The Concise Adair on Communication and Presentation Skills

Overview

"Poor communication is one of the prime causes of personal and business failure"

When writing about communication, few authors share John Adair’s wide experience of management and leadership development in both business and military spheres.

Adair uses his experience to add rare depth and insight to hard-edged practical skills and techniques that you can put into practice. He covers important topics such as listening skills, effective reading and writing techniques, how to argue/discuss for the best outcomes, how to manage meetings both face to face and online, how to coach, give briefings and communicate to achieve the right results.

John Adair’s books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies. This book encapsulates all his writing on the art and skills of effective communication. You will find it equally valuable whether you are beginning your career or looking for an expert refresher book.

Table of contents

1. Defining communcation

2. Issues in communication

• Personal communication skills checklist

3. Listening

4. Reading skills

5. Writing skills

• How to keep it simple

6. Arguing/discussion in communication

• How to get it wrong

7. Speaking and presentation skills

 

• Effective speaking
• Presentation skills

8 One-to-one interviews

• The skill of asking the right question

9 Managing meetings in person/online

10 Within your organisation

11 Briefings

• Effective speaking in briefings
• Briefing skills
• Briefing the individual
• Briefing checklist

12 Coaching and communication

• Understanding coaching
• Deciding what type of coaching is needed
• Expert coaching
• Self-help communication improvement plan

13 Summary

• Personal reminders
• Now test yourself
• Checklist: putting the principles of communication to work

Appendices

1 Quotes about communication skills

2 Examples of good and bad communication

• Examples of good communication
• Examples of bad communication – the charge of the Light Brigade
• How not to deal with redundancies

3 Tricks of the trade

• Professional performers
• Hints from professional communicators

 

Authors

John Adair

John Adair is internationally acknowledged as having had a significant influence on management and leadership development in both the business and military spheres. He has seen military service, lectured at Sandhurst, worked extensively as a consultant, held professorships in Leadership Studies and authored critically acclaimed management and leadership books which have sold in their hundreds of thousands. He has lectured at conferences all over the world.

Neil Thomas

Neil Thomas is Chairman of the Falconbury group of companies that comprises, Falconbury Ltd (www.falconbury.co.uk), Management Forum (www.management-forum.co.uk) and Thorogood Publishing Ltd (www.thorogoodpublishing.co.uk). He has been involved in publishing and seminars/training for most of his business life.