the
year-end festival.
When an expletive construction (there is, there are, here is, etc.)
begins a sentence, the subject (which determines the number of the verb) comes
after the verb.
For example:
There are several reasons for the breakout of the epidemic.
Here is the list of things you need to buy for your class project.
Certain words like trousers, stairs, premises, police, staff etc, are
always considered plural and take a plural verb.
For example:
The police have issued a warrant for Chopras arrest.
The premises are located away from the city.
Certain words like bacon and eggs, fish and chips, research and
development are considered singular as they have a close association.
For example:
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Research and development is an integral part of this

organisation.
Bread and butter is my favourite breakfast.
Learning and sharing is one of TCS values.
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The rules of grammar may seem easy when you read through
them. However it is only through constant practice that you can master them.
Try out the quiz given below and lets see if we have been able to take care of
that hairline fracture. Also, at the end of our trip through Grammar Clinic, you
will be given a list of websites that will help you learn more about grammar.
Go through them as well and help yourself improve on the foundation of your
language!
Quiz
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Prepositions
A preposition is a word or phrase used with a noun, pronoun or

noun equivalent to show its relation to some other word or phrase in the
sentence.
It usually indicates the logical, spatial or temporal relationship of its object to
the rest of the sentence.
Prepositions are generally of three types:
I.
Prepositions of Time
II.
Prepositions of Place
III.
Prepositions of Movement
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Prepositions of Time:
They indicate if something is at a given point in time or over a
period of time.
Prepositions
In
On
At
Use
Examples
Months, year
In June, in 1998
Seasons
In summer, in winter
Parts of the day
In the morning
Duration of the day
In an hours time
Days of the week
On Tuesday
Date
On the 6th of June
Special holidays
On Christmas day
Special parts of a day
On the morning of May 12th
Part of the day
At night
Time of the day
At 4pm
Celebrations
At Diwali, at Easter
Fixed phrases
At the same time
Examples:
He started before midnight.
This will be finished in an hours time.
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There are two more prepositions that you would find useful FOR
and SINCE.
point of time
FOR is used with a period of time while SINCE is used with a
Quiz
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Quiz
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Quiz
Lets check your general understanding of the prepositions For and Since.
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So.. did you learn something about For and Since? Yes For is used with a
period of time and Since is used with a point of time!
Prepositions of Place
to another.
They indicate where indicate how one thing is situated in relation
At
In
On
At the bus stop
In the car
On the bus
At home
In the living room
On the sofa
At work
In the cafeteria
On the train
At school
In a helicopter
On a plane
At university
In a boat
On a ship
At college
In the library
On a motorbike
At the top
In the newspaper
On a horse
At the bottom
In the sky
On the radio/tv
At the reception
In Kailas street
On MG road
At, In and On are the most commonly used prepositions of place. We usually
use:
At for a Point of time

In for an Enclosed space
On for a Surface
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Quiz
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Quiz
Match the picture to the correct text with the correct prepositions.
A.
John is at the Caf. He is sitting on the chair with a briefcase

in his hand. His cup of coffee is on the table. There is a
camera next to it. Janes travel bag is under the table. She is
standing beside the door. Her glass of juice is on the table.
There is a straw in her glass. The sign board on the door
says the caf is open.
B.
John is at the Caf. He is sitting in the chair with a briefcase

inside his hand. His cup of coffee is at the table. There is a
camera besides to it. Janes travel bag is on the table. She is
standing at the door. Her glass of juice is in the table. There
is a straw at her glass. The sign board in the door says the
caf is open.
C.
John is at the Caf. He is sitting at the chair with a briefcase

in his hand. His cup of coffee is in the table. There is a
camera besides it. Janes travel bag is at the table. She is
standing on the door. Her glass of juice is at the top of the
table. There is a straw inside of her glass. The sign board
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between the door says the caf is open.
Check your Answer here.
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Quiz
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Prepositions of Movement
They indicate how one thing is moving in relation to another. Common
prepositions of movement are:
Onto, into, across, under, through, away from, towards, over, along, past, off,
around
Example:
He ran across the road.
The ball went through the window.
Look at the pictures below. Which prepositions would you use to describe these pictures?
Check your Answer here.
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Quiz
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Tired already? Confused? Well yes it can be. Im sure you have
guessed two things by now :
One, there are many types of prepositions and Two, the same
word can be used for various things. In addition to prepositions, you also have
Prepositional Phrases. Now it would be unfair if we told you everything about
prepositions and what prepositional phrases are. So heres some home work
for you.
Read up further on prepositions and prepositional phrases. You
have plenty of material online. Or Im sure there is a grammar book you can get
hold of from somewhere.
The only way to master these little words that make such a huge
impact is using them. Keep practicing. Your final assessment will test your
knowledge on other prepositions as well!
Articles
Articles are a set of function words, which contribute greatly to

meaning. There are three articles in English namely -The, a, an The is referred
to as the Definite Article while A and An are called Indefinite Article.
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The Definite Article is used :

Before nouns which denote unique things or persons: the sun, the
earth, the equator, the universe, the stars.
Before a Noun to Denote a Class: The tiger is a ferocious animal.
The airplane is the fastest means of travel.
Before the names of mountain ranges and island groups: The
Himalayas, the Alps, the West Indies, the South Sea Islands.
Before the names of rivers, canals, straits, seas, oceans, and
gulfs: the Nile, the Suez Canal, the Gibralter, the Arabian Sea, the
Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf.
Before the names of newspapers, holy books, old epic poems and
reference books: the Statesman, the Bible, the Mahabharata, The
Encyclopedia.
Before government departments, banks, establishments: The
Department of Revenue, the Canara Bank.
Before the adjectives in the Superlative Degree: Raju is the tallest
boy in the class.
Before adjectives to represent a class: The rich, the poor, the
oppressed, the downtrodden.
Before words like ultimate, next, last, first, second: The second one
from the left is my cousin..
Note:
THE is not used:
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1 : before the name of a single island, mountain, peak or hill : Sri Lanka, Mauritius,
Everest
2 : before the names of countries and places : India, China, New Zealand
Exceptions : the Sudan, the Punjab, the Netherlands. (Before Proper Nouns for specific
reference) :
The India of today is not the India under the British rule.
Kalidasa is known as the Shakespeare of India.
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The Definite Article is not used :

Before Proper Nouns: Raju, Anne, Rahim. (Not The Raju, The Anne, The Rahim)
Before names of substances, if they are used in a general sense: Gold is a precious metal.
(Not the gold)
Bread is available here. (Not the bread)
Before the names of meals, games, languages and festivals: Breakfast will be ready at 8
Oclock.
Christmas falls on 25th December
Note 1:
When the reference is to a particular kind of substance THE is used:
1 : The gold mined in India is of a good quality.
2 :The bread we produce is sweet.
Note 2:
When the metal is specified THE is used:
1 :The dinner they had hosted was well attended.
Okay. So now you know where the THE is to be and not to be used. Lets take a quick
look at the other two articles The Indefinite articles A and An.
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The indefinite Article A is used:

Before a word beginning with a consonantal sound: A word
beginning with a consonant has a consonantal sound.
There are some exceptions.
Exceptions again? Yes. You are probably wondering why there
are so many of them. Exceptions are common in English and that is what lends
the language its beauty.
i.
A European
ii.
A one rupee note
iii.
A unit
iv.
A university
v.
A yard
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The indefinite Article An is used:

Before words beginning with a vowel sound or a word with silent
h:
i.
An elephant
ii.
An army
iii.
An hour
iv.
An honor
A/An may be used in the sense of one:

i.
There is a bird in the cage.
ii.
I will be back in an hour.
A/An is used in the sense of every:

i.
He gets Rs. 3000/- a month.
ii.
The car is going at fifty miles an hour.
Note:
An has to be used before abbrevations pronounced with a vowel sound at the
beginning:
i.
An MLA (/em/LA)
ii.
An MP (em/P)
iii.
An MA (em/A)

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Quiz
I. Lets check our understanding, shall we?
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Quiz
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Time and Tense
There are 12 tenses in English. If you know how to use it and where to use it, a major
step to attaining English fluency is accomplished! Take a look at the table in the next page.
A quick look!
Simple
Continuous
Perfect
Perfect Continuous
Present Continuous
tense
eg: is speaking
Present Perfect
tense
eg: has spoken
Present Perfect Continuous

tense
eg:has been speaking
Past
Simple Past tense

eg: spoke
Past Continuous
tense
eg: was speaking
Past Perfect tense

eg: had spoken
Past Perfect Continuous

tense
eg: had been speaking
Future
Simple Future
tense
eg: will speak
Future Continuous
tense
eg: will be speaking
Future Perfect
tense
eg: will have
spoken
Future Perfect Continuous

tense
eg: will have been speaking
Simple Present
Present
tense
eg: speak
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Present Tense
When do we use Simple Present Tense?

To Talk about general facts / universal truths
Examples:
She lives in Mumbai.
I come from Kerala.
The earth revolves round the sun.
To talk about habits / routine
activities
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Examples:
I go to college at 8:30 AM every day.
I love reading fiction.
She goes for her dance classes on Fridays.
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To narrate stories, movies, and in sports commentaries

Example:
The story opens in Delhi during the second world war. Amir, the
main character is found injured. He tries to stand but is unable
to. Roger, his friend helps him up.
To talk about future schedules and arrangements
Examples:
The movie starts at 2:00 PM.
The bus to Banglore starts at 8:00 PM.
His exam finishes at 12:00 PM.
Form
Affirmative subject + base form verb
(+s/es)
eg: I dream
He dreams
Negative subject + aux verb do
(do/does) + not + base form verb
eg: I do not play golf.
He does not play golf.
Interrogative Aux verb do (do/does) +
subject + base form verb
eg: Do they live in China?
Does he live in China?
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Okay! Xray time!

