Concepts of Business Communication

Concepts of Business Communication RITU MUDLIAR Active listening skills are ways to become a good listener. It basically means that listeners are hearing various messages, understands its meaning and verifies the feedback. Characteristics of active listeners are that more time is spent listening than talking. Five active listening skills in making your communication with your trainees are attending, encouraging, reflecting, interpreting or questioning. Attending- this makes the speaker aware whether the staffs are active listeners or not. This also implements that staffs will be taking precautions measures to resolve anything discussed in the meeting. Encouraging- shows what the speaker is saying and discussing. Reflecting- it shows that you are listening and understanding whatever the speaker is saying. Interpreting- analyzing whatever the speaker has said and summarizing it to be put into practice into their own words Questioning- shows that the staff were attentive and by asking questions they are really attentive and aware of all the happenings. Interpersonal skills are the skills we are using every day for communication and mixing around with other people. This is done either individually or in groups. Many people have worked really hard in their professional and personal lives. Four interpersonal communication skills are: Being optimistic- where people make opinions about the work done or to be done so that when launching a new product everyone’s opinion is taken into account. Patient- patience is very important in any organization as with this person can be in total control of the work pressure and staffs pressure. Confidence- doing anything or any project in any organization is very important and with total confidence anyone can do anything impossible into possibility. With that belief staffs and employers tend to move forward their business. Charming- this is very interesting character as whoever is charming can work their ways into anything. This interesting character has the charms to work things out. Assertiveness means where one person stands ground for another and standing up for that person. This normally is called bullies. Many people seek to be assertive through using methods and techniques that can be achieved. Those whom seek can dramatically can increase their effective influence and strength by using these methods. Some methods and techniques used in this process are: Have faith as this normally can lead to progressive reports. Prepare questions and ask to whom it is suitable to and this will in return than will prove worthy or not. Read inspirational things that reinforce your faith in proper values-this will always give good examples and ideas towards business minded people and strategy. Negotiation is where two parties come to a mutual agreement to any issue. This however will than become the mutual agreement between them. This resolution always tends to work in any organizations to resolve company issues related to workers or management. Feedback is very important in any organization as this is the only way any company can get feedbacks about their products being sold out in the market. This way the company can always have a fair idea as to where they stand and can than intent to launch other products. This is important as constructive measures can be taken in accordance to improve anything. Clarification is what we don’t understand and ask questions to clarify the doubts anyone has in their minds. This is helpful to managers as this gives both the interviewee and the manager a fair idea as to whether that particular person has understood or not. Question and discussion makes it easier as this way all clarifications are out from both parties and whatever questions are there are cleared before proceeding to another process. Feedback is a very important factor in any organization. This gives the whole progress report as to where the company stands and if it’s safe to launch new products into the market or to grow the existing one. Customer’s point of view gives the result of the market value and this decides the company’s outcomes towards the profit. Follow up gives proper record of the sales market and makes you keep product market value at high level. For example since Alliance Leicester is dealing with banking, insurance and this all are rel ated to money. If the company decides to launch more investments, it will apply all the theory of feedback, follow up, clarification, question and answers as this will give the correct figure as to where the company’s status stands and whether the company is liable to precede this product in the market. Also using rapport can be a solution too. Finding common grounds of communication to support your theory also portrays a huge role n the stock market. Displaying respect and empathy is also another one of the methods. Chairperson Build a team of your committee by bringing people along with you, working with them Interpret the purpose and programs of the organization to the committee Understand and interpret the community to the organization an committee members Be knowledgeable about services of other organizations Use skills in human relations and knowledge of your committee members to help each attain the peak of performance Accept and understand your committees goals and objectives as they come to you from the planning process Guide your committee in long