Learn the tricks-of-the-trade of becoming a great technical communicator

Remember when you were an undergraduate and freshman composition seemed so irrelevant to your life? After all, you were going to conquer the world with technological know-how. Your spellcheck software would handle the details. Now that you’re a professional–pitching an idea, vying for a contract or grant, or presenting at a meeting–getting your point across effectively suddenly seems pretty essential for success, doesn’t it?

Fear not. This light-hearted text, brimming with proven techniques, good advice, and real-world examples that you can easily apply to your own case, will turn you into an adept communicator. Written expressly for technologists, this is a simple, concise, and practical guide to the communication dynamics of writing, presentation delivery, and meeting interaction.

Herbert Hirsch, in-demand consultant who developed these techniques for his own prolific engineering career, teaches you how to use "scripting" to plan for communication events. More than a mere outline or storyboard, scripting is a powerful technique that assists you in getting the right structure and content, in the proper order. Using scripting, you will master the fundamental principles of communicating:

• How to grab the reader’s or audience’s attention from the start
• How to maintain the connection while proceeding smoothly from topic to topic
• How to provide the substantiation for the points you made
• How to communicate with people from other groups, such as marketers, investors, users, and others
• How to overcome such obstacles as fear, boredom, and aversion to your material

Distilling the art of communication to its essence, The Essence of Communication for Science and Technology Professionals and Managers empowers you to communicate with confidence and authority in every situation, to every audience.

If you are a manager who receives the results of any data analyst's work to help with your decision-making, this book is for you. Anyone playing a role in the field of analytics can benefit from this book as well. In the two decades the editors of this book spent teaching and consulting in the field of analytics, they noticed a critical shortcoming in the communication abilities of many analytics professionals. Specifically, analysts have difficulty in articulating in business terms what their analyses showed and what actionable recommendations were made. When analysts made presentations, they tended to lapse into the technicalities of mathematical procedures, rather than focusing on the strategic and tactical impact and meaning of their work. As analytics has become more mainstream and widespread in organizations, this problem has grown more acute. Data Analytics: Effective Methods for Presenting Results tackles this issue. The editors have used their experience as presenters and audience members who have become lost during presentation. Over the years, they experimented with different ways of presenting analytics work to make a more compelling case to top managers. They have discovered tried and true methods for improving presentations, which they share. The book also presents insights from other analysts and managers who share their own experiences. It is truly a collection of experiences and insight from academics and professionals involved with analytics. The book is not a primer on how to draw the most beautiful charts and graphs or about how to perform any specific kind of analysis. Rather, it shares the experiences of professionals in various industries about how they present their analytics results effectively. They tell their stories on how to win over audiences. The book spans multiple functional areas within a business, and in some cases, it discusses how to adapt presentations to the needs of audiences at different levels of management.

ExpressExec is a unique business resource of one hundred books. These books present the best current thinking and span the entire range of contemporary business practice. Each book gives you the key concepts behind the subject and the techniques to implement the ideas effectively, together with lessons from benchmark companies and ideas from the world's smartest thinkers.

ExpressExec is organised into ten core subject areas making it easy to find the information you need:

01 Innovation
02 Enterprise
03 Strategy
04 Marketing
05 Finance
06 Operations and Technology
07 Organizations
08 Leading
09 People
10 Life and Work

ExpressExec is a perfect learning solution for people who need to master the latest business thinking and practice quickly.

How one global organization's lingua franca mandate shaped the lives of its employees around the world For nearly three decades, English has been the lingua franca of cross-border business, yet studies on global language strategies have been scarce. Providing a rare behind-the-scenes look at the high-tech giant Rakuten in the five years following its English mandate, The Language of Global Success explores how language shapes the ways in which employees in global organizations communicate and negotiate linguistic and cultural differences. Drawing on 650 interviews conducted across Rakuten's locations around the world, Tsedal Neeley argues that an organization's lingua franca is the catalyst by which all employees become some kind of "expat"-detached from their native tongue or culture. Demonstrating that language can serve as the conduit for an unfamiliar culture, often in unexpected ways, Neeley uncovers how all organizations might integrate language effectively to tap into the promise of globalization.