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.
1.
He play cricket with his friends every day.
2.
Where works your wife?
3.
She no like idli and sambar.
4.
They goes to the movie every Saturday.
5.
You lives in Bangalore?
6.
Why you no go to office?
Check your answers here.
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Present Continuous Tense
When do we use Present Continuous Tense?

To talk about an action that is in progress at the time of speaking.
Example:
Im sorry I cant come, Im watching a movie.
To talk about a temporary action that is not necessarily in progress at the time
of speaking.
Example:
Ankit: What are you reading these days?
Neha: I am reading 'The Founatinhead'.
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To emphasize very frequent actions (always is used frequently).

Example:
He is always playing Cricket with his friends.
To describe developing situations.
Example:
Its going to rain.
Form
present simple tense of be + present
participle of the main verb (verb + ing
drawing)
Affirmative subject + aux verb + be +
verb + ing
eg: He is painting.
Negative subject + aux verb be + not
+ verb + ing
eg: I am not writing.
Interrogative aux verb be + subject +
verb + ing
eg: Are they listening?
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Exceptions Stative verbs

Stative verbs are non action verbs and therefore not usually used in the
continuous tense. These are formed using the simple present tense.
Stative verbs can be classified into the following categories :
Verbs of the senses
see, hear
Verbs expressing feelings and emotions
like, love, hate
Verbs of mental activity
remember
Verbs of possession
own
Okay! Xray time!

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.
1.
He is having three sisters.
2.
I am understanding you.
3.
She is having a headache.
4.
They are living here for last 3 years.
5.
I am believing in God.
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Present PerfectTense
When do we use Present Perfect Tense?

The present perfect always has a connection with now. The event/action in the past
has an influence/result now.
Examples:
'Wheres your pen? I dont know. Ive misplaced it. ( I dont have it now).
He told me where it is but Ive forgotten it . (I cant remember it now).
Is Meera here? No she has gone to visit her friends. (She is not here
now).
Have you seen my book? I cant find it? (do you know where it is now).
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When we talk about completed actions without a time reference.

Examples:
I have completed my work.
We have been to China.
When we talk about actions/states that began in the past and are still
continuing at the time of speaking.
Examples:
We have lived here since 1990 (still live here).
I have practised for two hours.
When we describe actions in the past with results in the present .
Examples:
Oh Im sorry! I have spilt coffee on the floor.
Can I borrow your pen? I have lost mine.
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To provide new information or to talk about a recent happening.

Examples:
Ouch! Ive hurt my knee!
The road is closed. Theres been an accident.
The police have arrested two people in connection with the
recent riots. (news item)
Form
Affirmative (sub+aux verb have+past
participle)
eg: I have completed the work.
I have written the letter.
Negative (sub+aux
verbhave+not+past participle)
eg: I havent completed the work.
I havent written the letter.
Interrogative(aux verbhave+sub+past
participle)
eg: Have you completed the work?.
Have you written the letter?
The rule with for or since

In a sentence we use for to denote period of time.
eg:
I have been waiting for four hours. She has been sick for three days.
In a sentence we use since to denote point of time.
eg:
I have been waiting since 4.00 pm. She has been sick since Monday.
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Present Perfect Continuous Tense

When do we use Present Perfect Continuous tense?
To talk about an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped or is still
going on.
Examples:
I have been studying Hindi for two years. (hes still studying it)
We have been watching television. (we still are)
I am tired because I have been driving. (I am tired now)
It is wet outside because it has been raining .( It started raining
two hours ago and it just stopped)
Form
Affirmative (sub+ aux.verb have
+been + verb + ing)
eg: I have been reading.
Negative (sub+ aux.verb have + not
+been + verb + ing)
eg: I have not been reading.
Interrogative (aux.verb have + sub +
been + verb + ing)
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eg: Have you been reading?

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Past Tense
When do we use Past Tense?
The Past tense is used for actions complete in the past at a definite time.
Examples:
I finished my homework an hour ago.
I ate sandwich for breakfast.
For a habitual action in the past.
Example:
When I was in college, I played football.
When the action took place at a definite time, even though the time is not
mentioned.
Example:
She was 30 minutes late for her meeting.
For narratives narrating stories, past events.
Example:
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Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks. She
went for a walk in the forest. Very soon, she came upon a house.
She knocked at the door. No one answered. So Goldilocks
walked right in. At the dinner table, there were three bowls of
porridge. Goldilocks was hungry. She tasted the porridge from
the first bowl.
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Regular verb and Irregular verb

How a sentence is formed in the past tense, depends on whether the verb is a
regular verb or an irregular verb.
Regular verbs are those whose past tense and past participles are formed by
adding an -ed to the end of the verb.
eg: plan-planned, roll-rolled , derive derived
Irregular verbs do not have set patterns to form past tense and past participle
eg: eat-eaten , feel-felt , sell-sold
Form
Regular verbs (ed/d is added to the
base form of the verb).
Affirmative (Subject + verb + ed/d +
..)
eg: I finished my homework an hour ago.
Negative (Subject + didnt + verb + ..)
eg: I didnt finish my homework.
Interrogative (Did + subject + base form
verb)
eg: Did you finish your homework?
Irregular verbs.
Affirmative (Subject + past tense + ....)
eg: I saw him yesterday.
Negative (subject + didnt + base form
verb + .)
eg:I didnt see him yesterday.
verb)
eg: Did you see him yesterday?
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Past Continuous Tense
When do we use Past Continuous Tense?

For actions that were going on at a particular time in the past.
Examples:
It was raining when I went for a walk this morning.
At eight, she was having her breakfast.
For actions that were going on when another action was going on at the same
time.
Example:
She was doing her home work while her sister was reading a
book.
For interrupted past actions.
Example:
While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly shut down
.
To express intention, as with the verbs going to, intending to etc.
Example:
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She was planning to go to the circus, but she changed her mind.
Form
Affirmative (subject + was/were + verb +
ing)
eg: She was writing a letter last night,
when the phone rang.
Negative (subject + was/were + not +
verb + ing)
eg: I was not talking during the exam.
Interrogative (was/were + subject + verb
+ ing)
eg: Were you talking during the exam?
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Past Perfect Tense
When do we use Past Perfect Tense?

Past perfect is the past viewed from another past viewpoint.
Example:
Meera went to the zoo last week. Parna went to the zoo too but they didnt
see each other. Meera left by 11:00 am and Parna arrived at 11:15 am.
When Parna reached the zoo, Meera wasnt there. She had left.
More Examples.
When I reached the station the train had left.
He was late to office because his car had broken down.
He failed in the exam because he had not prepared.
Form
Affirmative (sub+ had + past participle of
verb)
eg: I had slept by then.
Negative (sub+ had + not + past participle of
verb)
eg: I had not slept by then.
Interrogative (had + sub + been + verb + ing)
eg: Had I slept by then?
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Past Perfect Continuous Tense

When do we use Past Perfect Continuous Tense?
To talk about actions or situations that had been happening for a period before
something else happened.
Eg.1: Finally the bus came. I had been waiting for 30 minutes. (before the bus
came)
Eg.2: The team had been playing for about an hour when it started to rain.
The game was stopped.
Form
Affirmative (sub+ had + been + verb +
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ing)
eg: I had been sleeping.
Negative (sub+ had + not +been + verb +
ing)
eg: I had not been sleeping.
Interrogative (had + sub + been + verb +
ing)
eg: Had I been sleeping?
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Future Tense
The simple future tense has two different forms of usage:

1.
will
2.
be going to. (present continuous used to indicate the

future)
These two forms are often used interchangeably.
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When do we use Simple Future Tense?

The verb will is most frequently used for information and predictions.
Future facts and prediction.
Examples:
Winter will start by November.
It will rain tomorrow.
Making promises
Example:
I will file your tax returns by Wednesday.
Assumptions/speculations
Example:
That will be the milkman at the door.
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Threats
Example:
You better fill in the time sheets on time, else youll get into
trouble.
Form
Affirmative (Subject + shall/will + verb)
eg: I will complete my assignment
tonight.
verb)
eg: You will not go out with your friends
this evening.
Interrogative (Shall/Will + subject +
verb)
eg: Shall we go out?.
The present continuous tense can also be used to indicate planned actions in the future.
eg: I am going to complete my assignment tonight.
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Future
Continuous
Tense
When do we use Future Continuous Tense?

For polite enquiries to find out about other peoples plans, but without any
intention to influence their decision
Example:
Will you be coming to dinner tonight?
To indicate that something will be in progress at a particular moment in the
future
Example:
They will be shopping at the mall at 4pm tomorrow.
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To refer to future events which are fixed or decided.

Example:
The cricket team will be playing at the stadium tomorrow.
To predict the present moment to say what we think might be happening
now
Example:
Jane will be having her lunch right now.
Form
Affirmative (Subject + will + be + verb +
ing)
eg: I will be playing tennis at this time
tomorrow.
Negative (Subject + will + not + be +
verb + ing)
eg: I will not be playing tennis at this
time tomorrow.
Interrogative ( Will + subject + be + verb
+ ing)
eg: Will I be playing tennis at this time
tomorrow?
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Future perfect
When do we use Future Perfect?
The future perfect tense is used to indicate that an action will have been
completed by a particular point in the future.
Form
Affirmative (Subject + will + have + past
participle)
eg: They will have studied for 10 hours
continuously by 1pm this afternoon.
Negative (Subject + will + not + have +
past participle)
eg: The horses will not have had enough
rest by this evening.
Interrogative (Will + subject + have +
past participle)
eg: Will you have practised your piano
notes well for your exam tomorrow?
Future
perfect
continuous
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When do we use Future perfect continuous?

