Communication Skills For Dummies

Learn to: Communicate successfully, whatever the situation Build trust, engage with empathy and listen carefully to develop relationships Express yourself clearly in writing and over the phone, as well as in person Manage conflict and effect a positive outcome Get your message across and connect with anyone for greater success in your career and social life Great communicators aren't born, they're made. The simple yet powerful tools and techniques you'll find in this guide can transform anyone into a great communicator in no time. Inside, you'll find easy exercises for building your messaging muscle, along with quick fixes for simple communication problems, and priceless insights and advice on everything from non-verbal communication to communicating over digital media. Listen, learn, communicate – find out how to improve relationships through active listening and clearly defining what you really want to communicate Tear down the barriers to effective communication – learn to zero-in on and shed prejudices and preconceptions that can get in the way of making a connection Show them you mean it – discover how to control every aspect of your physical delivery – including hand gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice – for maximum effect Adjust your attitude – find out how your attitude impacts the content and delivery of your message, and how it can make or break your chances of establishing rapport Open the book and find: Strategies for overcoming any communication obstacle Tips for becoming an active listener Techniques for controlling body language and voice modulation Simple exercises for building your communication skills – fast Tips for communicating effectively in writing Techniques for making the most of communication technology

Introduction  1 Part I: Honing Your Communication Skills  7 Chapter 1: Grasping the Finer Points of Great Communication  9 Chapter 2: Knowing What You Want to Achieve  27 Chapter 3: Valuing Different Communication Styles  43 Part II: Being Receptive to Others  55 Chapter 4: Listening Actively for Total Understanding  57 Chapter 5: Establishing Rapport for Effective Communication  71 Part III: Putting Your Mind and Body into Your Message  89 Chapter 6: Choosing the Right Attitude  91 Chapter 7: Speaking with Clarity  109 Chapter 8: Conveying Messages through Movements  127 Part IV: Managing Communication Challenges  143 Chapter 9: Getting Yourself Out of Sticky Situations  145 Chapter 10: Negotiating with Finesse  159 Chapter 11: Communicating Across Cultures  171 Part V: Communicating Across Distances  185 Chapter 12: Communicating Successfully through Technology  187 Chapter 13: Communicating over the Phone  203 Chapter 14: Putting Pen to Paper for Positive Effect  213 Part VI: The Part of Tens  225 Chapter 15: Ten Top Tips for Speaking Face to Face  227 Chapter 16: Ten Essential Tips for Effective Communication  235 Index  243

Elizabeth Kuhnke is a Positive Impact Coach and the Managing Director and founder of Kuhnke Communication, a company that tailors communication coaching programmes and workshops to individuals and teams across the UK, Europe and the Far East. Elizabeth is the author of Body Language For Dummies and Persuasion & Influence For Dummies.