and short range planning In the budget process, have your committee estimate costs of objectives and identify any income Monitor implementation of committee objectives When appropriate, decide with committee to take part in implementing objectives Delegate responsibilities to committee members Recognize conflicts and disagreements and use problem-solving skills to deal with them. Participants Rights and Responsibilities Have certain responsibilities which include: Making every effort to gather sufficient information that will allow them to make an informed decision about their participation, in good faith .While participating, they should also make every reasonable effort to comply with protocol requirements and inform the investigators of unanticipated problems. Participants always have the right to withdraw from their participation in research at any time and for any reason without penalty or loss of benefits to which they would otherwise be entitled. Minute recorder A minute recorder or secretary is the person who takes notes of all the meetings and makes it into a proper report for both the parties to keep. Their duties include keeping all records of conversations done between the two parties and then conveying the message to a full report made into written or verbal communication. This way a record is made as to what has happened during the meetings and what the outcomes are. Traditional views of the communication process in school organizations have been dominated by downward communication flows. Such flows transmit information from higher to lower levels of the school organization. School leaders, from central office administrators to building-level administrators, communicate downward to group members through speeches, messages in school bulletins, school board policy manuals, and school procedure handbooks. Information passed from the top managers or executives to the middle and low managers are called downward communication. For example executive manager passes a message that a new product has to be launched in Alliance Leicester and this message has to be passed on from one stage to another. The downward flow of communication provides a channel for directives, instructions, and information to organizational members. However, much information gets lost as it is passed from one person to another. Moreover, the message can be distorted if it travels a great distance from its sender to the ultimate receiver down through the formal school organization hierarchy Implementation of goals, strategies, and objectives. Communicating new strategies and goals provides information about specific targets and expected behaviors. It gives direction for lower levels of the school/school district, community college, or university. For example: The new reform mandate is for real. We must improve the quality of products in order to succeed further in the market and increase our sales value:† Implementation of goals, strategies, and objectives. Communicating new strategies and goals provides information about specific targets and expected behaviors. It gives direction for lower levels of the school/school district, community college, or university. For example: The new reform mandate is for real. We must improve the quality of student learning if we are to succeed. Supervisors are invested with decision making powers or increasingly complex decision making powers they farther you to go up the hierarchy chain of command. People in a hierarchy know who is to make the decision on a particular issue or at the very least, which is ultimately responsible for the decision (the top person in the hierarchy). Advantage of this is often more efficient than other methods such as group decision making. At the same time preventing those on the bottom of the hierarchy from making or participating in a decision. Structures are always centralized and decentralized in hierarchy chains. It defines the nature of the relationship with other employees with narrow control which gets under them more. Two communication technologies used by Alliance Leicester are electronic and oral communication. Electronic communication is done by telephone for internal external communication, email, internet, fax and computers. This is required for making reports in the finance department where all records are kept. It keeps people connected regardless of their locations instantly. Some advantages are: Messages passed on are fast and efficient. It is delivered and reply comes back as soon as the receiver receives it. Disadvantages of electronic communication are: Everyone is relying on electronic devices rather than their own minds as it used to happen in the old days. It seems businesses are running and depending more on these than the book records. Oral communication is another source of technology of communication. Some advantages of oral communication are: It is time saving as action is required to be taken immediately into account. It is always best to transmit a message orally. If the executives workload is high than they stop writing and by oral instructions they complete their message transmission. Some disadvantages of oral communication are: There are no records of instructions passed on. Messages are difficult to record. Sorting out becomes impossible to preserve the message for future purpose. This creates issues amongst the management where all records are to be kept safe for future purpose use.