The future perfect continuous tense is used to indicate how long an action will have been in
progress by a certain time in the future.
Form
Affirmative (Subject + will + have + been + verb
+ ing)
eg: I will have been traveling by car for 8 hours
by this time tomorrow.
Negative (Subject + will + not + have + been +
verb + ing)
eg: They will not have been studying for long by
the time you arrive.
Interrogative (Will + subject + have + been + verb
+ ing)
eg: Will he have been waiting for long.
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Sentence Connectors
sentences.
When we begin to learn to language, we start with very basic
Example: Tokyo is a very exciting city. Tokyo is very expensive.

As we learn more words and start making complex sentences, its
imperative for us to use sentence connectors to make sophisticated sentences.
Example: Despite the fact that Tokyo is very expensive, it is also very exciting.
Sentence Connectors can be referred as 'glue' that make different
parts of the text stick together. They also indicate a change in the mood of the
idea or the sentence. Sentence connectors ensure logical connectivity between
sentences and paragraphs.
But at the same time, overuse of discourse markers would make a
text sound too heavy or artificial.
Sentence connectors are generally used at the start of a phrase or
clause. Different types of sentence connectors are used to indicate the
relationship between sentences. The following table illustrates the usage of
them in varying context.
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Type of relationship
Sentence connectors
Position within
clause/sentence
Adding something
Moreover; In addition; Additionally;

Further; Further to this; Also;
Besides; What is more.
Initial position
Making a contrast
between two
separate things,
people, ideas, etc.
However; On the other hand; In

contrast; Yet.
Initial position
Making an
Although; Even though; Despite the Initial position
unexpected contrast fact that; In spite of the fact that;
Starts a second/
(concession)
Regardless of the fact that.
subordinate clause
Saying why
something is the case
Because; Since; As; Insofar as.
Initial position
Starts a
second/subordinate
clause
Saying what the

result of something
is
Therefore; Consequently; In
consequence; As a result;
Accordingly; Hence; Thus; For this
reason; Because of this.
Initial position
Expressing a
condition
If; In the event of; As long as...; So

long as...; Provided that...;
Assuming that...; Given that....
Initial position
Starts a second/
subordinate clause
Making what you say

stronger
On the contrary; As a matter of

fact; In fact; Indeed.
Initial position
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Let us look at some examples for each of the Categories of

Relationship.
Adding Something
We cant meet her today as she is out of office. Moreover, we
dont have a prior appointment.
Making a Contrast
Tom is a good drummer. In Contrary he fears making a speech in
front of the audience.
In spite of all his failures, Ken has turned out successful.
Saying why something is the case
Veena doesnt eat Prawns, because she is allergic to sea food.
Saying what the result of something is
show.
My car ran out of petrol on the way. Consequently I got late to the
Expressing a Condition
power.
As long as the wind mills are up and running, we will get enough
Making what you say stronger

As long as Beck is reckless in driving, In fact she had met with 3
accidents last year.
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Quiz
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Indian English or Indianisms

Indianisms refer to the grammatical mistakes in English that are
very common in India. They are words, phrases or expressions which are a part
of colloquially spoken English in India. It is very important for us to
understand these errors to avoid ambiguity in communication.
Lets look at the following conversation between two colleagues at
the work place to understand it better:
John
: Good Morning Perry! When is our client meeting scheduled?
Perry : Good Morning John. Oh! I just received a note from Gary that the
meeting has been preponed.
John
: Oh I see! Are we going to discuss about the same agenda that was
planned?
Perry
: Gary told me that he would send us the updated agenda soon.
John
: Lets do one thing, why don't we get into a call with Gary
Perry
: I have already left him a message. He has to revert back.
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The highlighted phrases in the above conversation indicate Indianism. Here

are a few more examples of Indian English.
Me and my friend.
Please have little

patience.
She is here only.
He did it itself.
She herself did the work.
I will return it back
Please revert back.
She had an operation

three years back.
Please stay online for a

moment while.....
I did not took it.
I did not knew it.
I am loving it.
You are going. Is it?
The food is bad it seems.
This job is more easier

than that.
I have a terrific
headache.
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Quiz
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Identify the phrases/words in below sentences which are commonly used in

Indian English
1.
Youre looking healthier these days. Have you been

gymming?
2.
So, whats todays program.
3.
Shes really taking a lot of tension from work.
4.
You always see women wearing slippers in the market.
5.
"Do you know who am I?"
6.
"My brother is bigger than me":
7.
"He said me to do this":
8.
"I am having a headache":
9.
Please do the Needful.
Conclusion
What weve discussed is just a little compared to the vast ocean
this topic is. Ensure that whenever you communicate, you convey the intended
idea. Use sentence connectors to connect your ideas appropriately. Get into a
little research on these topics yourself and your learning will be immense!
Happy Learning!
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How do you say it - TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.
How do you say it
Pronunciation- How do you say it?
Don't we get impressed by people who speak English really well? That's why we also
need to speak as well as they do. To be a good speaker, it is important that we speak the language
in a way which is understood by the native speaker as well as people like us (who use it as a
second language).
How would you feel if you are listening to someone talking and you can't make head
or tail of it? However, you can understand from which part of India that person is without even
asking. Sometimes, sounds from our mother-tongue may influence the sounds in English and
sound funny. A mispronounced word could also result in a misinterpretation.
https://aspire.tcs.com/aspire/courses/business_skills/How do you say it/Speaking_skills_1.html
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How do you say it
Look at the following example:
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How do you say it
How about this one?
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How do you say it
People gather the meaning of what you are saying from the
pronunciation of the words employed.
Let us look at the characteristics of pronunciation in English:
English is not a phonetic language. This means that some words can have the
same spelling but different pronunciation. Practise what you hear, not what
you see.
For example : Lead kindly light.
Lead is used to make pencils.
Tips: Do not confuse pronunciation of words with their spelling! For example,
"science" and "signs", although spelled differently, are pronounced the same.
Even though there are 26 letters in the language, there are 44 sounds (also
called Phonemes). The link given helps us understand what these sounds are:
Link here
Quiz Time:
Lets start a quiz on English pronunciations. Click here to start the quiz.
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How do you say it
Now that we have gone through the basic sounds, let us look at
what makes a syllable to form a word. A syllable is a cluster of consonant and
vowel phonemes. Syllables can have one or more sounds.
E.g: Inn: inn, Doctor: doc-tor, Assimilation: A-ssim-il-a-tion
Its time for self evaluation.
Try splitting the following words into syllables:
Well
Pineapple
Birthday
Basket
Pick
Because
Amazing
Trapped
Bought
Evolution
Muscle
Egoistic
Double
Gather
Flower
Terrible
Mango
Wonderful
Bottle
Forsake
Cupboard
January
Carpenter
Position
Check your Answers here.
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How do you say it
Proper pronunciation alone does not lead to effective

communication. In addition to listening for specific sounds, listen to pauses,
intonation and patterns of emphasis/stress. This can be just as important as
the pronunciation of sounds.
Word Stress: In English, we do not say each syllable with the same emphasis or
strength. In one word, we accentuate ONE syllable. We say one syllable very
loudly (big, strong, important) and all the other syllables very quietly.
Eg: GENtle, COURteous, eduCAtion, SCIence, AusTRAlia
Sentence Stress: It is the accent on certain words within a sentence. In English,
all the words in a sentence need not be stressed or accentuated. Words that are
stressed are generally the Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives and Adverbs. Words that
are not stressed are words such as the prepositions, conjunctions, articles,
pronouns etc.
Sentence stress is important because it affects meaning.
Sometimes the meaning of a sentence changes based on the stressed placed on
different words. Look at the example below:
Eg : Where are you going? (refers to the place)
Where are you going? (refers to the person)
Where are you going? (refers to the act)
Quiz Time:
1 . Try splitting the following words into
syllables:
Wallet
Mirror
Ear
Watched
Advantages
Ambition
Government
Calculator
Environment
Rocket
Technology
Degree
Unit
Tourist
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How do you say it
2. Mark the stressed words in the

following sentences:
Ram organized a photographic
exhibition.
They are going to buy a car.
Please be calm and check again.
What on earth are you doing?
The effort you put into work depends on
how well organized you are.
Intonation:
Patterns of pitch variation constitute intonation.
In English, it serves a grammatical function and an attitudinal
function. The listener can make out whether the sentence is a statement or
question, a command or a request.
With the help of intonation one can also make out the attitude or mood of the
speaker whether the speaker is bored, annoyed, interested in the subject of
conversation, sarcastic, etc.
Example : wonderful
How would you say the following words if you were excited, bored, annoyed:
fantastic
really
super
amazing
incredible
marvelous
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How do you say it
Quiz
Here are some links to help you out:

