Simply Said: Communicating Better at Work and Beyond

Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Introduction: Focus on Others
Section One Your Content
	Chapter 1 What Do You Mean by That?: Conveying a Clear Message
		Keep It Short
		Use Simple Language
			Avoid Jargon
		Focus on the Audience
			When Building Rapport
			Messages About Yourself
	Chapter 2 Once Upon a Time . . . : Telling Engaging Stories
		The Process
			So these two guys walk into a bar. . . .
	Chapter 3 A Place for Everything: Organizing Your Content
		The Informative Format
		The Persuasive Format
			The Hook
			The Recommendation
			The Benefits—Why Should They Care?
			Prove the Benefits
			Summarize
			Tell Next Steps
			Craft the Content
Section Two Your Oral Communication Skills
	Chapter 4 Stand Up and Stand Out: Making the Most of Your Body Language
		You Talkin’ to Me?
			Nuances
		Voice
			Slow Down. You Move Too Fast
			Speak Up. I Can’t Hear You
			Your Tone
			Your Inflection
		Body Language
			Your Seated Posture
			Your Hands
			Your Face
			Your Stance
	Chapter 5 Are You Just “Waiting to Talk”?: Listening to Understand
		Maintain Eye Contactand Posture
		Take Notes
		Change the Norm
		Ask Probing Questions
			Ask Closed Questions or Open-Ended Questions, Depending on Your Goal
		Confirm and Clarify
	Chapter 6 See It. Save It. Say It.: Delivering from Notes and Visuals
		Embrace the Silence
		Delivering from Notes
			Create a “Spot Word” Outline
			Use “Anchor Word” Phrases
			Maintain the “Arc of Silence”
			Use the “Spot Word” Technique
			Demonstrate with Your Hands
		Delivering from Visuals
			Get Started
			Share Your Content
			Pull It All Together
			Webinars
			Your “Delivery Tool” vs. Your “Leave-Behind”
	Chapter 7 What If They Ask You Something You Don’t Know?: Responding to Questions
		Listen to the Entire Question
		Gain Time to Think
			Thinking Time Technique 1: Repeat or Rephrase the Question
			Thinking Time Technique 2: Use a “Lead-in”
			Know When to Skip the Thinking Time Technique
		Answer and Reaffirm YourMain Point
		Ask for the Next Question
		Respond to Emotion
			Acknowledge
			Relate
			Transition and Answer
Section Three Your Written Communication Skills
	Chapter 8 Challenge Every Word: Editing for Clarity
		Get Rid of the Clutter
			Eliminate “Zero” Words
		Cut Wordy Expressions
			Avoid Confusing Constructions
			Don’t Confuse “i.e.” and “e.g.”
		Use the Best Possible Words
			Look for Words Ending in –tion, -ment, -ance, -ing
			Look for the “to Be” Verb and Similar Weak Verbs
			Decide the True Action You Want to Convey
		Put the Actor in the Right Place in the Sentence
			The Actor Comes Before the Verb
			The Actor Comes After the Verb
			The Actor Is Absent from the Sentence
	Chapter 9 Form Follows Function: Structuring Your Documents
		Persuading
		Informing
	Chapter 10 Make It Easy: Creating Reader-Friendly Documents
		Personal Pronouns
		Write Short Sentences
		Vary Your Sentence Length
		Don’t Overwhelm the Reader
	Chapter 11 Hit Send with Confidence: Writing Emails That Resonate
		Structure and Content
			Effective Subject Lines
			Hellos and Goodbyes
			The Body of Your Text
		Other Considerations
		Manage Expectations
		Set the Right Tone
Section Four Your Interactions
	Chapter 12 It’s a Dialogue, Not a Monologue: Conducting Effective Client Meetings
		Before the Meeting
			Understand Your Communication Style
			Adopt the Right Frame of Mind
		During the Meeting
			Step 1: Set the Tone
			Step 2: Confirm the Purpose of the Meeting
			Step 3: Gather Current Information
			Step 4: Discuss Your Information
			Step 5: Discuss the Benefits to Your Client
			Step 6: Establish Action Steps
		After the Meeting
		Summary
	Chapter 13 You Can’t Do It All: Delegating Successfully
		The “Who” and the “How”
			Step 1: State the Big Picture
			Step 2: Identify the Specific Assignment and Determine Expectations
			Step 3: Explain the Roles of Others
			Step 4: Explain the Reasons for Selecting This Individual, Especially the Benefits to Him or Her
			Step 5: Explain the Next Steps
			Step 6: Summarize What You Want the Person to Do
		How Does This Play Out in Light of Your Communication Style?
	Chapter 14 Do You Have a Minute?: Sharing Meaningful Feedback
		Giving Feedback
			Step 1: Raise a Specific Issue
			Step 2: Ask Permission Before You Explain
			Step 3: Give the Big Picture
			Step 4: Identify Successes and Challenges
			Step 5: Solve the Problem Collaboratively
			Step 6: Establish Clear Next Steps
		Receiving Feedback
	Chapter 15 Raise Your Glass: Giving Toasts
		Keep It Short
		Don’t Go Negative
		Share a Few Stories
		Avoid Sarcasm
	Chapter 16 Pass the Mic: Handling Introductions
		Planning Your Introduction
			Shorter Is Better
			Be Original
			Try to Make It Personal
			Don’t Oversell the Speaker
		Moderating a Panel Discussion
		Being Introduced
	Chapter 17 The Possibilities Are Endless: Facilitating Brainstorming Meetings
		Generate Ideas
			Step 1: Assign a Scribe
			Step 2: State the Problem Clearly
			Step 3: Number the Ideas
			Step 4: Prohibit Criticism
			Step 5: Use Wall Space
			Step 6: Limit the Session to One Hour
			Step 7: Transcribe Ideas and Distribute Quickly
		Assess Viability
Section Five Your Leadership
	Chapter 18 Inspire and Influence: Leading Others
		Your Values
			Use Clear Language
		Your Vision
		Your Plan
			Structuring Each Message
		Your Actions
		Summary
	Chapter 19 From Invincibility to Authenticity: Showing Vulnerability
		Fear of Being Exposed
		Fear of Being Rejected
		Fear of Being Hurt
About Exec|Comm
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Grammar Guidelines for Personal Pronouns
Video Resources
Index
EULA