1. Introduction: Foundations of Communication -- 2. Fundamentals of Written Communication -- 3. Interpersonal Communication -- 4. Nonverbal Communication -- 5. Communicating Across Cultures and in Groups -- 6. The Ethics of Business Communication -- 7. Persuasion, Argumentation and Reasoning: Critical Thinking -- 8. Organisational Communication: Internal -- 9. Organisational Communication: External -- 10. Electronic Communication -- 11. Fundamentals of Oral Communication --

Introduction: Foundations of Communication -- Introduction: an overview of the essentials of business communication -- What is communication? -- Language as a unique human attribute -- History of human communication -- Communication in theory -- Categories of communication -- Purposeful language -- The role of grammar, punctuation, usage and style -- The interconnectedness of writing and thinking -- Barriers to communication -- A new approach to business communication -- Jargon and weasel words -- Fundamentals of Written Communication -- Introduction: the power of words -- What will you need to write? -- Writing in plain English -- Writing for your reader -- Practical grammar -- Common problems with sentence structure -- Active and passive voice -- Stylish and consistent writing -- Writing for academic purposes -- The art of editing -- Style guides -- Interpersonal Communication -- Introduction: the influence of interpersonal communication -- Understanding interpersonal business communication -- Distinctive features of interpersonal business communication -- Effective interpersonal communication -- Interpersonal communication competence -- Positive interpersonal environments -- Advantages and purposes of understanding communication models -- The use of specialist language in the business setting -- Managing interference -- Positive communication climates -- Emotions and emotional intelligence in business communications -- Factors in effective interpersonal communication -- Communication in the professional context -- Networking and hierarchies in interpersonal business communication -- Understanding and diffusing the dark side of interpersonal business communications -- Nonverbal Communication -- Introduction: the role of noverbal communication in creating meaning -- Do actions speak louder than words? -- The science of nonverbal communication -- Channels of nonverbal communication -- Functions of nonverbal communication -- The complexities of nonverbal communication -- Developing stronger business communication skills through an appreciation of nonverbal communication -- Specific applications of nonverbal communication for business professionals -- Communicating Across Cultures and in Groups -- Introduction: culture, communication and competence -- Culture -- Individualist versus collectivist cultures -- Individualism versus individuality -- Intercultural communication: self-fulfilling prophecies -- East versus West -- Colourful communication: cultural codes and symbols -- Groups and grooming groupies -- Models of group development -- Group task roles -- Formal and informal tasks -- Leading groups -- Shared or co-leadership -- The Ethics of Business Communication -- Introduction: the fundamental place of ethics in business communication -- What is public morality? How is it different from private morality? -- Ethical relativism -- Relativism in business -- Deception -- Mandatory reporting -- New technologies and ethics -- Whistleblowing --

Persuasion, Argumentation and Reasoning: Critical Thinking -- Introduction: making business communication logical -- What is logic? -- Persuasion and argument -- Underpinnings of logical thinking: the ancient Greeks -- Skilful business writing -- Writing persuasively -- Structuring for argument, logic and persuasion -- Critical thinking -- Deductive and inductive reasoning -- IDEAS: a practical tool -- Organisational Communication: Internal -- Introduction: what is internal communication? -- How internal communication happens -- The costs of poor communication -- Roles of the internal communication team -- The informal network: gossip, scuttlebutt, hearsay and the grapevine -- How to improve internal communication -- Interpersonal communication solutions for leadership -- Organisational Communication: External -- Introduction: appearances are everything -- Communicating with the media -- The corporate communication practitioner -- Media releases -- Difficulties and pitfalls: both sides of the fence -- Rules of engagement -- The challenges of perception -- Special events -- Proactive and reactive external communication -- Foreseeing the future and planning for the worst -- Media training for spokespeople -- Electronic Communication -- Introduction: development and acceptance of non-print communication -- Communication and electronic media -- What makes electronic communication different? -- Key considerations for electronic communications -- Interpersonal relationships -- The cognitive factors -- Handling the volume and the immediacy -- Cultural and technical issues -- Fundamentals of Oral Communication -- Introduction: oral presentations -- Analysing the situation and audience -- Structuring presentations -- Using visual aids -- Designing a PowerPoint presentation -- The presentation -- Team-based presentations -- Special-occasion presentations -- Organising and managing meetings -- Communicating by telephone -- Conclusion: Onwards and Upwards -- Introduction: project-managing your brand -- Chapter questions -- Creating an effective resumé -- Your employment application cover letter -- Your brand under scrutiny: the job interview.