“Cat in the Rain” by Ernest Hemingway Essay

The story under the title â€Å"Cat in the Rain† was written by Ernest Hemingway, one of the most favourite American novelists, short-story writer and essayist, whose deceptively simple prose style has influenced wide range of writers. So, the story begins with the description of the hotel where two Americans stopped. It was raining, that’s why the couple stayed in and just a cat in the rain attracted the young woman’s attention. She wanted to get the cat inside but failed and was brought another cat. The problem of the story lies very deeply and we are to uncover it. The story is written in one mood which constantly and directly increases. It starts from the beginning where it’s created by a persistent and repeated use of the â€Å"rain† with a number of phrases associating it, such as puddles, deserted square, glistening war monument. Repetition is one of the widely used and favourite stylistic devices of Hemingway. Here he applies it to reveal the relationship of the protagonist to the old hotel owner (she liked †¦ , she liked†¦ ). As the verb â€Å"to like† is not used to characterize relations of the wife to her husband, this contrast is full of the concealed but easily read meaning. Though the cases of repetition in the story may seem a bit obtrusive, their modifications enter into the core of the narration very organically. They carry emotional character, however penetrating the story the deep sorrow becomes evident gradually. We realize that little, as if meaningless, capricious wishes of a young woman reveal the drama of her fate, the absence of comfort in her life, comparable with the cat in the rain. The title of the story anticipates this confrontation and the fact that the cat’s image makes great play twice – just increases the total effect. In fact, the young woman pines for love, for home, for her family. And the purring cat she’d like to have and to stroke is a traditional symbol of home and comfort she lacks so much. She wants warmth, attention, care, joy, happiness; however she is brought the cat – a pitiful substitution of that, what she, a young, beautiful woman needs incredibly. This is the main problem of the novel we tried to uncover. Perhaps the hotel owner didn’t get the reason of her yearnings and took her wish for whim. But dignity, deference and respectfulness of the old man are confronted to egoism and carelessness of George not occasionally. The war monument is also mentioned deliberately. The world George and his wife belong to – is uncomfortable, homeless after-war world, where the fates of young people joined with such hardships and troubles. If to speak about the text itself, it is told in the 3rd person narrative. the description is interlaced with descriptive passages and dialogues of the personages. The author makes extensive use of repetitions to render the story more vivid, convincing, more real and emotional. The author’s style is remarkable for its powerful sweep, brilliant illustrations and deep psychological analysis. Everything he touches seems to reflect the feelings of the heroes. The story reveals the author’s great knowledge of man’s inner world. He penetrates into the subtlest windings of the human heart.

Living a Healthy Lifestyle Nutrition and Weight...