Speaking: Pronunciation: Phonetics, British English file
Speaking Pronunciation Phonetics (North American English) file
Speaking: Pronunciation: Phonetics, British English file
http://www.rong-chang.com
http://www.englishclub.com
http://www.englishmedialab.com
http://www.soundsofenglish.org
http://esl.about.com
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Learning & Development - TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.
God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we can

hear twice as much as we say!
https://aspire.tcs.com/aspire/courses/business_skills/Listening skills/listening.html
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https://aspire.tcs.com/aspire/courses/business_skills/Listening skills/listening2.html
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T HE WI SE OWL
A wise o ld o wl
Sat in an o ak.
The m o re he saw,
The less he spo ke
The less he spo ke,
The m o re he heard.
Why c an't we be like
That wise o ld bird?
Effective communication plays an important role in our day to

day life. The success of our communication is dependent on our ability to
effectively convey our thoughts, ideas, and emotions. In this process, believe it
or not, active listening plays an important role in improving our relationships
with those around us and reducing arguments and misunderstandings.
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Quiz
Let us listen to a conversation between two friends:
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Let us think of situations in real life where you have felt that
people are not listening to you. Did it not create various emotions such as
confusion, worry and frustration in you? Dont you think every time you
choose not to listen you are creating a similar situation for the speaker?
In our day to day life we come across many situations where

ineffective listening leads to misunderstanding between individuals. This can
happen because we are busy trying to frame our response to the other person
or, our own subconscious thought process is interfering with our listening
process.
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Quiz
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For example, while asking for direction in a new locality, you would listen
very keenly because you do not want to lose your way in a strange place.
However, there are also situations in which we may not listen actively. A case in point is,
while dancing to your favorite song, you are more focused to the tune and rhythm of the
music than to the actual lyrics.
With this we can come to a very obvious conclusion:
"Hearing is a physical ability while listening is a skill!"
We listen more when we:

Want to obtain information
Need to understand
Want to learn
Choose to listen
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Barriers to effective listening

Reflecting on the activity that you did earlier, it is clear that
various factors affect listening. It could be internal or external. By internal
factors it could mean aspects such as the mindset of the listener, assumptions
and prejudices/bias, physical wellbeing etc. External factors could be the noise
level in the surrounding, the environment, physical barriers etc.
Quiz
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Caselet
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How to listen well?

Now that we have understood the barriers to listening and why
should we still listen, let us get to know how to listen.
Create genuine interest.

Get involved in what is being said and connect with the speaker.
Maintain eye contact and lean towards the speaker. It shows
your interest and attention towards what the speaker is saying.
Interact with the speaker.

Consider each point (pay attention to) that is being delivered.
Good listeners tune out distractions and focus on the speaker
and the message.
Occasionally nod your head to indicate that you are listening.
Maintain eye contact with the listener.
Lean forward in your chair. You could also turn in your chair to
focus on the speaker and avoid any disturbances.
Consider it a learning opportunity.

Every interaction with any speaker is an opportunity for you to
learn. Creative people are always on the lookout for new
information.
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Stay free from prejudices and assumptions.

It is important to keep an open mind and listen without filters.
Filters tend to obscure messages. Prejudices and assumptions
influence our willingness and ability to hear.
Be objective in your approach and look beyond your barriers of
listening. Wait till you have listened to the whole message.
Participate in the communication process.

Communication is a two way process which needs the active
participation of both the speaker and the listener. A good
listener gets the best out of the speaker. Get beyond the manner
of delivery to the underlying message. Do not judge the message
by the style of delivery.
Carry a good posture.

Posture conveys a great deal about the attitude of the listener.
Avoid restless, distracted movements. Sit in a comfortable
position.
Empathize!
Try to look at things from the speaker's perspective by keeping
an open mind to what is being said.
Hold back any judgments, jumping to conclusions, the urge to
speak or the I know all this attitude. You will be amazed at
how you understand the speaker once you stop criticizing!
Be receptive to non-verbal cues.

Do not limit your listening to verbal cues alone but, listen to nonverbal cues as well. This would include being sensitive to the
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non-verbal cues such as body language, gesture, expressions,

tone of voice etc. This would help you to interpret the message
more effectively.
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Benefits of good listening skills
Having spoken this long about listening, let us understand what

the benefits of listening are, or in other words, why we listen should.
Listening helps to:
Ensure proper understanding - the listener is attuned to both the
verbal and non-verbal cues of the speaker.
Reduce misunderstanding - when the listener takes a conscious
decision to avoid distraction, prejudices and bias, there is more
transparency and effectiveness in the message that is conveyed.
Improve relationship - an attentive listener is able to create a
good rapport with the speaker. This can be done by having a
keen interest in what is being said and mirroring a positive body
language.
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Quiz time!!
A. Now to check how much we learnt, let us listen to a video and attempt a
questionnaire:
Click this link and listen to the video.
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Quiz
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Conclusion
Developing good listening skills takes time and effort. We have to make a conscious
effort to overcome our barriers and filters while listening. While listening, we need to listen with
the intention to understand, reflect on both the message and the non verbal cues and paraphrase
to ensure understanding.
Did you know that we actually spend a lot of time listening? Out of the total time we
spend communicating, statistics say we spend 9% of the time writing, 16 % of the time reading,
30% of the time speaking and 45% of the time Listening!! Thats all the more reason why we need
to pay attention to and work on our listening skills. So thats all on listening for now. I hope
whatever we have discussed has been useful and will improve your listening skills! Thank you!
Suggested References:
http://www.englishclub.com/listening/dictations-short.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/
http://www.esl-lab.com/
http://englishteststore.net/index.php?option=com_content
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Non Verbal Communication - TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.
https://aspire.tcs.com/aspire/courses/business_skills/NVC/NVC.html
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Introduction: Nonverbal communication

Have you ever been in situations where you felt that people whom
you are interacting with are not paying attention even though they nod their
head and makes eye contact? It could be because they shift their posture often
or fidget with their hands. It could also be because they constantly blink their
eyes. In these situations the speaker receives mixed signals from the audience.
This primarily happens through the non verbal cues such as eye
contact,posture, gestures, facial expressions etc.
In our day to day interaction with people around us, we tend to
rely a lot on non verbal communication. In fact researches show that 93% of
the communication that happens between individuals is through non verbal
communication.
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Nonverbal communication is usually understood as the process

of communication through sending and receiving wordless (mostly visual)
cues between people.
Messages can be communicated in a variety of ways,for example
by gestures, , touch, facial expressions, eye contact,posture,body language etc
which are all considered as channels of nonverbal communication. While
interacting with others, we are continuously giving and receiving wordless
signals.
All our nonverbal behaviorsthe gestures we make, the way we
sit, our rate of speech, audibility level, eye contact we make etc send strong
messages. Communication does not stop when we stop speaking. Even when
you're silent, you're still communicating non verbally.
We never realize this but the way we look at someone, the way we
nod, listen and respond, the expressions on our face, the way we walk and even
the way we breathe can tell the other person whether we are paying attention
or not.
Nonverbal signals complement the words youre saying. Imagine
someone with a very sad/plain face telling you that you did a good job. Would
you believe him or her? What would your response be? Wouldnt you feel
confused and wonder if the person means what he or she just said?
On a day that didnt turn out to be a great one, havent people
come up to you and asked you if you were fine? You perhaps never said
anything and wonder how they guessed! Well, your body language did that.
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There are various channels of nonverbal communication.

Awareness of the impact of these channels is an important step towards
becoming a skillful communicator.
Facial expressions
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We convey a lot of emotions and thoughts through our facial

expressions. In fact the face is considered as the index of the mind. The facial
expressions for fear, surprise, anger, happiness etc. are universal. A
considerable amount of nonverbal communication happens through facial
expressions. It can display quite openly both intentional and unintentional
thoughts, emotions and attitudes.
In order to have a pleasant expression, Practice smiling. At the same time you
could also avoid:
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Body Language
Consider how your perceptions of people are affected by the way they sit, walk, stand up,
or hold their head. Words apart, there are certain gestures, subtle movements, expressions that
indicate that there is something underlying to what a person is conveying or trying to convey.
My friends around seem excited to learn more. Lets take a closer look at:
Postures
Gestures
Eye
contact
Voice
Space
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Posture
The posture you maintain mainly two things about you:
Says how you feel,
Reveals your Confidence level.
Posture is broadly divided into two types: Open posture and closed posture.
Characteristics of Open or
positive body language:
Characteristics of Negative or
closed body language:
Relaxed posture
Body tense
Arms relaxed
Arms folded in front
Good eye contact
Hand on face
Nodding agreement
Fidgeting
Taking notes
Arms behind head, leaning back
Smiling/adding humour
Yawning
Leaning forward
Impatience
Distraction
Leaning away
Negative facial expressions
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Gestures
A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication in which visible
bodily actions communicate particular messages. It can be used either in place
of speech or to support and emphasize verbal communication. Gestures
include movement of the hands, face, or other parts of the body. Gestures allow
individuals to communicate a variety of feelings and thoughts, from contempt
and hostility to approval and affection.
The meaning of gestures can differ across cultures and it is important to avoid
misinterpretation.
Quiz
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Just as we have gestures that are positive, there are a few gestures, we may want to
avoid.Gestures that can be avoided include:
Pointing
finger
Fist
raising
Hands
on
Hips
Hands
in
pockets
Crossed
arms
Did you know that you can actually use gestures to your advantage? The following tips
would help you project a positive body language.
Use your palms and open them out to your audience when gesturing
Move your arm and hand as a single unit
Keep your hands and gestures above your waist while gesturing
Practice these regularly and you will soon find them come to you naturally.
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Eye contact
The way you look at someone can communicate many things,
including interest, hostility, or attraction. It can also tell us if someone is
saying the truth or is lying.
Eye contact is important to maintain the flow of conversation and
to understand the response of the other person.
Eye contact is one of the most powerful nonverbal tools that can
be used to gain attention. This cue has the ability to regulate a conversation
and signal the listener to attentively listen to the conversation. This kind of
communication occurs during 10-30% of the conversation. A haphazard
pattern in eye contact can result in the breakdown of conversation.
Remember maintaining Eye Contact does not mean staring or glaring.
Quiz
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Eye contact
Advantages of maintaining good eye
contact
Interpreted as honesty
Creates a good impression
Develops trust
Improves credibility
Reduces the physical distance in half
Connects the speaker with the listener.
Enables one to analyze the listeners
response
Provides the speaker with a valuable
feedback.
Space
Have you ever felt uncomfortable during a conversation because
the other person was standing too close and invading your space? Personal
space is the region surrounding people which they regard as psychologically
theirs. The need for physical space is dependent on the context,closeness of
relationship and it varies from culture to culture.
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Quiz
What you need to keep in mind is this:

Respect peoples personal spaces
Read their body language to understand if you have encroached
into their personal space.
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Voice
While speaking how we speak is as important as what we speak.
When we speak, other people read our voices in addition to
listening to our words. This includes your pace, how loud you speak, your tone
and modulation and sounds that convey understanding, such as ahh and
uh-huh.
Quiz
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Voice
Well, we could say that Vishal is excited, because he was eager to
present his innovative project. Hence in his eagerness to share his findings, his
speech rate began to increase and he also began to speak loudly.
What we need to remember here is that a fast pace and a high
pitch or very loud voice, can very often make one sound rude. There is a high
probability that Vishal could have sounded dominating or aggressive in the
given circumstances.
A persons vocal tone is a key communication clue. Taken by
itself it might mean nothing or even be misleading (as in Vishals case) but
combined with the rest of the communication cues, you can put together a very
accurate picture of not only what the speaker is saying but also the speakers
intention.
So point to remember - no matter how excited you may be, watch
your voice, your tone and how loud you are. This would ensure you
communicate what you want to say effectively with the desired impact
Tips on Nonverbal Communication

Pay Attention to Nonverbal Signals:
While speaking to others, pay attention to non verbal cues such as as
eye contact, gestures, posture, body movements, and tone of voice. All
these signals convey important information which may not at times be
conveyed through words.
Make sure your body language complements what you are
saying:
If your body language does not complement what is being said, your
listener tends to read the non verbal cues more than the spoken word.
Use the right tone:
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Your tone of voice can convey a wealth of information, ranging from

happiness to anxiety and excitement. Pay attention to how your tone of
voice affects how others respond to you and try using tone of voice to
emphasize ideas that you want to communicate.
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Use Good Eye Contact:

While eye contact is an important part of communication, you need to
take care that you do not stare at the other person.
Ask Questions about Nonverbal Signals
If you are confused about another person's nonverbal signals, you could
ask for clarification. A good idea is to rephrase or paraphrase.
Look at Signals as a Group
A single gesture may or may not convey a certain message. However,
the key to accurately reading nonverbal behavior is to look for groups
of signals that reinforce a common point.
Consider Context
While communicating with others, you need to consider the situation
and the context in which the communication occurs. You need to pay
attention to your non verbal cues such that it is complements your
verbal message.
Conclusion
Non verbal communication plays an integral role in effective
communication. It is very important to support and complement our verbal
messages with non verbal communication. Sending out mixed signals lead to
distrust and confusion between individuals. There it is important that we
develop and use non verbal communication to convey the right message as
well as learn to interpret more clearly what someone else is really saying.
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Effective Reading Skills - TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.
The Purpose of Reading : Before you start reading , you need to ask yourself why you're reading it.
Are you reading with a purpose, or for pleasure? The way you read,your level of interest and
concentration, change with the purpose.
Decide on the right resource : You need to make sure that the resource you have chosen is ideal for
your need and gives you the required information.
Practise Active Reading : While studying a document with the intention to understand it in
detail,it is good to take notes and underline key points.This would be very helpful to review and
recollect key points.
https://aspire.tcs.com/aspire/courses/business_skills/How well do you read/Reading_Skills_1.html
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Four Types of Effective Reading Skills

Skimming:
While skimming through a text or a document you focus only on
the main idea or the gist of the text.It is not necessary to read and understand
each word.
Eg. Newspaper (get to know the main news of the day)
Magazines (check out the content)
Scanning:
While scanning a text or a document your focus is to find a
particular piece of information.It is not necessary to read and understand each
word.
Eg. A programme chart , Schedule , Telephone Directory
Extensive Reading:
In extensive reading, you read the content to have a general
understanding and overview of the document/text.
Eg. A text book , A report
Intensive reading:
In intensive reading,you read the text or document with a lot of
attention to detail so that you do not miss out on specific and important
facts/information.
Eg. An account statement , A contract
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Activity
Read through the content and answer the questions that follow:
Click here to read your content
References
http://www.englishforeveryone.org/Topics/ReadingComprehension.htm
http://esl.about.com/od/englishreadingskills/a/readingskills.htm
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How do we write it - TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.
How do we write it
Contents
Speaking Vs. Writing
Spices of Writing
https://aspire.tcs.com/aspire/courses/business_skills/How do we write it/1 Writing-Differences/Writing-Differences_1.html
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How do we write it
Speaking Vs. Writing
About the quote, when Yoda said this he was talking to someone else
about something else but this statement is very relevant to what we are going to
discuss now- how do we write?
I have always wished that writing in English would be as simple as
mathematics. Now when I say mathematics, I do not mean trigonometry or any of
the other English meets Number kind of math. I refer to the basics, two times
two is four; there is no other answer. But writing in English is not like this at all.
You can put two words together or four or eight- there is no guarantee that the
meaning is conveyed. In comparison, speaking is a breeze; we can be reasonably
sure that the message is conveyed.
Why... you ask? Thats the difference between speaking and writing.
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How do we write it
The first difference is the most obvious one; no gold stars for guessing it.
For speaking, we use our voice and for writing, we use pen and paper.
Elementary1 is what the great Sherlock Holmes would say to that. Now let us move on
to the more complicated differences.
You see, when it comes to speaking the greatest advantage that we can have
is our presence. We would be available to clarify any doubts that the listener may have.
This also gives us the added advantage of para- language2. Para- language refers to the
facial expressions and the tone of speech. As a result, the listener has more factors to
take into account when deciphering3 the message. This can, to an extent, ensure
understanding of the message.
On the other hand, as a writer, we would only have letters on the keyboard
and a hope and a prayer that the reader would understand what we write.
Words used:
1 . Elementary - Of or related to the most basic aspects of a subject.
2 . Para- language - Refers to the facial expressions and the tone of speech.
3 . Decipher - Convert into understandable language.
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How do we write it
Quiz
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How do we write it
Another advantage we have with speaking is the possibility of fine tuning.

Since the listener would be in front of us, we can get immediate feedback based on
which we would be able to change the style of our presentation. However, we cannot
fine tune when we write. All we can do is to wait until we get a response from the reader
as to whether the message was clear or not. If the reader is across the globe or may be
the galaxy, this might take a while. Consequently1, we would face a lot of uncertainty.
Words used:
1 . Consequently - as a result of.
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How do we write it
Let me give you an example.

To: john.doe@tcs.com (someone in US)
Dear John,
Could you please send me the document?
Thanks and regards,
Jane Doe
India
'Could you send me the document?'- Let me tell you, the Da Vinci
code would be much easier to decipher than this email. The mail is incompletewhat document was Jane referring to? John would obviously respond to the
mail asking for more details. And by the time Jane sees the response, a whole
day would have passed without any action.
See, we are a multinational company and we would have to
correspond1 with people in different parts of the world. What happened to Jane
as a writer must not happen to us. We have to work keeping in mind the
possibility of delays and let that caution us.
Words used:
1 . Correspond - to communicate with someone by letter or email.
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How do we write it
In the last two sections we managed to establish that speaking is

better than writing. However, in one aspect writing scores higher than
speaking and that is legality1. Anything in writing can be used as proof in the
court of law. However, it is not so in the case of speaking. This is because
spoken words can be subject to different interpretations based on the listener;
therefore it cannot be taken as conclusive evidence2.
Does that make sense?

You must have seen those movies where the bad guy is in court
and he denies being in the hotel where he committed a crime. Then the hero
lawyer would burst into a speech about the higher power and God's fingerprint
and then he would whip out3 a receipt for a chicken biriyani that the villain
had in the same hotel before committing the crime. A written document, in this
case a printed document brought him to justice. Same is the case with any
company. Everything is documented to ensure that information is solid and
cannot be contested.
Words used:
1 . Legality - the quality of having legal force or effectiveness.
2 . Conclusive evidence - evidence that cannot be questioned.
3 . Whip out - to pull something out (out of place).
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How do we write it
We've never even owned a notebook when we were in college and

now you expect us to start writing down everything that happens?
This is what you are thinking, right? Don't deny it; I know, I have
looked into your souls fine, maybe I didn't look into your soul. But I can
imagine why this thought would cross your mind- documentation is, for lack of
a better word, boring. But I have a counter for that too.
Everything intelligent is so boring.
- Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
Feel like beating all the writing skills out of me? Regardless, I will
make my point. Documentation is boring because it is the intelligent thing to
do. All points discussed and decisions taken during meetings or discussions
should be captured and consolidated. These points later become minutes of
meeting, status reports and the like. Such documents are proof that everyone is
informed about their responsibilities and be accountable for the same.
Also, please refer to the section on Note Taking.
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How do we write it
Tips for taking down notes effectively

1.
Do not aim to note down everything - A mistake many of us

make while note taking is to attempt to take down
everything that is being said. This approach is incorrect as
we would be more focused on what is being said than what
the actual message is. Therefore, we should listen and aim at
taking down only the gist.
2.
Organize your notes - Write correct headings and highlight

them. Have a separate notebook for every module.
3.
Space out your notes - Ensure that your notes are not
jumbled or look scribbled. Put the required space between
words and points.
After reading all of this, you are probably thinking that speaking
is easier than writing and you are probably right. But dont get the wrong idea.
Writing is just as important as speaking. We should work on improving both at
the same time and not focus on one and ignore the other.
Writing is tough as we have to take into consideration a lot of
factors like who we are writing to, what to write and how to write. Even then we
might miss out on certain things. We have this module on writing skills to give
you some tips on how to write better.
Susan will be introducing you to the Spices of Writing in the next section.
Have fun while learning more about writing and to quote Master Yoda again,
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How do we write it
Spices of Writing
1.
When we speak, we can use our body language and tone of voice also to
convey our message. However, these facilities are absent in writing.
2.
While speaking we have the option of fine tuning according to feedback from
audience whereas while writing, this is not possible.
3.
Written documents can be used as conclusive evidence in the court of law but
spoken words cannot be used like so.
If you are unclear about any of above mentioned points, I would suggest that you go through
Speaking Vs Writing again.
https://aspire.tcs.com/aspire/courses/business_skills/How do we write it/2 Spices of Writing/Spices_of _Writing_1.html
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How do we write it
Alright then, lets get this show on the road.

