In this new edition, we share how to ensure excellence in your business communications. The book is updated with a new chapter on developing your communications skills.
This 12th edition has a new section on effective media, which includes ways to be more effective in the media you choose to work with. And we also share tips to use when it comes to working with others in your business and/or with media.
This book is another good indication that business communication books have gotten more advanced and more technical than in previous editions. I love the fact that the authors are working with some of the best communicators in the business.
As was pointed out in our interview with the authors, this book has become the go-to book for executives who want to communicate with their staff in a way that doesn’t make them sound like a total jackass. These days, everyone has a different style. And being able to use that style to communicate with someone is a skill that can be honed.
I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t want to communicate like I do. I feel I have to use many different styles to do it. I’ve worked for the largest companies in the world. And I’ve never had a manager at my company tell me the same thing more times than I’ve ever heard. In this book, I’ve learned that there are 8 different styles of communication: informal, formal, personal, interpersonal, corporate, sales, marketing, and customer service.
Here is a list of the 8 styles, and a very short list of their pros and cons.
The only time I feel I’ve ever been told I should do something is when someone calls me to ask me to do something. When I respond, I’m only as good as my “I” voice. I never know how to respond. I always feel like I should explain myself. Ive always had a hard time answering the telephone because I can only talk one way and that means one way only in this business. I’m always trying to make the person believe I’m not interested.
I think the best way to deal with this is to just stop trying to explain yourself and just start talking. The best way to explain yourself is to say that you don’t know how to respond. That way you can say, “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to respond to that.” You also have to figure out if you are still interested. You may be interested but now you need someone to be interested with.
The whole point of this book is to teach you how to be more effective in business communication. It’s not about how to write a letter, or how to give a PowerPoint presentation. It’s not about how to make a proposal, or how to make a presentation. It’s not even about how to set up a meeting. It’s about how to be a better communicator. To do this you have to get better at three things.
If you’re a writer, the best you can do is to write a good piece of work. If you’re a writer, you have to do it while you’re writing it.