Is Your Networking Net Working? is the how-to guide for professionals and entrepreneurs to become their own center of influence using a unique and exciting business networking strategy. Like it or not, everyone needs to meet more people. Professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners need to network in order to get their name, face, product, or service out in front of the public. They need a constant flow of new, quality prospects and clients in order to become a high-profile, sought-after, respected professional. Financial service professional John Dade emphasizes the importance of business networking to business and income growth. He reveals how it doesn't have to be a chore or stressful endeavor. Is Your Networking Net Working? serves as a step by step guide for readers to build their own networking group based on their likes and passions and how to become their own center of influence and Go To Person. For anyone looking for a way to network, or even those who think they aren't the networking type, this guide helps them build relationships and get better results.

Addressing the prevalent issue of poorly designed quantitative information presentations, this accessible, practical, and comprehensive guide teaches how to properly create tables and graphs for effective and efficient communication. The critical numbers that measure the health, identify the opportunities, and forecast the future of organizations are often misrepresented because few people are trained to design accurate, informative materials, but this manual helps put an end to misinformation. This revised edition of the highly successful book includes updated figures and 91 additional pages of content, including new chapters about quantitative narrative and current misuses of graphs--such as donut, circle, unit, and funnel charts--and new appendices that cover constructing table lens displays and box plots in Excel and useful colour palettes for presentation materials.

The ultimate guide to the undervalued yet essential skill of selling yourself and becoming an outstanding communicator. In today's competitive business landscape, the art of communication is more important than ever. It's essential to develop a deep awareness of not only what we say, but also how we deliver it, resulting in a message that is both credible and incredibly impactful. In this era of digital communication and information overload, clear messaging has never been more vital - and personal credibility has never been more valuable. Regardless of experience or expertise, no interview, pitch or meeting will be successful unless it is succinctly, confidently and convincingly delivered. InCredible Communication brings 75 years' combined experience of practical expertise to the art of effective business communication. Exploring both individual credibility and wider corporate culture, this book provides intuitive tools and techniques that anyone can use to become a more effective communicator or salesperson. It explores the best techniques when communicating in any medium - whether you are conversing in-person, over Zoom or even via social media.

Most research on corporate communication has concentrated on positivist approaches, leading to a limited view. This book reviews extant corporate communication theory from discourse and strategy-as-practice perspectives, expanding the picture by more communicational aspects. It proposes an integrative framework of alternative corporate communication as a key contribution to corporate communication theory.

Straight-talk at work Grumblings in offices everywhere suggest that there is not much that we crave more, but don't get often enough. Beyond Bullsh*t reveals the dynamics of bullsh*t and why it has become the corporate etiquette of choice. It also explains how telling it straight contributes to personal well-being and business success. This book is for people who wonder what it's going to take to get rid of the constant deception and obfuscation that, at the end of the work day, leaves them feeling beaten up, confused, and even a little dirty. It is also for the people greeting them at home, wondering, What's going on that takes such a toll? Pressed for an answer, many explain it's all the bullsh*t I have to endure. Even people who disdain deception find themselves involved in it. They bullsh*t at work. After decades of research and consulting, Samuel A. Culbert is convinced that straight-talk at work is possible. But it requires more than luck and willing people. Straight-talk is the product of thoughtful, caring relationships built upon trust and a commitment to look out for one another's success. Culbert describes this brand of truthfulness as a caring, other-sensitive, candor-on-demand, loyalty-producing, intimacy-escalating, give-and-take relationship, leading to enhanced personal and organizational productivity. From an organizational perspective, there's no greater contribution to operational effectiveness and success than conversations in which people with conflicting viewpoints discuss their differences forthrightly. Readers will find this book personal--which is unusual for a business book; they will think that many of the stories are about them.They will be engaged and delighted as the text demystifies the obstacles to getting beyond bullsh*t, and guides them in developing straight-talk relationships at work. N.B.: One pending blurb--Robert Sutton

One of the most important requirements of leadership is effective communication. The idea that some people are natural leaders and that others will never learn to show good leadership is now outdated. It has been replaced by the conviction that leadership and communication skills can be learnt. This second edition of Communication in Organizations continues to give clear advice and guidance on communicating in a range of different contexts in the workplace. From handling complaints and breaking bad news to negotiating deals and giving presentations, it explores the building blocks to effective communication skills, nurturing the leadership qualities required in any organization. By defining the abstract concepts of 'organization' and 'communication', it provides readers with the necessary skills to conduct any conversation on a professional manner. Illustrated with concrete examples throughout, this new edition includes a new chapter on career coaching, with exercises and ideas for role-play to enable the ideas to come alive. The three parts work seamlessly to expand the readers' conversation skill-set as they progress through the book. Communication in Organizations is an invaluable resource for students of management and business psychology, as well as those taking courses who are already in the workplace. The practical aspects compliment both introductory and advanced courses in interpersonal communication, leadership and business and professional communication.