Nutrition and Weight Management Weight management is a long time approach to living a healthy lifestyle. This includes a good balance of healthy eating and physical activity. Weight management doesn’t include ‘diets’ that are aimed for ‘quick’ weight loss, but more so focused on the long term results that are often achieved through a good balanced diet and exercise, but results are often slow. Managing an individual’s weight is crucial to reduce obesity and the rick of major health issues that come with being overweight. The Ottawa Charter can help prevent obesity and encourage nutrition because it promotes healthy eating and regular exercise but also teaches about the health risks that are highly associated with overweight and obesity.†¦show more content†¦Create Supportive Environment The community needs to come together and make supportive environments for people who may be embarrassed or ashamed so that they can go to the gym or use the bicycle paths around town without feeling ashamed about their body shape. The community can do this by encouraging people to get active together whether it is they have a mini marathon around town or have classes at the supermarket informing people on what sorts of foods they should be purchasing and what foods they should have in moderation. These events will not be successful if they community doesn’t see a positive image attached to them. The events need to be seen as normal and enjoyable, not just for the ‘fit’ people but for whole community. Examples: The Group Drive Fitness here in Tumut has ‘shape shifter’ classes which not only combines the positive environment of the gym and sometimes at the bull paddock but sessions of nutrition and what sort of foods people should be consuming. Strengthen Community Action Getting the shire involved in things they want to happen or the shire getting the community involved in the plans that the shire is making giving them an opportunity to voice their opinions and help with the organisation. being organised will make the community more enthusiastic about wanting to participate, that they will make their friends and family partake as well. These organisations are often support groupsShow MoreRelatedThe Dietary Patterns Of Americans Essay1291 Words   |  6 PagesDo: Taste, Nutrition, Cost, Convenience, and Weight Control Concerns as Influences on Food Consumption?† I chose this study because I was/am interested in why Americans eat what they do. Unfortunately, I could not find a popular account linked to this scientific study, so this is purely based off of the study. There were three hypotheses of the experiment. The first was, â€Å"we expect that demographic factors will predict the importance of taste, nutrition, cost, convenience, and weight control toRead MoreStudent Nutrition Essay1624 Words   |  7 PagesHow does lifestyle influence student’s eating habits? Do different lifestyles affect student’s eating habits? The consumption of a healthy eating, weight control and general wellness are getting more significance throughout the daily living of the students. (Jackson, Berry, Kennedy, 2009). Healthy diets, that contained low saturated fat and being rich in plant foods, have the advantages of increased longevity and lower percentages of chronic diseases. (Papadaki, Hondros, Scott, KapsokefalouRead MoreObesity And Its Effects On Obesity Essay972 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"one of the fattest nations on the planet, with a third of the country considered dangerously overweight.† (â€Å"Americans’ New Way†) The leading causes of high rates of obesity in the United States is improper nutrition, excessive stress and increase of sedentary lifestyles. Improper nutrition greatly escalates the risks for obesity and it also increases the risks for other diseases, such as; heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis and many cancers. The American Cancer SocietyRead MoreThe Topic Of Childhood Obesity1387 Words   |  6 Pagesthe community recently. It is an important issue because it concerns our children’s health and wellness. In the simplest form, overweight can be described as having more fat than is healthy. We all have some body fat but too much can cause serious health issues. A person who is overweight weighs more than the healthy range for his or her gender, age and height. Thirty five years ago, only 15% of children were overweight in Canada. Today, children are getting bigger and it is only getting worseRead MoreHealth Of Health And Nutrition1646 Words   |  7 Pageshaven’t learned the basic steps of maintaining their health. Lack of health management it a big part in deaths today. Hea lth and nutrition is a serious matter among peoples health. Being able to understand and maintain is a big problem now for teens and kids, choosing on the right foods or activities to keep everything in track. Health and nutrition can also have a great effect on their social life. Health and nutrition is a important thing to keep up with. People who don’t control what they doRead MoreHealth Of Health And Nutrition1654 Words   |  7 Pagesof maintaining their health. Lack of health management it a big part in deaths today. 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Water is the most essential nutrient that our body needs do to its critical functions in transporting thingsRead MoreHow Nurses Can Care For A Family With A Child That Suffers From Obesity1237 Words   |  5 Pagesobese.† This statistic is very alarming because child obesity can lead to many other chronic diseases that no child should have to endure at such a young age. Fortunately, there are ways of preventing child obesity from occurring such as adequate nutrition, appropriate exercise and many others. It is important that nurses establish an open approach to communication when addressing issues related to obesity (Shepard, 2010). Open communication allows the nurse to establish a trusting relationship withRead MoreGlossy Images Of Tall Attractive1344 Words   |  6 Pagesexcessively thin models infiltrate magazines for women in America. In fact, the Domestic Violence Sexual Assault, or Stalking research reports that â€Å"Twenty years ago the average model weighed 8 per cent less than the average woman, but today’s models weight is 23 percent less than the average woman† (â€Å"How the Media Portrays Women†). American society is sending a clear message that beauty equals skinny. This American obsession to be â€Å"thin† is being unequivocally accepted by American females and capitalizedRead MoreThe Benefits Of Healthy Eating1137 Words   |  5 Pages The Benefits of Healthy Eating Nicholas L. Kirk Missouri State University General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose: To inform the audience the benefits of eating healthy and the affects they have Central Idea: The food that we consume has a huge impact on our general health, and making healthier eating choices can greatly improve our quality of life. Introduction: Let’s all be honest here. Who wouldn’t want to be healthier, more fit, and happier? You work out at the gym for hours

