Meetings are alive! Whether it's a few people meeting over coffee or 100 people in a conference room, meetings happen all the time. They are a constantly changing and living pattern; a connection of minds, content and process. Every meeting, no matter how large or small, has the potential to be a dynamic interaction of human brains. The possibilities for success are endless and yet organizations persist in forcing themselves into a rigid straight jacket of endless agendas, boring monologues and tedious PowerPoint. Where agendas are long and aimless. Where people stop each other talking. Where creativity is stifled. Where things go around in circles or grind to a halt. Where time is lost. Now is the time to make a change; to adapt to a better way of working. Now is the time for to take responsibility whether you Attend, Chair or Facilitate meetings; it's over to you to help lead the way. Whether you're problem-solving, innovating, strategizing, visioning, aligning or simply informing-you have more influence than you think. You just need to know how. This book will show you the 3 Big Twists to make all types of meeting successful so that you can begin a new meeting habit that others will want to follow. LID Publishing's popular Concise Advice Lab notebooks are designed to be quick and comprehensive brainstorming tools for busy professionals. The small trim size makes it easy to take along in a briefcase or purse. Interior pages are matte finish, so ink won't smear, and there's plenty of space to jot notes. A ribbon makes it easy to mark your place, and the elastic outer band keeps the notebook closed.

"[Think on Your Feet] is a helpful maven's guide ideal for anyone who views a podium with fear and trembling."-Publishers Weekly Get out of your own way! Our professional lives are full of situations outside of our control. A job interviewer asks a question out of left field. A coworker puts you on the spot in front of the boss. Your PowerPoint presentation crashes at a critical moment. Most people react to the unexpected with anxiety and unease. We get rattled, stumble over our words, and overthink the situation. Others, though, handle it with self-assurance and aplomb. They gain a sense of empowerment and energy when the pressure is on. Like great improv actors, they're able to think on their feet. The great thing is, improv isn't about winging it or flying by the seat of your pants; improv at its core is about listening and responding. It's based on rules and techniques, and it taps directly into your soft communication skills. By incorporating it into your prep work for professional situations, you'll learn how to retrain your brain for the unexpected and get out of your own way in those unexpected-and expected-professional situations. Practicing improv isn't about being funny. Instead, it's about developing the mental agility to spin any surprise in your favor and to communicate with confidence. Filled with engaging improv activities, this interactive guide will ensure you never come away from a tough moment pondering the woulda, coulda, shoulda! again. You'll learn how to nurture your personal style for communicating in every professional situation. From effective listening in the office, giving presentations, and leading meetings to negotiating a raise, acing an interview, and more, you'll start communicating with confidence and stop letting the unexpected hold you back. Take your workplace communication-and your career-to the next level by mastering the art of Thinking on Your Feet.

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.

Getting through to someone is a critical, fine art. Whether you are dealing with a harried colleague, a stressed-out client, or an insecure spouse, things will go from bad to worse if you can't break through emotional barricades and get your message thoroughly communicated and registered. Drawing on his experience as a psychiatrist, business consultant, and coach, author Mark Goulston combines his background with the latest scientific research to help you turn the "impossible" and "unreachable" people in their lives into allies, devoted customers, loyal colleagues, and lifetime friends. In Just Listen, Goulston provides simple yet powerful techniques you can use to really get through to people including how to: make a powerful and positive first impression; listen effectively; make even a total stranger (potential client) feel understood; talk an angry or aggressive person away from an instinctual, unproductive reaction and toward a more rational mindset; and achieve buy-in--the linchpin of all persuasion, negotiation, and sales. Whether they're coworkers, friends, strangers, or enemies, the first make-or-break step in persuading anyone to do anything is getting them to hear you out. The invaluable principles in Just Listen will get you through that first tough step with anyone. With this groundbreaking book, you will be able to master the fine but critical art of effective communication.

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.

How engaging technology and relationships can help you stand out, attract business and achieve a more dynamic professional life

The technological landscape has reshaped the way white collar workers cultivate and promote their businesses. The Transformation of Professional Services is an engaging look at how licensed experts are adapting to today's dynamic economic environment.

From Ari Kaplan--a recognized advisor on business and career development-- "Reinventing Professional Services: Building Your Business in the Digital Marketplace"offers insights on taking advantage of enterprising techniques to stand out and position one's self as an insightful chameleon rather than as an isolated purveyor of facts and figures.Details the importance of offering resources instead of simply sellingReveals strategies for increasing one's searchability and distinguishing one's self in an economic downturn or recoveryOffers advice readers can immediately use to strengthen client relationships

Written in a straightforward and accessible style, this book provides engaging guidance for anyone in the professional services field--from business consultants, financial advisers, and lawyers to accountants, real estate brokers, and appraisers.

"This is an excellent introduction to the area of Integrated Business Communication. The text provides a solid platform for those students engaged in studying professional business communication. The text is accessible with issues and concepts anchored with effective contemporary examples and case studies, supported with well integrated theories and models. The authors have defined and explored the area of 'integrated communication' and its importance to effective business practice, an area of some focus within business strategy today."