A groundbreaking approach to creating memorable messages that are easy to process, hard to forget, and impossible to ignore using the latest in brain science Audiences forget up to 90% of what you communicate. How can your employees and customers decide to act on your message if they only remember a tenth of it? How do you know which tenth they'll remember? How will you stay on their minds long enough to spark the action you need? Many experts have offered techniques on how to improve your own memory, but not how to influence other people's memory-and impact their decisions. Drawing on the latest research in neuroscience and cognitive psychology, Carmen Simon, PhD, reveals how to avoid the hazards of random recall and deliver just the right amount of content. No more redundant meetings, rambling e-mails, or anemic presentations. In Impossible to Ignore, she shows you how to execute a proven three-step plan for persuasion: 1. Create cues that attract attention and connect with your audience's needs 2. Use memory-influencing variables to control what your audience remembers 3. Turn today's intentions into tomorrow's actions This practical guide is filled with case studies, examples, and a checklist to help you put the power of cognitive science to work for your business. Whether you're giving a presentation, conducting a meeting, delivering training, making a sales pitch, or creating a marketing campaign, these field-tested techniques will help you develop content that speaks to people's hearts, stays in their heads, and influences their decisions. It's not just memorable-it's Impossible to Ignore.

One wrong move can undercut your message. Believe it or not, our bodies speak louder than our words. Postures, gestures, and expressions convey reams of information--and often not what you'd expect. A smile, for example, is usually considered welcoming. But crook one corner of your mouth higher and you project superiority, subconsciously chasing other people away. Without Saying a Word explains how even the subtlest motions have meaning. Distilling decades of research, the book deciphers these unspoken signals: from facial expressions and fleeting micro expressions to positive and negative body language. Discover which postures and gestures indicate confidence and build rapport--and which reveal disinterest, arrogance, or even aggression. Learn to end off-putting habits, accentuate good ones, and become an authentic and effective communicator. Exhibiting body language that is open, honest, and self-assured increases your social influence and enhances your skill as a negotiator . . . while the ability to read the emotions and intentions of others is equally indispensable. Whether you're making a presentation, pitching a project, or closing a deal, the right body language can be your best ally.

All teamwork is grounded on effective communication. Project Communication enables project managers, leaders of project teams and team members to get their ideas heard, facilitate effective teamwork, create a culture of openness and creative thinking--in short, a culture of effective communication within their team. . The book opens with an orientation on what group dynamics and interpersonal communication entail, particularly in terms of management teams. It then guides the reader on a personal journey whereby different theories and concepts in group dynamics, communication and project team management are gradually introduced. Readers are encouraged to use the book to explore and improve their personal communication style, with the aim of sustaining growth and development within project teams and their respective organisations. Project Communication is an ideal companion to professionals, specialists, and project managers who are leading or working in teams within all types of organisations, businesses, NGOs and governmental and transnational institutions. The book should be of interest to all those who want to use psychological knowledge to improve their teams. It is also a practical guide that can be used as a training course in interpersonal communication in general, with a special focus on project teams.

Get your idea off the ground. You've got a great idea that will increase revenue or boost productivity--but how do you get the buy-in you need to make it happen? By building a business case that clearly shows your idea's value. That's not always easy: Maybe you're not sure what kind of data your stakeholders will trust. Or perhaps you're intimidated by number crunching. The HBR Guide to Building Your Business Case, written by project management expert Raymond Sheen, gives you the guidance and tools you need to make a strong case. You'll learn how to: * Spell out the business need for your idea * Align your case with strategic goals * Build the right team to shape and test your idea * Calculate the return on investment * Analyze risks and opportunities * Present your case to stakeholders

Ensure you have the job-ready writing and communication skills that today's employers demand with Guffey/Loewy's ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION, 12E. This market-leading text and its online study tools help you develop the professional and communication skills that employers seek, including writing, speaking, critical thinking and teamwork. Updated employment chapters offer insights into a labor market that is more competitive and dependent on technology than ever before. The latest trends, technologies and practices, based on interviews with practitioners and the research of thousands of articles and blogs emphasize transferable professional skills. Timely advice guides you through building your brand, searching for a job, writing a winning resume, interviewing effectively and using LinkedIn. Optional editing challenges and grammar reviews and a complete grammar guide at the end of the book help you improve critical language skills. MindTap online study tools let you further refine your communication abilities.