What Is the Heros Journey

Understanding the heros journey can make creative writing class, literature class, any English class, easier to ace. Even better, chances are youll enjoy the class immeasurably more when you understand why the heros journey structure makes for satisfying stories. Christopher Voglers book, The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, draws from the psychology of Carl Jung and the mythic studies of Joseph Campbell—two excellent and admirable sources. Jung suggested that the archetypes that appear in all myths and dreams represent the universal aspects of the human mind. Campbells life work was devoted to sharing the life principles embedded in the structure of stories. He discovered that world hero myths are all basically the same story told in infinitely different ways. Elements of the heros journey can be found in some of the greatest and oldest stories. There is a good reason they stand the test of time. Students can use their remarkable theories to understand why stories like The Wizard of Oz, E.T., and Star Wars are so beloved and so satisfying to watch over and over. Vogler knows because he is a longtime consultant to the movie industry and, specifically, to Disney. Why It Matters Well take the heros journey apart piece by piece and show you how to use it as a map. In literature class, it will help you understand the stories you read and allow you to contribute more to class discussions about story elements. In creative writing, it will help you write stories that make sense and are satisfying to your reader. That translates into higher grades. If you happen to be interested in writing as a career, you absolutely must understand what makes stories with these elements the most satisfying of all stories. Its important to remember that the heros journey is a guideline only. Like grammar, once you know and understand the rules, you can break them. Nobody likes a formula. The heros journey is not a formula. It gives you the understanding you need to take familiar expectations and turn them on their heads in creative defiance. The values of the heros journey are whats important: symbols of universal life experience, archetypes. Well be looking at common structural elements found universally in myths, fairy tales, dreams, and movies. Its important to realize that the journey can be outward to an actual place (think Indiana Jones), or inward to the mind, the heart, the spirit. The Archetypes In upcoming lessons, well look at each of Jungs archetypes and each stage of Campbells heros journey: HeroMentorThreshold GuardianHeraldShapeshifterShadowTrickster The Stages of the Hero's Journey Act One (first quarter of the story) The Ordinary WorldCall to Adventure and the Refusal of the CallMeeting with the MentorCrossing the First Threshold Act Two (second and third quarters) Approach to the Inmost CaveThe OrdealThe Reward (Seizing the Sword) Act Three (fourth quarter) The Road BackResurrectionReturn with the Elixir

Essay on Compare Contrast - Russia, Ottoman Empire...

