The Art of Successful Business Communication (Iet Management of Technology)

"Communication is easy isn't it? Well it may seem so, but consider honestly when was the last time you were involved in a breakdown of communications? And how long ago was one such a veritable derailment? For most people and in most organizations this happens regularly." "It matters. Communication - effective communication - makes things happen. There can be a great deal hanging on it. Whether the communication concerned is a simple e-mail, a contribution to a meeting, a report or a presentation, it can prompt agreement or action, it can seal a good deal; drive a hard bargain and enhance your profile and boost your reputation as it does so. Or not: for instance making a poor presentation may do real damage and allow no second chances, and an ill-considered report may come back to haunt you in months to come." "This book is an antidote to communications difficulty. It sets out proven, practical guidelines to ensure you can prepare (and prepare quickly) and deliver messages in a clear, succinct, precise, descriptive, informative, and impressive way - and that they are effective. That is, they achieve your purpose with others, however technical, complex or difficult the topics they may involve." "Take no risks. Guarantee communications success and enhance your profile as you do so."--Jacket Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 14 1.1 A common thread......Page 16 1.3 The management dimension......Page 17 1.4.1 Negative effects......Page 18 1.4.2 Positive impact......Page 19 1.5.3 The messenger......Page 21 1.6 Seeking after excellence......Page 22 1.7 Summary......Page 23 2 What makes for effective communication......Page 26 2.1.1 Inherent problems......Page 27 2.2.1 The ‚What about me?TM factor......Page 29 2.2.3 The ‚I can relate to thatTM factor......Page 30 2.3 Positioning your communication......Page 31 2.4 Projecting the right impression......Page 32 2.5 Amplifying communications......Page 33 2.6 Summary......Page 35 3.2 Listening......Page 36 3.3 Preparation: a moment's thought......Page 37 3.4 Setting objectives......Page 38 3.6 Putting it together......Page 39 3.6.3 Stage 3: Arranging......Page 40 3.6.6 Stage 6: A final check......Page 41 3.7 Summary......Page 42 4.1 The logistics......Page 44 4.2.1 OthersTM feelings......Page 45 4.2.2 What others want......Page 46 4.2.3 How decisions are made......Page 47 4.3 The thinking involved......Page 48 4.4 Your manner......Page 49 4.5 Making a persuasive case......Page 50 4.5.2 Finding out......Page 51 4.5.3 The power of persuasion......Page 52 4.7 Securing agreement......Page 55 4.9 Options for handling......Page 56 4.10 Excuses......Page 57 4.12 What next? - follow-up action......Page 58 4.13 Summary......Page 59 5.1 They have their uses......Page 60 5.3 Before meetings take place......Page 61 5.3.1 The agenda......Page 62 5.4 The role of leading a meeting......Page 63 5.4.1 The meeting leaderTMs responsibilities......Page 64 5.4.2 The conduct of the meeting......Page 65 5.5 The individual attendee's responsibility......Page 68 5.5.1 Maximizing the effectiveness of individual participation......Page 69 5.5.2 Well-handled discussion......Page 70 5.6.1 Are minutes necessary?......Page 71 5.7 Summary......Page 72 6.1 The importance of presentations......Page 74 6.3 The hazards of being 'on your feet'......Page 75 6.4.3 Not knowing what to do with your hands......Page 76 6.4.10 Misjudging the timing......Page 77 6.5 Preparing to present......Page 78 6.5.1 Do not try to read verbatim......Page 79 6.5.5 How you see the audience......Page 80 6.5.6 Before you speak......Page 81 6.6.1 The beginning......Page 82 6.6.2 The middle......Page 84 6.6.3 The end......Page 87 6.7 Speaker's notes......Page 88 6.7.1 The format of notes......Page 89 6.8.1 The most important visual aid......Page 91 6.8.3 Using an overhead projector......Page 92 6.8.4 Beware gremlins......Page 93 6.9 Summary......Page 94 7.1 A means to an end......Page 96 7.3 A special form of communication......Page 97 7.5 The nature of negotiation......Page 98 7.6.2 Time......Page 99 7.7 A constructive process......Page 100 7.8 The process of making the right deal......Page 101 7.9 First things first......Page 102 7.10 The core element......Page 103 7.12 The tactics of negotiating: key techniques......Page 105 7.13 Interpersonal behaviour......Page 107 7.14.1 Questioning......Page 108 7.14.2 Listening......Page 109 7.15.1 Checklist 1: Summarizing the principles......Page 110 7.15.2 Checklist 2: Summarizing the tactics......Page 111 7.16 Summary......Page 112 8.1 The nature of voice-only communication......Page 114 8.2 An inherent fragility......Page 115 8.4 The switchboard......Page 116 8.5 Taking a call......Page 118 8.6.2 External image......Page 120 8.8 Making the voice work for you......Page 121 8.10.1 Speak slightly more slowly than normal......Page 122 8.10.5 Ensure clarity......Page 123 8.10.9 Be descriptive......Page 124 8.11 Use of language......Page 125 8.13 Creating a dialogue......Page 126 8.15 Summary......Page 127 9.1 A fragile process......Page 128 9.3 What makes good business writing?......Page 129 9.3.1 Serious, and very serious......Page 130 9.4.2 Reader preference......Page 131 9.4.3 The readers' perspective ......Page 132 9.6.1 The rewards of excellence......Page 133 9.8 Summary......Page 134 10.1.1 Understandable......Page 136 10.1.4 Natural......Page 138 10.2 Readers' dislikes......Page 139 10.4 The use of language......Page 140 10.5 Making language work for you......Page 141 10.6.1 Blandness......Page 142 10.6.3 Language of 'fashion' ......Page 143 10.7 Following the rules......Page 144 10.8 Personal style......Page 145 10.9 Summary......Page 146 11.2.1 Example......Page 148 11.3 Letters with specific intention......Page 149 11.3.1 Example......Page 150 11.4 Reports......Page 152 11.5 Formats demanding special approaches......Page 153 11.6 Summary......Page 154 12.1 Email versus snail mail......Page 156 12.3 Some basic guidelines......Page 157 12.4 Time-wasting emails......Page 160 12.6 Viruses......Page 161 12.7 'Email-speak' - the role of language......Page 162 12.9 Attachments......Page 163 12.11 Staying organized......Page 164 12.12 Summary......Page 165 13.2 Action to help......Page 168 13.3.1 Graphs and charts......Page 169 13.4 Language......Page 173 13.5 Summary......Page 175 Afterword......Page 176 Index......Page 178 An opportunity to impress, Communication is easy isn't it? Well it may seem so, but consider honestly when was the last time you were involved in a breakdown of communications? And how long ago was one such a veritable derailment? For most people and in most organisations this happens regularly. This book sets out proven, practical guidelines to ensure you can and deliver messages in a clear, succinct, precise, descriptive, informative and impressive way. Aimed at anyone wishing to improve their business communication skills.