You must be wondering about the topic- Spices of Writing. Well, I
thought Id take a leaf out of Aryans book and start with a quote. So, I looked
and looked and then looked some more and I found this...
Variety's the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.
This is a quote by William Cowper, an English poet and

hymnodist. In this quote, he has referred to variety as the spice of life. He is
right, more right than a tick mark. What would happen if there was only one of
everything? Wouldnt too much of the same thing bore you? Thats why we
seek variety; it adds spice to life.
But why do we need variety in writing? Is it just for the spice? No,
it has a much bigger role to play. Variety creates different sources of
information written in the appropriate style to convey the message. We cannot
teach moral science without a story. We cannot learn the basics of physics
from a scientist's doctoral thesis. We cannot express ourselves through a
robotics project report. Writing will help, whatever be the purpose. But for each
prupose, there is a different style. Read on to know more.
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How do we write it
Spice 1: Creative Writing

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there was a tiny kingdom. This
kingdom was ruled by a kind and generous king who was loved by all. His subjects
served him faithfully, the fairies blessed him abundantly. However, all his happiness
was about to be shattered by the Ice Witch.
The Ice Witch lived in the most dangerous, darkest and coldest part of
the kingdom; a place simply called the Gray. She was jealous of the attention that the
king got from his subjects, so her evil mind decided to ruin the king. She cursed him
The excerpt that you just read is something that I came up with
right now. But my creative juices ran out before I could complete the story.
Anyway, this is an example for creative writing. The style of writing deviates
from the normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of
literature. It is usually characterized by the use of imaginary characters,
dragons and the like. The poems and plays that we studied in school, the
scripts for the movies we watch are all examples of creative writing.
Creative writing is any kind of fiction.
Spice 2: Informative Writing/Media Writing

This one is fairly simple. Any writing that gives us complete
information about something in an unbiased way is informative or media
writing. The articles that we read in the newspaper and magazines are all types
of media writing.
Media writing generally follows the inverted pyramid style of
writing. The order of information would be an elaboration of the headline first,
pertinent details next and conclusion or any other background information.
The article would also be objective and direct.
The pyramid style is not always followed though. The editorials
or features that we have read would deviate from this style. They would
sometimes be in the writers point of view. The tone of writing would also be
different- content could have excerpts of the writers interaction with different
people making it more personal.
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Informative or media writing gives us information about

something in an unbaised manner. It generally follows the inverted pyramid
style, that is, most important information first and other information last.
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How do we write it
Spice 3: Persuasive Writing

The following is an excerpt from a speech made by Winston
Churchill, former British Prime Minister.
What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect
that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of
Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of
our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very
soon be turned on us.
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war.
If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move
forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the
United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss
of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of
perverted science.
Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that
if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still
say, This was their finest hour.
Mr. Winston Churchill is very well known for his leadership of the
United Kingdom during World War II. This speech was made four days after
Paris fell into Nazi hands and the day after the French requested an armistice.
The British were now alone in the fight against the Nazi war machine and
Churchill tried to bring hope in one of Britains darkest hours through The
Finest Hour speech. And it certainly did bring about a lot of difference. This
speech is an example for persuasive writing.
Persuasive writing is often characterised by an attempt to change
attitudes or motivate people to action. Other examples are the advertising
campaigns, social, political or artistic criticism etc.
The goal of persuasive writing is to change attitudes or motivate
someone to do something.

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How do we write it
Spice 4: Expressive Writing

Expressive writing allows the writer to express their personal
feelings through their writing. The most popular form of expressive writing is,
or rather used to be, diary entries. The ways of our world has changed so much
that expressing your feelings in public is, now hip. This has made blogs
more popular. Travelogues and personal journals are other examples of
expressive writing.
Spice 5: Exploratory Writing

This kind of writing exposes a topic analytically and objectively,
like technical writing, the goal of exploratory writing is to explain or reveal
knowledge, but exploratory writing does not necessarily expect a response or
action from the reader. Examples for this type of writing are white papers,
marketing analysis, feasibility studies etc.
Spice 6: Business and Technical Writing

These two types of writing are similar and different. Their
similarities should not extend beyond the fact that they have specific formats
and they are used for within companies.
Business writing emerged in response to the specific needs of
those involved in business-related enterprises and from the daily need for clear
communication both inside and outside of corporations. Exmaples include
status reports, minutes of meeting, emails etc.
Technical writing emerged in response to technology, most
specifically in the need to communicate or describe that technology to an often
less than sophisticated audience. These documents are meant a specific
audience. Examples of technical writing are Software Requirement
Specifications (SRS), System Design Document (SDD) etc.
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How do we write it
Conclusion
This module was a bit too much theory for you, wasn't it? Even so,
I hope you have understood the different types of writing. We should be aware
of the various types so that we know what is the most appropriate style of
writing for any given context or we should know what is the right spice to make
the dish yummy.
Well, that is all from me now. You are in for a surprise in the next
module - Characteristics of Writing.
Quiz
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How do we write it
https://aspire.tcs.com/aspire/courses/business_skills/How do we write it/3 Characteristics of Writing/Characteristics_of_Writing_1.html
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How do we write it
again.
1.
Creative Writing is any kind of fiction.
2.
Informative or Media Writing gives us information about

something in an unbiased manner. It generally follows the
inverted pyramid style, that is, most important information
first and other information last.
3.
Persuasive Writing is meant to change attitude or motivate

someone to do something.
4.
Expressive Writing is used to express someone's feelings or

experiences.
5.
Exploratory Writing is to explore and analyze a topic and

thereby, gain more knowledge.
6.
Business Writing is used for day to day communication

within enterprises.
7.
Technical Writing is to explain technology to the less

experienced readers.
In case you have any doubts, please go through Spices of Writing
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How do we write it
As usual, let us start with a quote.
they will read it;

appreciate it;
remember it; and, above all,
guided by its light.
Put it to them briefly, so

clearly, so they will
picturesquely, so they will
accurately, so they will be
This quote sums up the essence of effective writing and I came up

with it.... Alright, alright. It wasn't me but it could have been me. Anyway, this
quote is by Joseph Pulitzer the father of the famed Pulitzer Prizes, a US award
for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical
composition.
Aryan and Ill be using this quote to explain the characteristics of writing. Now
lets get started.
"Briefly, so they will read it"

The information should be communicated without verbiage or
excessive use of words. No one likes to read an email that resembles Les
Miserables. However, this does not mean we compromise on the completeness
of the information or on the tone. I can explain it better with an example. This
is part of a mail sent from a customer to a mobile company's customer care:
'I bought a phone from you and it is not working.'
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How do we write it
This is clearly a complaint, but about what? And don't say "a
phone that's not working". Any ideas?
The writer wants to report a concern and he or she is not clear
enough- complete information is not available. Also, the tone is very
accusatory. The writer should have included the model name of the phone, the
date of purchase and the receipt number. He or she should then clearly
mention what the problem was. E.g.: "The phone gets switched off on its own"
or "I cannot make any calls even if I get a strong network signal". The writer
should then request for help from the reader.
Can you make this concise?

Find where you can break a sentence and start a new one.
The Ice Queen was so angry at the King for banishing her from the
kingdom that she swore vengence and started to plot against the King and seeked the
help of bandits from the neighbouring kingdoms who told her that the best way to get
back at the King was through his only daughter and that she should curse the princess
to feel the pain of all those who are in pain and torment which will in turn, cause the
princess to go mad and run away from her home and that will bring the King a lot of
sorrow for he loved his daughter more than anything else and if something should ever
happen to her, then he would break and become easy target for the Ice Queen and she
can launch her attack on his kingdom and destroy him forever.
Solution
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How do we write it
"Clearly, so they will appreciate it"

Anything we write, be it a report or an email, clarity of expression
is important. Clarity can be achieved by using simple words, short sentences
and small paragraphs. You must not write in a way that would send people
running in the opposite direction looking for dictionaries. The purpose of the
write- up is lost if the reader does not understand the message. An example:
Sesquipedalian- The hulking, malevolent wolf attempted to consume the
diminutive Red Riding Hood who was rescued by a hunter who despatched the wolf.
Simple- The big, bad wolf tried to eat the little Red Riding Hood. But
she was rescued by a hunter who killed the wolf.
The sentence is from the fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood. The
complicated sentence or sesquipedalian is the result of the judicious
application of a Thesauraus on the key words in the sentence. I should stop
using big words now.
My point is, knowing complicated words and knowing to phrase
complex sentences is good but we should know where to use it. In a corporate
context, simplicity is the best policy.
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How do we write it
Well, thats all from me. Aryan will now explain the last two points1.
"Picturesquely, so they will remember it"
2.
"Accurately, so they will be guided by its light
"Hey everyone. I will now continue from where Susan left off."
Picturesquely, so they will remember it

