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Case Assignment: Professional Communication in Business
TP ICap Company
Stacey Troup
Professional Communications/ MBA-600
May 28, 2018
Professor Dr. Christopher Ewing
Touro University Worldwide

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Case Assignment: Professional Communication – Key to Successful Employability
Abstract
Professional communication, at its core, is the delivery and understanding of thoughts and
ideas between people in a professional setting. The delivery can be in person, via video
conference, email, or telephone but needs to keep with the tone and expectations of the style of
business in which one works. For the purposes of this paper, ICap, a professional
broker/dealer who mediates deals between investment banks, has an expectation of
professionalism that extends beyond the internal needs and into the client base. By
maintaining standards of communication, you not only deliver your message with the
understanding you expect but you also maintain customer faith that the organization is one
cohesive unit, striving for the same goals and end results. This paper will discuss the need for
fine tuning professional communication as it relates to personal success, career advancement,
and personal growth as one climbs the ladder of success at ICap.
Key Words: Communication, Professional Expectations, Finance, Career Growth.

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Case Assignment: Professional Communication in Business
TP ICap Company
Communication is a basic requirement for all people. In the business world,
communication skills are revered as a necessity for all staff as they interact with clients and
colleagues on a domestic and international level. The ability to deliver messages on behalf of
the company to a client or potential client can mean life or death for the health of the customer
relationship. Investors have an expectation of professionalism and industry knowledge when
they sign their Participation Agreements with the firm and any substandard communication
that occurs can cause investors to grow weary. Advanced degrees and a firm grasp of
communication standards are required by most financial services firms. This paper will
discuss how ICap is helping their employees grow with the company while fine-tuning their
skills and what it means to their long-term employability within the firm. A focus on
education, a professional development plan, and a sample review of a career path along with
the requirements of the average CEO in the New York market will be covered.
Communication and TP ICap (ICap)
While communication is defined as the delivery and receipt of information between
people, it is a required in the business world to be in possession of advanced communication
skills that possess a legible, tangible description of your intended message in the proper tone
and context so as to make it easy for the receiver to understand. Beyond the way that messages
are sent and received between people, the need within a firm like ICap is to have an
understanding of the business terminology and the proper use of the financial terminology
during rudimentary conversation and communications, be they in email, person, or via phone
(Ropella, 2013).

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Within a company such as ICap, communication is revered and sought after in all formats
in order to convey the professional message to clients and colleagues and to deliver quarterly
earnings reports by C-level executives during quarterly calls, hoping that the news is favorable
and that they can sway a decision from their investors in their favor through positive, concise
communication in relative, understandable terms for the audience. At ICap, this ability is
considered a basic qualification for successful job performance. Within the walls of the
company itself, effective and clear communication between colleagues is paramount to
successful team structures and collaborative relationships between colleagues (Working at
ICap, N.D.).
Professional Development Plan – ICap and You!
At ICap, we hold close the belief of promoting from within as well as helping you to
develop the skills necessary in order to advance with our company (Working at ICap, N.D.).
Because they practice a flat management style, they profess the “no ceiling you can’t attain”
methodology to self-promotion and entrepreneurial spirit of the employees (Working at ICap,
N.D.).
For members of our executive staff, we look for proven track records within financial
services, a better than firm grasp of the terminology and communication standards, and an
advanced degree from an accredited university. Most of our Board of Directors come from
more than 20 years experience at financial services firms or investment banks where they
served on other Board of Directors at that time. Board members are voted in and new people
may be added based on skill set and history (Global Executive Committee, N.D.).
Developing a Professional Development Plan With Your Boss

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The idea behind a professional development plan to help you grow with the firm is a
simple one. First, the need to identify core competencies (such as a grasp of FOREX, Dark
Pools, Equity Markets, etc.) so a to begin your course of action and options. The formulation
of a professional development plan is very similar to a personal version of a SWOT analysis, as
you will notice and the self-realization you will give to the development of the plan will help
you take a self-assessment. The third phase is to identify “weaknesses, gaps, and “noise” ”.
Noise is referred to as a problem with working relationships between you and others which
needs to be overcome prior to advancement. Finally, you need to develop action steps and
your boss needs to monitor your progress on change items. Once you have mastered your own
SWOT analysis and resolved your own conflicts, you will be ready to advance yourself within
the firm (Success Labs, 08).
Education and Your Success
Education plays a major role with financial services firms such as ICap. It is for this
reason that we, as a firm, have rolled out formal assistance to help you attain your goals. Our
tuition reimbursement program allows for classes to be taken at your leisure. In addition to
these scholastic benefits, we offer continued learning education and sponsorship (with
coordinating classes through FINRA) for the Series 7, 63, 8 and 99 licenses (ICap Employee
Benefits & Perks, N.D.).
Perhaps you never finished your undergraduate degree or you want to return to obtain a
first or second MBA? ICap wants to grow with you and encourage your development of your
communication skills through the advanced degree programs available. A sample career path
with education could look something like:

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Sample Career Path:
As you can see, you may enter the firm as an unlicensed assistant but due to FINRA
regulations, you cannot be promoted to the next level until the Series 7 exam is passed and the
license is subsequently issued. For members of the staff who are brought on at associate level
for client servicing, FINRA guidelines give you six months to pass the exam or your
employment will be terminated to remain compliant with this regulatory agency guidelines
(Register a New Broker Dealer Firm, N.D.).
A sample career path for a college recruit who does not yet have the Series 7, could look
something like this:
Enter as Receptionistor
Assistant (No Licensing or
Degree
Obtain UndergraduateDegree
with 3.5 Minimum GPAand
Give 2 Years Service
Take Series 7 License Exam
Promotionto ClientServices
Associate(Licensed)
Average increasein payis
$50,000per year for this jump,
plus bonus ofatleast30% of
yearly salary and degree100%
paid for by company as is
license.

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The class which helps prepare you for the Series 7 exam will be provided (paid for) by
the company and sponsorship guaranteed for all employees, regardless of their position with the
firm. We have implemented these educational training materials and options to help you grow
with the firm in terms of not only your professional skills but also to grow your understanding
and communication of information to both clients and staff alike, as a way to sway a decision-
making process throughout your communication efforts (Matulcikova Ph.D. & Brevenikova
Ph.D., 2015).
By allowing yourself to identify your shortcomings while formulating a plan to grow as
part of the company culture, you secure your employability. Studies have shown that CEO’s
revere communication skills as a job necessity and mastering the art of communication while
growing ensures that you will grow with the firm and remain happy with the company in
exchange for their investment in you (Matulcikova Ph.D. & Brevenikova Ph.D., 2015)
Enter as Intern from College
Begin career as Analyst with
(6) months to clear the Series 7
Exam
Pass Series 7 Exam
Assume role as Analyst2 years service with
promotions and pay increases
Application for Trading
Position following comletion of
new development plan to
attain skills necessary
(Bloomberg, etc.)
Begin career as Broker
10 Years service - nominated
to Board of Directors after
Managing Director level
reached.
Eligible to apply for C-Level
Spots within the firm

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Effective Vs. Ineffective Communication
While we have discussed why sharpened communication skills are a necessity for finance
professionals, we have yet to discuss the differences between effective and ineffective
communication and what it means to your career with ICap.
Ineffective communication is a death sentence of sorts. The Association for Financial
Professionals believes that the inability of an executive to “tell their story, they are not doing
their jobs) (FP&A, 2016). Effective communication entails the ability to clearly speak to
business leaders in their “own terms while communicating complex concepts in simple
language” as an imperative quality for all finance professionals (FP&A, 2016). This comes
down to knowing your audience and speaking in the terms they are used to understanding.
FP&A gives the example of how accountants speak in GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles) terms rather than the executive who has the job of breaking down what the
accountant has compiled and explaining it to staff, investors, auditors, regulatory agencies, and
even law enforcement should a legal issue come up (FP&A, 2016).
Knowing your audience is key to the successful communication methodology. You
would never speak financial terms to your barber or hairdresser, and likewise, professionals at
places such as luxury rental complexes for apartments in New York City would never speak to
you in anything but real estate terms. This is how things are kept professional and the messages
from these people delivered in the intended manner to help you reach a decision without
preconceived bias or misunderstanding.