Though it may sound heartless and selfish, the needs and aims of countries usually are the primary factor controlling their foreign relations. During the period of the czars, from 1547 to 1917, Russia’s need for land and modernization shaped its relationships with Western Europe and the Ottoman Empire, causing Russia’s leaders to respect and imitate Western Europe while competing with the European powers to fill the power vacuum of the failing Ottoman Empire. Russia emerged as a significant power during the 1500s through war. It fought its neighbors and expanded its territory aimlessly. Ivan the Terrible’s expansion brought him into contact with both Western Europe and the Ottoman Empire. Aiming to gain a port and outlet to the Baltic,†¦show more content†¦Peter recognized that his country was falling behind the European countries in knowledge, technology, trade, and governing ability. Using his absolute power as a czar, he brought in foreign advisers to help him modernize, westernize and educate his people. Peter had a great respect for Europe, and his reforms had a lasting influence in Russia, though there was of course opposition from the more conservative nobles. Peter’s respect did not translate into friendship with Western Europe. These countries were his competitors, his rivals, and one could say that by modernizing Peter was really trying to beat them at their own game. He fought a long war against Sweden and with victory finally gained possession of ports on the Baltic that opened the way for greater trade with Western Europe.†¨Meanwhile, Peter continued Russia’s attempts to expand at the Ottoman Empire’s expense. His short war in 1710-11 was a failure, though, and nearly resulted in his own capture. In spite of this loss, it was obvious to Peter and the rest of Europe that the Ottoman Empire was in an irreversible decline. The Ottomans were quite a contrast to Europe: outdated in technology and military methods, politically unstable, and scarcely able to control their far-flung empire. It was left to Peter’s successor, Catherine II, to take advantage of this. She waged the first major Russo-Turkish war from 1768 to 1774, and its conclusion with the Treaty ofShow MoreRelatedCCOT And CC Essay1549 Words   |  7 PagesAfrica Compare and contrast life in foraging societies with life in agricultural societies after the Agricultural Revolution Identify two key changes in early African history that resulted in a new period in the history of the region The Middle East Analyze the political changes in the Middle East from the Agricultural Revolution to 600 c.e. Compare and contrast the basic features of TWO of the following religious systems prior to 600 c.e. Polytheism Judaism Christianity Asia Compare the originsRead MoreHistory Essay3334 Words   |  14 PagesChange-Over-Time Essay Question Describe and explain continuities and changes in religious beliefs and practices in ONE of the following regions from 1450 to the present. †¢ Sub-Saharan Africa †¢ Latin America/Caribbean Revised Question Analyze continuities and changes in cultural beliefs and practices in ONE of the following regions from 1450 to the present. †¢ Sub-Saharan Africa †¢ Latin America/Caribbean Rationale for Revision: By broadening the scope of the original question from â€Å"religiousRead MoreJust Whatever1974 Words   |  8 Pagesdocuments by explicitly grouping them in at least three appropriate ways. 2000 DBQ: Using specific examples from the documents below, analyze the purposes that rituals and festivals served in traditional European life. Free Response A. Compare and contrast the political and economic policies of Joseph Stalin in the period before the Second world War and those of Mikhail Gorbachev (1985-1991). B. â€Å"Leadership determines the fate of a country.† Evaluate this quotation in terms of Spain’s experienceRead MoreEssay Reveiw4144 Words   |  17 PagesAP Essay Review 17th Century Affairs 1. How did the disintegration of the medieval church and the coming of the Reformation contribute to the development of nation-states in Western Europe between 1450 and 1648? a. Thesis: Rise of absolutism came at the expense of the medieval church, absolutism laid the foundation for the modern-nation state. Supporting Info: (main body) 1. German princes: Luther’s Reformation = more power for princes. They have greater control of political affairs and national

Midterm study guide Free Essays

The field of Organizational Behavior (B) Is performance-oriented. 2. Mary Foulest was opposed to Tailor’s lack of specific attention to human needs and relationships In the workplace. We will write a custom essay sample on Midterm study guide or any similar topic only for you Order Now 3. Individual performance Is the foundation of organization performance. 4. African-Americans are one of the fastest-growing groups in the U. S. Employee workforce, as are Asians and Hispanics. 5. A new industrial era began in the United States around the time of the Civil War. 6. A major goal of Capos is to treat its employees and customers with integrity, honesty, and commitment. 7. The formal and modern study of management started around 1900. 8. In 1886, an engineer named Frederick W. Taylor presented a paper on scientific management at a national meeting of engineers that was titled â€Å"The Engineer as an Economist. † 9. Tailor’s major thesis was that maximum good for society can come only through the cooperation of management and labor In the application of scientific methods. 10. Managers must deal simultaneously with the Internal and external aspects of organizational behavior. 11. J. M. Curran and W. Edwards Deeming, In the sass’s, introduced the Importance of quality to the public. . Managers derive power from both organizational and individual sources. 13. A psychological contract is unwritten agreement between an employee and the organization that specifies what each expects to give to and receive from the other. 14. One of the most powerful influences on individual performance is an organization’s reward system. 15. Power is the ability to get someone to do something you want done, or to make things happen the way you want them to happen. 16. Measures of satisfaction include employee attitudes, turnover, absenteeism, tardiness, and grievances. 17. Common hysterical symptoms that are related to stress Include: Insomnia, excessive perspiration, nervousness, or irritability. Other answers may also be correct, such as overeating, weight gain, weight loss, nail balling, or headaches. 18. Describe the findings of the Hawthorne studies. Chapter 2 1. Organizations can achieve effectiveness only when employees share values. 2. The acceptance of unequal power differs across countries. 3. In countries in which people display high power distance, employees acknowledge the boss’s authority and typically follow the chain of command. Although culture can’t be seen, it can be ensued or felt through employees’ attitudes, emotions, and perceptions. 5. The Southwest airlines approach is to hire for attitude and train the skill. 6. Research indicates that a majority of managers have had at least one mentoring relationship during their careers. 7. The values, norms, customs, and rituals of cultures are Influenced by politics, religion and language. 8. Hypotheses five value dimensions are power distance, Individualism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity, and long-term orientation. 9. The concept of uncertainty avoidance refers to the extent to which How to cite Midterm study guide, Papers Midterm Study Guide Free Essays