When Joseph Pulitzer said this part, he was referring to the
imagery in writing. However, in corporates, we do not need so much imagery in
writing. But we do need it just enough to get a clear picture about what should
be done. In order to achieve this, the sentences should be coherent, that is,
there should be a logical flow to the information.
Also, the reader should be given all the required information or at
least, the sources from which they can collect that information. This would
make the information accessible to the reader.
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How do we write it
Quiz
Source:
http://www.netplaces.com/fairy-tales/princesses-andprinces/cinderella.htm
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How do we write it
Accurately, so they will be guided by its light

Earlier on when we discussed the differences between speaking and writing,
I wrote that writing scores when it comes to the legality. Hence, we should be very careful
about the contents of our write- up. In case we include statistics in our write- up, it should
be up to date and accurate so that the reader can be benefited by the information.
Another factor that can make the write- up confusing would be the
grammar and choice of words. You might have heard from people that grammar doesn't
matter much in the corporate. That's wrong; one slight mistake can change the meaning.
Don't believe me? Take a look at the following example.
The sun rises in the East.
The sun is rising in the East.
The first sentence states that the sun rising in the East is a regular thing; a
universal fact. However, the second sentence suggests that the sun is currently, rising in
the East. Did you understand the difference? Why don't you give it a try?
The company is paying everyone a bonus of Rs 1500 at the end of the quarter.
The company pays everyone a bonus of Rs 1500 at the end of the quarter.
The company paid everyone a bonus of Rs 1500 at the end of the quarter.
The company has been paying everyone a bonus of Rs 1500 at the end of the quarter.
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How do we write it
Quiz
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How do we write it
Conclusion
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Corporate Etiquette - TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.
Corporate Etiquette
Corporate Etiquette
The quote above should give you a hint about an organization's

expectations from you as an employee. Now, many of you would be excited about
joining the corporate but at the same time, many would be anxious too. Through this
module, we will be giving you some tips on grooming, basic manners, performance
boosters and the various elements of change.
Grooming tips- Dress Up or Dress
Down
Manners Matter
Performance Boosters
Elements of
Change
https://aspire.tcs.com/aspire/courses/business_skills/Corporate Etiquette/Corporate_Etiquette_1.html
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Corporate Etiquette
Dress up or Dress down
There are many ways to kill someone's hopes and dreams but to
do so with a bright, neon coloured shirt on a Monday morning at work? That's
plain cruel. Inhuman. Okay, I made a bad joke. But I am right about the shirt.
Imagine someone wearing a neon green colored shirt walking to the canteen, in
the sun. That stuff could blind you or probably act as a beacon and bring
aliens to our planet! Just joking.
Im sure we have all witnessed a situation such as the above or
weve even worn something really bright and wild on some days. Sometimes
people do it intentionally. But most of the times, people dont know; are not
aware of the fact that dressing to work is very different from an occasion
outside of work our free time at home, a visit to a friends place, at a party, at
the beach etc.
Dress code for Men
Dress code for Women
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Corporate Etiquette
For Men
Dress Code
Yes
No
Hair
Well combed. In case of

difficult hair, use gel and
comb. Slightly spiked also
allowed. In case of long hair, tie
into a ponytail.
Rock star spikes or

Mohawks or any other
funky hairstyle.
Shirts
Formals (Monday to Thursday)

- Well ironed; full sleeved
shirts teamed up with dark
colour trousers.
Business Casuals (Friday) Collared T- shirts or half
sleeved shirts. Blue or black
jeans. Well fitting clothes.
Formal (Monday to
Thursday)
Half
sleeved, short shirts
with bright colours.
Avoid
big
checked
shirts.
Business
Casuals
(Friday) - Round necked
or V- necked T- shirts.
Scuffed or torn jeans.
Baggy or body hugging
clothes.
Tie
Single coloured, striped or self

print ties. Compulsory on
Wednesday. Tie should reach
the belt buckle.
Novelty
or
conversational ties. E.g.:
ties with comic book or
cartoon characters.
Leather belts- dark brown or

black colour with a reasonably
sized belt buckle.
Fibre belt with big,

fancy belt buckles. No
belt.
Belt
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Socks
Should be worn with shoes.

Colour of the socks should be
the same as that of the
trousers.
White socks as it is
considered
to
be
sportswear. You may
wear
these
during
Fit4Life.
Shoes
Formals - Black or dark brown

coloured shoes. Should be the
same colour as the belt.
Business Casuals- Sneakers or
sports shoes. Moccasins and
suede shoes.
Cowboy boots. And no

white shoes.
Accessories
Jewellery should be used in

moderation. Body piercing
other than ears should be
covered or removed. Tattoos, if
at all, should be covered at all
times.
Flashy,
dangling
earrings, a number of
rings on hands and
nose rings.
Facial hair
Clean shaved. Well maintained

beard.
I- forgot- to- shave look.
Essence
Use a mild cologne, deodorant

or body spray.
Tear gas type cologne.
Shower twice everyday.

Brush your teeth twice everyday.
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Corporate Etiquette
For Women
Dress Code
Yes
Hair
Well combed and tied up into a

ponytail or bun. If you are leaving it
open, it should be well maintained.
Unkempt hair.
Outfits
Formals (Monday to Thursday) Salwar suit preferably cotton

materials. Kurta should be knee
length with or without slit. In case
there is slit, it should mid thigh high.
Leggings can be worn if the
appropriate kurta length is ensured.
Western formals- Formal shirts
teamed up with trousers or skirts.
Skirts should be below knee length
worn with stockings.
Business casuals- Collared T- shirts
and
jeans.
Sleeveless
kurta.
Sneakers and sports shoes.
Short kurta, very

high slits. Skin
coloured leggings.
Tight
fitting
clothes. Heavily
embroidered
salwar
suits.
Spaghetti sleeved
tops.
Shoes
Formal shoes with or without heels

or sandals.
Stilettos and flip

flops.
Jewellery should
moderation.
Flashy, dangling
earrings
and
countless number
of rings.
Accessories
Make up
No
be
used
in
None or light make up .
Heavy make up.

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Essence
Multiple perfumes
at a time.
Use a mild perfume.

Shower twice everyday.
Brush your teeth twice everyday.
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Corporate Etiquette
Manners Matter
No Cuts, No Buts, No Coconuts
Get it? Ill give you a clue; it's about standing in line or in a queue.
Nothing? Allow me to explain. No cuts means do not cut into a queue; No
buts means no excuses for cutting into queue. No coconuts is just a funky
rhyme to wind up the pearl of wisdom. In simple terms- maintain a queue or
stand in line; it is a mark of discipline.
When is cutting the line okay? It is never okay to do that but if
you are standing alone in the line and you want to leave it for a moment, you
could ask the person behind to hold your spot and then you can cut into the
queue when you get back.
Something else that we forget when we get impatient in a queue is
personal space. Do not crowd the person in front of you; be at a respectable
distance from them. You should pay attention and ensure that you move along
when it is you turn.
A fact about queue is that some queue move along faster than
others, so it would not be beneficial to switch queue. Also, if you are not sure
how the queue is working, ask the person who seems to be standing at the end
of the line.
Being in a queue is annoying; believe me. But it can be a pleasant
experience if you want it to be.
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Corporate Etiquette
Cell phone etiquette

Dont you just hate it when someones phone goes off when the
police is about to reveal who the murderer is? I am talking about when you are
at the movies, of course. But etiquette applies to any public place and that
would include the workplace.
When at the workplace, ensure that your phones are either on
vibrate mode or at a very low tone so no one is bothered by the ringing. This is
especially the case during meetings.
When you attend calls ensure that you are not too loud. Also, do
not take calls in the restroom as that is intrusive to your co- workers privacy.
You should use your phone only for important calls and for
emergencies. So, you could tell your family and friends that the best time to
call you would be before or after office hours.
Punctuality
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Corporate Etiquette
According to this quote by Louis XVIII of France, punctuality is

the highest form of politeness. I agree. Being punctual is being respectful of
others and their time. This helps to create a good impression about you. If you
are late for a meeting, you are essentially saying that my work is more
important than your time. This is not the right message to convey.
In addition to that, punctuality shows that you value yourself. If
you dont value yourself or you think that nothing you do will make any
difference, only then would you risk looking unprofessional by not appearing
for a meeting on time.
Punctuality shows that you are in control of your life. It tells
people that you are someone who can be relied upon because you will be where
you promised to be, no matter what.
Punctuality is about integrity. You can build trust only by
fulfilling your commitment on time. Someone who is always late, even by five
minutes, cannot be entrusted with anything.
Being on time may seem like the easiest thing to do but it is not. It
takes a lot of planning and prioritizing to ensure that you are both mentally
and physically where you are supposed to be. You should be someone who
decides what each minute is for; not the other way around.
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Corporate Etiquette
Being Organized
Have you ever looked at a desk and wondered whether evolution
happened there? Have you ever looked into your resume folder and found a
medical prescription? Have you ever looked in your bag and wondered if there
was a nuclear explosion in there? If your answer to these questions is yes, then
it means you should read this article.
Being organized is about valuing yourself. If you do not care how
people see you, then carry on the way you are. But mind you, you might not
always create a good impression. On the other hand, an organized person,
would be able to do so. How? Read on.
1.
You could be more focused and productive- If you can get rid
of all the clutter around you, you will be able to see the big
picture clearly. That vision is very important to ensure that
you achieve your goals efficiently.
2.
You could manage your time and efforts better- If you are
well organized, you would know what to do with your time
and how to optimally use your energy. This will help you
regulate your stress levels and in turn, achieve balance in
life.
3.
You could be more creative- An uncluttered surrounding is