Gary Lunt, Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Communication, Advertising & PR, School of Creative Industries, Napier University.

"Integrated Business Communication in a Global Marketplace" stresses an interdisciplinary approach to communication through collaborative learning strategies. The book presents current theory as well as practical examples and explanations of various business communication. Underlying the discourse is the belief that communication is fundamental to effective decision-making, team-building and leadership.

This user-friendly book covers communication concepts and issues from marketing, management, public relations, promotions and organisational communications. It introduces new media and social media, framing, diffusion of innovation, cultural differences and precision listening among others. Through interviews, case studies, real-world business communication examples, research studies and interactive class exercises, students are exposed to effective business communication practices. "Integrated Business Communication in the Global Marketplace" helps students to understand the role effective communication will play intheir future business success.

This book is essential reading for students studying business communication. The website wileyeurope.com/college/stuart, includes an online glossary of key terms, samples of business correspondence, and communication examples for students. It also contains PowerPoint slides, essay questions, additional case studies and a test bank with questions and answers for lecturers.

Proven advice for communicating effectively before the media, customers, employees, and investor relations

Many executives focus too narrowly on the financial side of their business and neglect the importance of communicating with their employees, the media, and the public. "World Class Communication" equips you with crisis lessons, procedures, and examples that could help your company save millions of dollars through proper preparation and response. The must-have book every CEO needs, "World Class Communication" is packed with examples of good and bad handling of countless situations and expert instruction on how to manage them without breaking into asweat.Reveals the keys to successful shareholder communicationTips for winning in the media--every time outExpert tips for developing powerful public speaking techniquesDiscover how to rally employee support and performance through communication

There is a great, and often irrational, fear of the media among CEOs, with too few executives truly knowing how to deliver a message effectively in an interview. World Class Communication delivers the necessary tools and techniques you need to communicate your message to your target audience--from shareholder meetings to corporate communications to handlingcrises.

In today's noisy marketplace, it's crucial you find ways to get noticed. But do you shy away from the spotlight for fear of feeling like an idiot or looking like a show-off? Do you see others out there, attracting the kind of attention you wish you could get? If so, you need to Make Yourself a Little Bit Famous! Jam-packed with stories, advice, case studies and encouragement, Penny shares pro-tips on: Getting on TV and radio and acing your appearances. Bossing it as a speaker and when you present to people. Shining when you take part in or chair a panel discussion. If you want to be a best-kept secret, then step away from this book. But if you recognise the value of raising your profile for your business or career, then step up - because now is the right time for you to make yourself a little bit famous.

A strong support network and meaningful connections are crucial to your long-term success and peace of mind. Although successful women excel in every way, many resist the idea of seeking help due to fear of being viewed as weak or incompetent. Instead, they struggle alone and sacrifice their happiness and peace along the way. If you feel this way, you're in the right place! In Get Over "I Got It," author and podcast host Elayne Fluker shows you that this isolated mindset is the reason you are overwhelmed, depressed, and even unfulfilled. With Elayne's help, you will learn: How to step outside your comfort zone to ask for and accept support. The importance of ditching the "do-it-alone" philosophy. How to build your network and make useful connections. Ways for you to embrace the proven benefits of a stronger-together approach. Get Over "I Got It" will help you overcome the hurdles you face that prevent you from asking for help, giving you a surefire strategy-and the confidence-to seek support. You'll be positioned to establish a solid network of support and enroll others in your vision to achieve success.

Now in its third edition, this comprehensive text offers a classroom-tested, step-by-step approach to the creative processes and strategies for effective integrated marketing communication (IMC). Blakeman covers key areas, from marketing plans, branding/positioning, and creative briefs to copywriting, design, and considerations for each major media format. Throughout, she explores visual and verbal tactics, along with the use of business theory and practices, and how these affect the development of the creative message. This user-friendly introduction walks students through the varied strands of IMC, including advertising, PR, direct marketing, and sales promotion, in a concise and logical fashion.

People buy people, which means that managing our presence and profile is critical. We are constantly meeting and speaking to people who are short of both time and attention. By exploring the concepts of energy (to increase presence) and story structure (to bring content alive and make it concise, accessible and memorable), Edie Lush and Charlotte McDougall offer a practical guide for beating nerves and building the foundation for real self-awareness and confidence. How To Speak With Confidence in Public will help you build your presence and profile and explore techniques to help you present yourself, your personality and your messages in a confident, personable and compelling way - wherever you are and whoever you are talking to. What you'll learn - A heightened awareness of what effective and engaging communication looks and sounds like. - Practical techniques to immediately help you come across with more confidence and authority. - A practical methodology to help you prepare and structure your content and bring it to life. - Nerves: how they can affect us, and what to do about it!