Fund Your Book serves as the ultimate guide to raising $10,000+ to self-publish a business book. More and more self-publishers are realizing that to publish a professional book, they need to hire a professional publishing team - editors, designers, printers, distributors and more. The problem? Where are they supposed to find $3,000 to $15,000+ to publish their book? In Fund Your Book, authors learn how to build long-term, reciprocal relationships with influencers in their industry, the top two strategies for funding books through partnerships, a simple, five-step process to fund their self-published book, and more!

Bestselling author and psychologist Adrian Furnham takes a critical and challenging view of the jargon and current fads in management contained in manifestos, mantras and mission statements and shows how these often obscure and mystify. In this latest book he turns his skeptical attention to such topics as atmospherics, blame culture, compulsory training, fundamentalist gurus, integrity tests, networming, personality of organizations, and uncertainty avoidance.

The millennial generation is unique in various ways, particularly with regard to their career aspirations and expectations. Due to their reputation as "job hoppers," recruiting millennials is not enough. Retention of a millennial workforce is imperative for organizational success and longevity. This book explores the expectations held by millennials and the ways in which they differ from those of past generations. It covers a broad range of topics including onboarding, work/life balance, stress, retention after a crisis, boredom, internships, and how employers can best leverage mobile platforms for increased engagement.

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE: NYC Big Book Award 2021 - Career Everyone has a personal brand, by design or default. Your reputation is one of the most critical determinants of your career success. Control the Narrative makes your reputation work for you by using the power of personal branding to put you in control of the opportunities you attract. For professionals seeking to grow, change or fix their careers, the book shows you how to capitalize on the reputation assets that are relevant to your goals and shed the ones that no longer serve you. If you have made a career mistake and need help repairing your reputation, you'll discover how to assess the situation, break the crisis down into a series of actionable responses and re-establish career viability. To be effective, a personal brand must be authentic. Through the process of personal branding, Control the Narrative helps you uncover the core values that form the foundation of your strategy for building, pivoting or repairing your reputation. This book also shows you how to measure the success of your brand and provides suggestions for modifying your strategy when results aren't what you expected. Filled with real life examples, Control the Narrative provides you with the strategic advice and tactical assets to consistently and confidently create a positive reputation.

Master the art of entertaining and cement lasting business relationships in the process

You're at a fancy downtown restaurant for dinner with a million-dollar business deal on the table. The waiter hands you the wine list. Now what? So much for that shiny M.B.A. and your powerful business connections. What matters right now, at this moment, is your wine IQ--and your ability to entertain this client in a way he'll never forget. In "Power Entertaining" Eddie Osterland, Master Sommelier, and America's foremost wine and food coach outlines dozens of power entertaining tips that can make anyone a more effective host or hostess--be it at a corporate business event or private dinners with clients in restaurants.

When it comes to hosting big business meetings or important sales events, you will discover how to entertain business clients and business associates with ease, knowledge, and confidence, using good wine and food as the ingredients to build strong and lasting business relationships. Teaches how to transform boring business meetings and sales functions into memorable social events that people will want to attend again and againEnables you to build long-term business relationships based on the time-honored principles of courtesy, generosity and old world hospitalityLearn how to convince the restaurant's Maitre d' to give them the best table in the house--even on a busy Friday or Saturday night

Success is always in the details, so master the finer points of entertaining before your next big business event.

Almost no one had heard of social media a decade ago, but today websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn have more than 1 billion users and account for almost 25 percent of Internet use. Practically overnight, social media seems indispensable to our lives--from friendship and dating to news and business.

What makes social media so different from traditional media? Answering that question is the key to making social media work for any business, argues Miko?aj Piskorski, one of the world's leading experts on the business of social media. In "A Social Strategy," he provides the most convincing answer yet, one backed by original research, data, and case studies from companies such as Nike and American Express.

Drawing on his analysis of proprietary data from social media sites, Piskorski argues that the secret of successful ones is that they allow people to fulfill social needs that either can't be met offline or can be met only at much greater cost. This insight provides the key to how companies can leverage social platforms to create a sustainable competitive advantage. Companies need to help people interact with each other before they will promote products to their friends or help companies in other ways. Done right, a company's social media should benefit customers and the firm. Piskorski calls this "a social strategy," and he describes how companies such as Yelp and Zynga have done it.

Groundbreaking and important, "A Social Strategy" provides not only a story- and data-driven explanation for the explosion of social media but also an invaluable, concrete road map for any company that wants to tap the marketing potential of this remarkable phenomenon.