St. Augustine on His Book Confessions free essay sample

Augustine starts his first book of the Confessions by praising the Lord and making reference to the Psalms. He asks how to pray and call upon God and to know more about his nature. Augustine continues his story of growing up, and explains that he learned to talk not because he was taught it but because God gave him the gift of learning. He goes on to talk about how he was beaten and punished when he messed up reading or writing in school. This is when he learned to pray and he prayed to God that he would stop getting beaten and he would stop messing up. Augustine believed that God gave us eternal life when he sent his son down to us to sacrifice his life for the sake of us. Augustine became very ill and begged to be baptized before he died. His father (Patrick) was the only person in the family who had not converted over to Christianity, but he never tried to stop anyone from pursuing their faith and what they believed in. We will write a custom essay sample on St. Augustine on His Book Confessions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Augustine never liked reading books and was rebellious towards anything anyone tried to teach him. He also said that if there was any good in him at all, that it was a reflection of God not himself. Augustine starts his second book of Confessions out with a confession of the sins he experienced as a teenage boy. He has become fully aware now that his one desire was simply to love and be loved. St. Augustine had started to hang out with a bad group of kids and he was always feeling that he had to impress his friends by participating in wrong doings with them, such as Augustine says later, Friendship can be a dangerous enemy,. Augustine feels that adolescence is a stage to test whether or not you will be able to resist taking part in evil doings. In St. Augustine’s third book of Confessions Augustine had reached a point where he almost didn’t have a relationship with God anymore it was so bad. Around this time that is when St. Augustine began get more into the Manichaean faith. This faith was an early heretical form of Christianity. Augustine went on to read a book on this faith called Hortensius and he was pushed away from the faith after reading it because of his mother’s influence talking to him about Jesus Christ. This book is what led him to read the Christian Bible. In Augustine’s fourth book of Confessions he graduates from his studies in Carthage and got his degree to become a teacher. He moved back to Thagaste to become a teacher of oratory and rhetoric. His main skill was being able to speak and write in a very persuasive way. He was still a follower of the Manichaean religion. Augustine also explains why he was so obsessed with the impermanent things of life. Any attachment to any object on this earth he says will always result in misery because it will always die out eventually. Only the attachment to God and any other eternal things can make a person happy. St. Augustine goes on to end his fourth book like he always ends his other books with praise to God in guiding him in everything he does. St. Augustine’s fifth book of Confessions begins by giving praise to God. Augustine was now 28 years old and was living in Carthage teaching rhetoric. During this time the Bishop of the Manichaean religion named Faustus came to speak to Augustine. Augustine found flaws with the Bishop’s logic and still refused to convert to the Manichaean religion. He had finally come to the realization that his mind was far more advanced than those around him. Augustine had decided to flee Carthage and go to Rome at this time, and just after he arrived in Rome he had fallen ill. He soon recovered though and spent time listening to the teachings of a school of Skeptic philosophers. Although Augustine was still a member of the Manichaean faith he was starting to question the faith more and more. Soon after this he listened to the great Catholic Bishop Ambrose who was head of the Milan Church during this time. St. Ambrose gave very impressive sermons and introduced Augustine to the possibilities of an allegorical interpretation of the Bible. Augustine started addressing some of the problems he head with the Catholic faith. Finally Augustine though unsure decided to become a catechumen.