important for a clear mind. This clarity would help you to
explore areas or interests that you would not have thought
of. This will make you more enthusiastic and energetic and
everyone knows thats where creativity comes from- calm
and passionate mind.
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Corporate Etiquette
Performance Boosters
To Ask or Not to Ask
Big question, isnt it? I would go with do it. The first five seconds would
be awkward but then it pays; we get what we want- clarity.
Asking questions is not easy for everyone but researching and
questioning what we learn is a habit we should develop. Questioning could also put
you in a good light. It is a mark of confidence and intelligence. All the greats always
questioned everything that happened around them. They are also not afraid to admit
that they do not know something.
Another advantage of asking questions is that it will challenge our
preconceptions about topics. We can get more information and avoid making
assumptions about anything.
I think a quote by Leo Babauta, simplicity blogger and author, would
sum up the importance of asking questions -
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Corporate Etiquette
Be Proactive
Creating our own perspectives is always the best way to go. The most
obvious advantage of doing that is predictability. We can foresee the outcome of every
action we take. That, in turn, allows us to prevent any potential problems.
Proactive people would be able to plan better for the future. They would be
able to take timely and effective action and ensure that all work progresses according to
the plan.
about.
Being proactive takes grit and confidence and thats what being a TCSer is
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Corporate Etiquette
Elements of Change
When you join the corporate straight out of college, it will definitely be a
shocking change for you. And I do mean shocking. You will be asked to work with people
you are not familiar with; you might be asked to work in regions that are very different
from your hometown; you will be exposed to a culture that is the exact opposite of your
culture. It could be any of this but whatever it is, it is a learning experience.
I will give you some tips through this article on how better you can adapt to
the different environment in the corporate.
1.
You should behave in a socially acceptable manner. You may come

from a society that accepts that men and women can spend time
together or party after dark. But if the society you move for work
prohibits that, then we shouldnt challenge it.
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Corporate Etiquette
2.
You should be sensitive to the work environment . The way

you are at home would not be acceptable at work. You
wouldnt know what is acceptable and what is not, initially.
That is okay; get regular feedback from your supervisor and
adapt accordingly.
3.
You should respect your colleagues. You should be openminded and not judgmental. Get to know a person before
you make assumptions about them. First impressions need
not always be right. Do not discriminate based on caste,
race, nationality, preferences etc. Also, do not participate in
gossip. Be cordial to everyone around you.
4.
You must learn to control your emotions. Being too

emotional may not be well received in the corporate. You
should remain calm and composed at all times.
5.
You should never tease or make fun of anyone at the

workplace.
6.
You should never eavesdrop or overhear anyone elses

conversation. It is rude, unprofessional and disrespecting
someones personal boundaries.
7.
You should also avoid criticizing others. You may give

people feedback but it should not sound like you are
patronizing them or treating them like they do not know any
better.
8.
You should always speak the corporate language- English.

We would be working with people from different parts of the
country and sometimes, the world. The only language we
have in common would be English.
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Corporate Etiquette
Quick Tips
Dressing to work is about being neat, elegant and presentable.
Elegant isnt necessarily wild. In fact it is more of simplicity and grace. A few
things we need to always keep in mind are:
What you wear reflects your attitude : Dress for the work you do.
What you wear needs to reflect your confidence; must help you
feel confident. What you wear should reflect the professional
you aim to be.
What you wear speaks for you : Your clothes reflect what you
think about yourself and how you would like others to see you;
they speak for you. People are constantly creating an impression
about you based on what you wear.
What you wear should be comfortable for you while at work :
you would be spending most of your day in them. If they are not
comfortable, not only would you be straining yourself all day,
but also letting it affect your productivity.
What you wear should never distract : if you are ever in doubt
about what to wear, just follow the rules and what is generally
accepted.
What you wear isnt about being the most expensive : investing
in a few good pieces is always a great idea. It would be an
investment for long. But that doesnt mean you forget how much
you can afford.
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Corporate Etiquette
Conclusion
Negative, isn't it? There is no inner meaning or hidden positiveness. What

Oscar Wilde meant by this quote was that he had a lot of opportunities but he was not
prepared.
Based on everything you just read, you've probably got the idea that I want
you to be somebody you are not. But I do not want that. Actually, I do but not in a sellyour-soul kind of way. All I want is for you to tweak yourselves in a way that changes
your attitude and makes you more malleable. Every point discussed here will help you to
know where to tweak and how to tweak.
Still don't buy it? Fine, hear from one of the greatest writers on etiquette- Emily Post.
Understand who you are. Set yourselves on the path to realizing your potential.
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Corporate Etiquette
Case study
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Conclusion and References - TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.
Conclusion
Business skills or for your easy reference Soft skills is a vast area. These are skills
that can be learned only through constant practice. At first they may seem as something that
can wait and be worked on later. But dont be fooled. Soft skills are hard and they require a lot
of time and effort.
Prepare yourselves and ensure you have done your homework for your Learning
program at TCS by practicing what we went through. This would help you draw maximum
benefit of the program once you join.
It is said that change is the only permanent thing and things are changing very
fact in the competitive world today. Going through the ASPIRE content matters a lot and will
speak a lot about you once you join us.
Before I say my final goodbye, given below are some links you may use for your
reference and further preparation. Information and knowledge is in plenty. It is up to you to
make use of it.
Please do let us know how you liked the content and if you have any suggestions,
you are more than welcome to write to us.
So All the best and see you soon!!
https://aspire.tcs.com/aspire/courses/business_skills/Conclusion and References/Conclusion_and_References_1.html
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References:
Module : The Grammar Clinic
The basics of grammar
Tenses Present, Past and Future:
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbtenseintro.html
Overall Tense Reviews:
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs29practicetest.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs30finaltest.htm
Subject Verb agreement:
http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp
http://wwwnew.towson.edu/ows/sub-verb.htm
Exercises:
http://wwwnew.towson.edu/ows/exercisesub-verb.htm
http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/agreement_sv_ex1.htm
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Articles:
http://esl.about.com/cs/beginner/f/f_athe.htm
Exercises:
http://www.englischhilfen.de/en/exercises_list/artikel.htm
Word order:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/word-order
http://esl.about.com/od/grammarintermediate/a/a_adjoradv.htm
Exercise:
http://a4esl.org/q/h/lb/psnv.html
http://www.englishtest.net/esl/learn/english/grammar/ar003/esltest.php
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/wordorder/exercises?09
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Sentence Linkers:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/GRAMMAR/transitions.htm
Pronouns:
http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/pronoun.asp
http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/whoVwhom.asp
Exercise:
http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/pronouns.html
Reference:
http://wwwnew.towson.edu/ows/indexexercises.htm#Usage
Exercises
http://www.chompchomp.com/exercises.htm#
Module : How do you say it?

The basics of Pronunciation
The Sounds of English,
Features of English
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/
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Module : Beyond words

The basics of Listening
Listening Comprehension:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/
http://www.esl-lab.com/traffic/trafficrd1.htm
http://www.esl-lab.com/tlog/logrd1.htm
Good Listening - simple steps:
http://www.skillsyouneed.co.uk/IPS/Listening_Skills.html
http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/ActiveListening.htm
http://esl.about.com/od/englishlistening/a/listen_tips_2.htm
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eq6_nonverbal_communication.htm
http://psychology.about.com/od/nonverbalcommunication/a/nonverbaltypes.htm
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Module : How good are your reading skills?

The Basics of Reading skills
Effective Reading Skills:
http://esl.about.com/od/englishreadingskills/a/rtp_list.htm
http://esl.about.com/od/englishreadingskills/a/readingskills.htmReading
comprehension
Exercises:
http://www.englishclub.com/reading/environment/pollution.htm
http://www.englishclub.com/health/trans-fats.htm
http://esl.about.com/od/intermediatereading/a/d_hsystem.htm
http://esl.about.com/od/businessenglishdialogues/a/b_bizj.htm
http://esl.about.com/od/intermediatereading/a/d_report.htm
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Module : How well do you write?

The basics of writing skills
Speaking versus writing:
http://www.englishclub.com/esl-articles/200108.htm
http://aboutyourenglish.com/writingvsspeaking2.html
Different types of writing:
http://aboutyourenglish.com/StartWriting2.html#kindsofwriting
ABCs of Writing:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/1/
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/4/
http://ec.hku.hk/epc/letters/
http://ec.hku.hk/epc/reports/
http://ec.hku.hk/epc/email/
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12/8/13

Business Skills - The Essentials -- TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.

Business Skills - The Essentials

The Grammar Clinic

The Grammar Clinic-Part_1

Subject Verb agreement

The Grammar Clinic-Part_2

Parts of speech a quick peek

Tenses Present, Past and Future

The Grammar Clinic-Part_3

Business Skills - The Essentials -- TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.

How do you say it?

Effective Reading Skills

Speaking versus writing

Corporate Etiquette- Handy tips

Non Verbal Communication

How well do you write?

Effective Listening Skills

How good are your reading skills?

How do you say it?

Sentence Linkers and Indianisms

Conclusion and References

Business Skills - The Essentials

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Course Contents | Prev : Next

Business Skills - The Essentials

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Grammar Clinic_Part 1 - TATA Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.

Business Skills - The Essentials

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Names of persons, objects and things.

Words used instead of a noun.

I, We, You, She, He,

Words that qualify a noun.

John is a good boy.

Words that describe an action or state.

They are talking.

Words that qualify a verb.

She sings sweetly.

Words placed before a noun or pronoun to

Rama and Krishna

Words that express strong feeling or

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The various parts of speech of a language are its building blocks.

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Let us now move on to Basic Sentence Patterns in English

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Look at the table below.

The plane took off

Subject + Verb + Object

Peter ate an apple.