Essentials of Business Communication

Description

Ensure you have the job-ready writing and communication skills that today's employers demand with Guffey/Loewy's ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION, 12E. This market-leading text and its online study tools help you develop the professional and communication skills that employers seek, including writing, speaking, critical thinking and teamwork. Updated employment chapters offer insights into a labor market that is more competitive and dependent on technology than ever before. The latest trends, technologies and practices, based on interviews with practitioners and the research of thousands of articles and blogs emphasize transferable professional skills. Timely advice guides you through building your brand, searching for a job, writing a winning resume, interviewing effectively and using LinkedIn. Optional editing challenges and grammar reviews and a complete grammar guide at the end of the book help you improve critical language skills. MindTap online study tools let you further refine your communication abilities. Cover Brief Contents Contents Appreciation for Support About the Authors Unit 1: Business Communication in the Information Age Chapter 1: Thriving in a Digital, Social, and Mobile Workplace 1-1 Succeeding with Twenty-First-Century Skills 1-2 Practicing Active Listening 1-3 Communicating Nonverbally 1-4 Understanding Culture and Communication 1-5 Ensuring Intercultural Effectiveness Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Activities and Cases Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 1 Editing Challenge 1 Communication Workshop: Technology Unit 2: The Writing Process in the Digital Era Chapter 2: Planning Business Messages 2-1 Exploring the Communication Process 2-2 Applying the 3-x-3 Writing Process to Business Messages 2-3 Analyzing the Purpose and Anticipating the Audience 2-4 Employing Expert Writing Techniques to Adapt to Your Audience 2-5 Improving the Tone and Clarity of a Message Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Writing Improvement Exercises Radical Rewrites Activities Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 2 Editing Challenge 2 Communication Workshop: Career Skills Chapter 3: Organizing and Drafting Business Messages 3-1 Drafting Workplace Messages Begins with Research 3-2 Organizing Ideas to Show Relationships 3-3 Writing a First Draft with Powerful Sentences 3-4 Mastering Four Helpful Writing Techniques 3-5 Building Well-Organized Paragraphs Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Writing Improvement Exercises Radical Rewrites Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 3 Editing Challenge 3 Communication Workshop: Social Media Chapter 4: Revising Business Messages 4-1 Revising: Applying Phase 3 of the Writing Process 4-2 Ensuring Message Clarity 4-3 Improving Readability with Strategic Document Design 4-4 Catching Errors with Careful Proofreading 4-5 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Your Message Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Writing Improvement Exercises Radical Rewrites Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 4 Editing Challenge 4 Communication Workshop: Technology Unit 3: Workplace Communication Chapter 5: Short Workplace Messages and Digital Media 5-1 Communicating in the Digital Age with E-Mails and Memos 5-2 Messaging and Texting at Work 5-3 Making Podcasts Work for Business 5-4 Telling Stories with Blogs and News Sites 5-5 Navigating Social Networking for Business Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Writing Improvement Exercises Radical Rewrites Activities and Cases Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 5 Editing Challenge 5 Communication Workshop: Social Media Chapter 6: Positive and Neutral Messages 6-1 Routine E-Mails, Memos, and Letters 6-2 Typical Request, Response, and Instruction Messages 6-3 Direct Claims and Complaints 6-4 Adjustment Messages 6-5 Goodwill Messages Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Writing Improvement Exercises Radical Rewrites Activities and Cases Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 6 Editing Challenge 6 Communication Workshop: Ethics Chapter 7: Bad-News Messages 7-1 Communicating Negative News Strategically 7-2 Examining Bad-News Strategies 7-3 Composing Effective Bad-News Messages 7-4 Refusing Typical Requests and Claims 7-5 Managing Bad News within Organizations Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Writing Improvement Exercises Radical Rewrites Activities and Cases Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 7 Editing Challenge 7 Communication Workshop: Intercultural Skills Chapter 8: Persuasive Messages 8-1 Understanding Persuasion in the Contemporary Workplace 8-2 Planning and Writing Persuasive Requests 8-3 Writing Effective Persuasive Claims and Complaints 8-4 Crafting Persuasive Messages in Digital Age Organizations 8-5 Creating Effective Sales Messages in Print and Online Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Writing Improvement Exercises Radical Rewrites Activities and Cases Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 8 Editing Challenge 8 Communication Workshop: Ethics Unit 4: Business Reports and Proposals - Best Practices Chapter 9: Informal Reports 9-1 Writing Reports in the Digital Age 9-2 Formats and Heading Levels 9-3 Analyzing the Problem, Defining the Purpose, and Collecting Data 9-4 Preparing Short Informational Reports 9-5 Preparing Short Analytical Reports Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Activities and Cases Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 9 Editing Challenge 9 Communication Workshop: Mastering Team Writing Projects Chapter 10: Proposals and Formal Reports 10-1 Crafting Winning Business Proposals 10-2 Preparing Formal Business Reports 10-3 Conducting Primary and Secondary Research 10-4 Documenting Information 10-5 Creating Meaningful Graphics 10-6 Assembling and Completing Formal Business Reports Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Activities and Cases Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 10 Editing Challenge 10 Communication Workshop: Technology Unit 5: Professionalism, Teamwork, Meetings, and Speaking Skills Chapter 11: Professionalism at Work: Business Etiquette, Teamwork, and Meetings 11-1 Developing Professionalism and Business Etiquette Skills On-Site and Online 11-2 Communicating Face-to-Face on the Job 11-3 Following Telephone and Voice Mail Best Practices 11-4 Excelling in Professional Teams 11-5 Making the Most of Face-to-Face and Virtual Meetings Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Activities and Cases Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 11 Editing Challenge 11 Communication Workshop: Career Skills Chapter 12: Business Presentations 12-1 Creating Effective Business Presentations 12-2 Organizing Presentations to Connect with Audiences 12-3 Understanding Contemporary Visual Aids 12-4 Preparing Engaging Multimedia Presentations 12-5 Refining Delivery, Rehearsing, and Performing Your Talk Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Activities and Cases Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 12 Editing Challenge 12 Communication Workshop: Collaboration Is King Unit 6: Employment Communication Chapter 13: The Job Search, Resumes, and Cover Messages 13-1 Harnessing Technology in Today's Challenging Job Market 13-2 Exploring the Open Job Market 13-3 Unlocking the Hidden Job Market 13-4 Customizing Your Resume 13-5 Using Digital Tools to Fine-Tune Your Job Search 13-6 Cover Letters - Do They Still Matter? Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Radical Rewrites Activities and Cases Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 13 Editing Challenge 13 Communication Workshop: Ethics Chapter 14: Interviewing and Following Up 14-1 Sharpening Your Interview Skills 14-2 Before the Interview 14-3 During the Interview 14-4 After the Interview 14-5 Preparing Additional Employment Documents Summary of Learning Outcomes Key Terms Chapter Review Critical Thinking Radical Rewrites Activities and Cases Grammar/Mechanics Checkup 14 Editing Challenge 14 Communication Workshop: Career Skills Appendix A: Document Format Guide Appendix B: Citation Formats Appendix C: Correction Symbols and Proofreading Marks Appendix D: Grammar/Mechanics Handbook Notes Index