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Key Components to Successful Communication
Researchers suggest there is a formula to good communication and it isn’t speaking “on
the fly”. The key components to all communication are sending, communicating, receiving, and
feedback (Ropella, 2013). In addition to the key components, the experts suggest that there are
also seven “keys” to sending effective communication (Ropella, 2013):
 Think Results – thinking about how your message (and its delivery) will drive
company goals. Does your message provoke a decision to invest? To redeem? To
diversify?
 Clear Purpose: What is the intended purpose of your message? Is what you are
trying to convey really being received in that manner?
 Think Before You Speak: Something you need to consider in every situation
 Structure the Message to the Receiver: As we covered earlier, the wrong dialect and
tone to a message can mean that the intended outcome and understanding is lost on
the receiver.
 Avoid Irrelevant Details: In the example of a quarterly earnings call, the executive
delivers the news, the strategy taken, and future changes to strategy to sway investors
to stay and possibly invest greater barring the outcome of the call. If irrelevant details
are included, the message can become “garbled” and hard to understand as well as the
receiver may believe you are trying to hide something behind such irrelevant and
trivial details.
 Read Reactions and Adjust: Monitor the message receipt (tone, facial expressions,
change in attitude) and adjust your delivery methods accordingly so as to keep the
receiver calm, interested, and engaged.

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 Focus on Results: always keeping your “eye on the ball” when delivering messages
is a message we repeat because it is the most important key of all to the success of
your communication.
CEO Aspirations
As everyone strives to make the most of their careers here at ICap, we wanted to provide
a quick snapshot of the skills possessed by most CEO’s so that you have an idea the development
plan items you need to master as you climb the ladder with the company.
Zippia suggests that the top skills at this level include: Financial Management, web
skills, and strategic partnerships – which is at the core of ICap’s business (Chief Executive
Officer Jobs, N.D.). This graphic is an excellent combination of the skills a CEO at a finance
firm such as ICap may possess (Chief Executive Officer Jobs, N.D.):
This diverse ball of skills is centered around communication (although not shown). The
modern CEO must be able to delegate to staff, deal with clients, interact with different

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departments, develop growth plans, serve on Board of Directors, and build strategic partnerships,
just to name a few. The ability to jump between the different expected levels of communication
required to interact with these varying people (disciplines) is paramount to the success of the
CEO. In order for you to grow to this level, you must be an expert and juggling the differences
while keeping the messages clear and driven with purpose (Bennett, 1971).
Our goal is the success of the employees who make us successful, so grow with us while
growing yourself, and find the career you always imagined for yourself through your own hard
work and planning.
Conclusion
Communication is more than just two people talking. In the modern business world, it
can be the difference between making the sale or losing the customer, between gaining investor
confidence or losing company value through poorly delivered messages.
ICap has a strength in communication from the bottom up. With their flat management
style, they put your career in your hands while giving you the tools you need to be successful,
just bring your own ambition. Their programs for education and fine-tuning of skills are some
of the best in the business while their entrepreneurial spirit began at inception and continues
today, with the company rewarding great ideas in innovation or strategic partnerships from the
employees.
By structuring a professional development plan, you set a course for success that is only
limited by you. We love seeing our employees grow to executive staff and Board members, it
is the reason we strive to retain our employees while helping them grow. The Professional
development plan will help you set a course for success without flying blind into your future.
So, come grow with ICap today!

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Appendix “A”
Bulleted Outline of Plan
I. Introduction
a. Thesis statement – Captain of your own ship at ICap.
II. Communication & ICap
a. Definition and interactions
III. Professional Development Plan
a. Developing a plan
b. Setting goals
c. Growing with the firm
d. Educational goals for growth
i. How we help you grow with us – our investment in you
e. Sample career paths – potential outcomes and requirements
f. Licensing requirements (FINRA)
g. Personal SWOT & You – how to develop your personal development plan and use it
to get what you want
IV. Effective Vs. Ineffective Communication
a. Impact of both on the world of the finance professional
b. Structuring your message before you speak
c. Knowing your audience
d. Key components to successful communication
V. Career Path: CEO Aspirations
a. Top skills for CEO’s

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b. CEO: Professional Juggler
c. Successful communication across all levels and interactions of the company
VI. Conclusion

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References
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Chief Executive OfficerJobs.(N.D.).RetrievedfromZippia:https://www.zippia.com/chief-executive-
officer-jobs/
FP&A.(2016, 07 26). Why Communication isCrucial forFinance.RetrievedfromAFP.COM:
https://www.afponline.org/trends-topics/topics/articles/Details/fp-a-and-c-why-
communication-is-crucial-for-finance
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are/leadership/group-executive-committee
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MatulcikovaPh.D.,M.,& BrevenikovaPh.D.,D.(2015). KnowledgeandSillsof Professional
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Working at ICap.(N.D.).RetrievedfromICap:https://www.icap.com/careers/experienced-hire/working-
at-icap.aspx