Straight-talk at work Grumblings in offices everywhere suggest that we crave more, but don't get often enough of it. "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.
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 commitment. There's no greater contribution to operational effectiveness and success than conversations in which people with conflicting viewpoints discuss their differences forthrightly.
Readers will be engaged and delighted as the text demystifies the obstacles to getting beyond bullsh*t and guides them in developing straight-talk relationships. Further details are available at www.straighttalkatwork.com.

People buy more and buy more happily when in good humor. Understanding humor and being able to effectively use it for your sales and persuasion purposes is a powerful advantage--for any speaker, salesman or writer."
Drawn from 30 years' experience as a popular professional speaker, author of 13 books, columnist and advertising copywriter, Dan Kennedy looks at humor as an instrument of persuasion and influence. Anyone--amateur--or pro--who must stand and deliver speeches, seminars, group sales presentations, serve as toastmaster, or write advertisements, sales letters or newsletters will find fodder here, to be faster on their feet, more confident and adept at being funny with a purpose. The book contains thoughtful insight but also simple shortcuts. Reading it, you'll get a better appreciation for the humor around you and humor professionals who entertain you, and you'll exit stage left with humor strategies and tricks you can use. Even if you're not all that funny. Note: this book contains adult material and may not be suitable for minors. Or for the easily offended.
From the author. . .
"I first titled this book "Mugging for Fun and Profit," but then thought better of it. Reminds me of Napoleon Hill being threatened by his publisher with the title 'Use Your Noodle To Get The Boodle, ' which Hill transformed to 'Think And Grow Rich.' Overnight. The power of a deadline and desperation. And one of the all-time bestselling books on the subject of success the result. Anyway, unless you are just doing to hit 'em over the head and drag them out into the desert to empty their pockets, I'd suggest, you need to know how to make 'em laugh.

Award-winning ABC news anchor Dion Lim gives women the inside track on communications strategies that make or break careers If the workplace is a battlefield for women, this is the playbook they need. Women face unique circumstances on their road to success, no matter age or experience, what their goals are, or industry. The Communication Playbook addresses a wide range of career and workplace scenarios and "microinteractions" you must master if you care about succeeding in business. This book covers crucial career skills including: *Thinking on your feet in the tough situations*Networking beyond your league *Handling awkward conversations with grace and confidence*Making online life work for you, including shutting down bullies and growing your audience*Building inner confidence*Communicating your personal brand*Turning mistakes into opportunities*Choosing which battles are worth fighting - then winning them! Along the way, you'll learn how the author found her own voice as an American-born Chinese woman in a traditionally white industry, how she rose to national fame, and the unexpected personal discoveries that have come with it. It's those day-to-day interactions that nobody teaches about in school or in corporate training that can make or break a woman's career. The Communication Playbook helps you master every interaction you'll face, for ultimate career success.

Addressing the unique difficulties involved in day-to-day project management communication, The Project Manager s Communication Toolkit provides proven methods for creating clear and effective communications including text-based plans, reports, messages, and presentations. It examines the many tools available and goes beyond traditional coverage to define their proper use and application.

Using language that s easy to understand, the author explains how to determine the appropriate tools for specific communication needs. This time-saving resource provides the understanding to harness the power of everyday communication, such as email and PowerPoint(r) to:

• Gain control over project parameters
• Overcome conflict
• Create effective project plans, charters, and statements of work

Considering that most projects fail due to lapses in communication, it is essential for project managers to understand how to communicate their plans and ideas clearly and effectively. Complete with numerous examples and case studies, this book provides the understanding required to select the right tools, as well as the insight to use those tools effectively in a wide range of real-world situations.

Praise for:

... a slam dunk in providing the reader a foundation, emphasizing various tools, techniques; and in which situations they should be applied. The case studies further challenge the day-to-day situations one may face; providing techniques that work Anyone that has been part of a project team will benefit from this book.
Lisa Holowiak, Quality Assurance Specialist, Pfizer, in PM World Today, Vol. XII, Issue X

a valuable resource for program and project managers at all levels and all industries. Shankar very successfully managed very large and complex projects for my organization utilizing many of these tools and techniques.
Nancy Couture, V. P. Enterprise Intelligence, Ingenix

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.

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.

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!

Use eye-popping visual tools to energize your people

Just as social networking has reclaimed the Internet for human interactivity and co-creation, the visual meetings movement is reclaiming creativity, productivity, and playful exchange for serious work in groups.

"Visual Meetings" explains how anyone can implement powerful visual tools, and how these tools are being used in Silicon Valley and elsewhere to facilitate both face-to-face and virtual group work. This dynamic and richly illustrated resource gives meeting leaders, presenters, and consultants a slew of exciting tricks and tools, including
Graphic recording, visual planning, story boarding, graphic templates, idea mapping, etc.Creative ways to energize team building, sales presentations, staff meetings, strategy sessions, brainstorming, and moreGetting beyond paper and whiteboards to engage new media platformsUnderstanding emerging visual language for leading groups

Unlocking formerly untapped creative resources for business success, "Visual Meetings" will help you and your team communicate ideas more effectively and engagingly.