HOW THIS BOOK CAN HELP YOU If you are facing a specific managerial communication problem, turn to the relevant part of this book for guidance. For example: You're speaking or writing to a new group of people. How can you enhance your credibility? How can you appeal to them? You can't get started on a writing project. How can you overcome writer's block? The thought of giving that presentation next week is making you nervous. What can you do to relax? People are not responding to your emails. How can you make them more effective? Your new computer programs can create terrific visual aids and writing formats. How can you get the most out of them? Your boss is returning your memos and reports to you to rewrite. How can you organize your ideas? How can you express yourself more succinctly? You're hosting a videoconference next month. How should you prepare for it? If you don't have a specific question, but need general guidelines, procedures, and techniques, read through this entire book. For example: You would like a framework for thinking strategically about all managerial communication. You would like to know more about the process of writing and editing more efficiently. You would like a step-by-step procedure for preparing an oral presentation. If you are taking a professional training course, a college course, a workshop, or a seminar, use this book as a reference. You may very well be a good communicator already. You would like, however, to polish and refine your managerial writing and speaking skills by taking a course or seminar. WHO CAN USE THIS BOOK This book is written for you if you need to speak or write in a managerial, business, government, or professional context that is, if you need to achieve results with and through other people. You probably already know these facts: You spend most of your time at work communicating. Various studies show that 50 to 90 percent of work time is spent in some communication task. Your success is based on communication. Other studies verify that your career advancement is correlated with your ability to communicate well. Communication is increasingly important today. Recent trends, such as increased globalization, technology, and specialization, make persuasive communication more crucial than ever. WHY THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN The thousands of participants in various business and professional speaking and writing courses I have taught want a brief summary of communication techniques. Many busy professionals have found other books on communication skills too long, insultingly remedial, or full of irrelevant information. This book is appropriate for you if you want a guide that is short, professional, and readable. Short: The book summarizes results and models culled from thousands of pages of text and research. I have omitted bulky examples, cases, footnotes, and exercises. Professional: This book includes only information that professionals will find useful. You will not find instructions for study skills, such as in-class writing and testing; secretarial skills, such as typing letters and answering telephones; artistic skills, such as writing dialogue and performing dramatic readings; or job-seeking skills, such as resume writing and job interviewing. Readable: I have tried to make the book clear and practical. The format makes it easy to read and to skim. The tone is direct, matter-of-fact, and nontheoretical. HOWTHIS BOOK IS ORGANIZED The book is divided into four main sections. Communication strategy (Chapter I ) Effective managerial communication written or oral is based on an effective strategy. Therefore, you should analyze the five strategic variables covered in this chapter before you start to write or speak: (1) communicator strategy (objectives, style, and credibility); (2) audience strategy (who they are, what they know, what they feel, and how you can motivate them); (3) message strategy (how to emphasize and organize); (4) channel choice strategy (when to write and when to speak); and (5) culture strategy (how cultural differences affect your strategy). Writing (Chapters II, III, IV, and Appendices) Chapter II offers techniques on the writing process, how to write more efficiently. Chapter III deals with "macro," or larger, issues in writing including document design, structural signposts, and paragraphs or sections. Chapter IV covers "micro," or smaller, writing issues including editing for brevity and choosing a style. The Appendices cover writing formats, grammar, and punctuation. Speaking (Chapters V, VI, and VII) The speaking section discusses three aspects of business speaking. Chapter V explains the verbal aspects that is, what you say-in presentations, question and-answer sessions, meetings, and other speaking situations. Chapter VI describes visual aids, including design, equipment, and practice. Chapter VII analyzes nonverbal delivery and listening skills. Reference The last section of the book contains Appendices that deal with business writing formats, unbiased language, grammar, and punctuation. Finally, the bibliography lists my sources.