Improve Your

Communication Skills

	Play this video for our quick guide to these resources.

Regardless of the size of business you are in – whether a large corporation, a small company, or even a home-based business – effective communication skills are essential for success.

The articles in this section of Mind Tools help you to understand how to communicate your message in the best possible way. After completing this section, you should have a better understanding of how to communicate effectively – to individuals and groups, and using spoken, written and electronic communication.

These articles are further supported by the additional career development resources found elsewhere on the Mind Tools web site.

Take a look around this section of Mind Tools, and then visit these other sections, all researched and written by the Mind Tools team, who share a strong commitment to helping you achieve lifelong success and happiness in your career.

Start improving your Communication Skills with the articles below.

	Communication Skills - Start Here!
	Making a Great First Impression
	The Johari Window - Helping people understand one-another
	Business Story Telling - Using stories to inspire
	Better Public Speaking and Presentation - Ensure your words are always understood
	Speaking to an Audience - Communicate complex ideas successfully
	Presentation Planning Checklist
	Questioning Techniques - Asking questions effectively
	Active Listening - Hear what people are really saying
	Effective Email - How to communicate powerfully by email
	Charts and Graphs - Choosing the right format
	AIDA: Attention-Interest-Desire-Action - Inspiring action with your writing
	Running Effective Meetings
	Ice Breakers - Setting the scene for productive meetings
	Facilitation - Guiding an event through to a successful conclusion
	Win-Win Negotiation
	Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions - Understanding values around the world
Career Excellence Club Member Tools: (How to become a member)
	Communications Planning - Getting the right message over, in the right way
	Monroe's Motivated Sequence - Perfecting the call to act
	360° Feedback - Encouraging teamwork and improving performance (sometimes!)
	Empathic Listening - Going beyond active listening
	Neuro-Linguistic Programming - Achieving excellence in communication
	Jargon Busting - Communicating without creating barriers
	Keep It Simple - Avoiding confusion and complexity
	Powers of Persuasion - Understanding the dos and don’ts of persuading
	Transactional Analysis - Learning the secret games people play
	Role Playing - Preparing for difficult conversations and situations
	Opening Closed Minds - Getting past an initial 'No'
	Dealing With Unfair Criticism - Responding calmly and rationally to unwarranted criticism
	Chunking - Grouping information so it's more easily understood
	Ice Breakers - Easing group contribution
	Running Teleconferences - Chairing effective phone meetings
	Concept Attainment - Reaching a shared understanding of important ideas
	Creating a Value Proposition - Clearly communicating benefits
	Communicating Internationally
	Delivering Bad News - Terminating employment honestly, respectfully and with dignity
	Cross-Culture Communication
	Communicating in a Crisis - Don't shut down communication
	Download the Communication Skills Section of Mind Tools in PDF format to browse and print at your leisure...
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In the first communications skills article, we look at some of the essential concepts behind successful communication. To read this, click 'Next article' below. Other relevant destinations are shown in the "Extension Resources" list underneath.

Where to go from here:		Join Mind Tools		Newsletter
		Download and Print		Next article

Extension Resources (Not included in the Mind Tools E-book.)

How Good Are Your Communication Skills? - Speaking, listening, writing, and reading effectively
The Rhetorical Triangle - Making your writing credible, appealing and logical
Body Language - Understanding non-verbal communication
Assertiveness - Getting what you want or need by working WITH people, not against them
Writing Reports - Using the business report format
Writing Skills - Before you write it down, know this
Giving and Receiving Feedback - Keeping team member performance high
Empathy at Work - Developing skills to understand other people
Delivering Great Presentations - Communicating effectively
Managing Presentation Nerves - Coping with the fear within
How Good Are Your Presentation Skills? - Understanding your impact
Thinking On Your Feet - Staying cool and confident under pressure
Planning a Workshop - Organizing and running a successful event
Conflict Resolution - Resolving conflict rationally and effectively
Cross-Cultural Business Etiquette - Learning the ins and outs of global business

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