Fast, accurate answers to all your business writing questions will be at your fingertips when you put this handy, carry-it-anywhere reference to work for you. Packed with practical guidance and real-world examples, it helps you ? write better business documents in half the time ? design winning proposals ? generate e-mail that commands attention ? create presentations and reports that achieve results ? use visuals to maximum effect ? choose from many sample documents for inspiration ? write with greater clarity and impact ? avoid redundancy, stiff phrasing, and "bureaucratic" writing ? make every word count ? handle complex technical topics with ease ? learn the fine art of sending bad news ? organize formal documents for impact ? choose the best formatting techniques ? avoid embarrassing mistakes in grammar and usage.

Effective business writing rests on a foundation of basic principles. Master them, and you'll know how to handle the many different writing tasks that come your way. This book will help you organize and edit your message for maximum impact The Pocket Mentor seriesoffers immediate solutions to common challenges managers face on the job every day. Each book in the series is packed with handy tools, self-tests and real life examples to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and hone critical skills. Whether you’re at you desk, in a meeting, or on the road, these portable guides enable you to tackle the daily demands of your work with greater speed, savvy, and effectiveness.

Effective communication is a vital skill for everyone in business today. Great communicators have a distinct advantage in building influence and jumpstarting their careers. This practical guide offers readers a clear and comprehensive overview on how to communicate effectively for every business situation, from sensitive feedback to employees to persuasive communications for customers. It offers advice for improving writing skills, oral presentations, and one-on-one dealings with others. Contents include: Understanding the optimal "medium" to present information Learning the best timing to deliver a message Delivering an effective presentation Drafting proposals Writing effective e-mails Improving self-editing skills Plus, readers can access free interactive tools on the Harvard Business Essentials companion web site. Series Adviser: Mary Munter Professor Mary Munter has taught management communication for over twenty-five years, for seven years at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and since 1983 at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Professor Munter is considered one of the leaders in the management communication field. Among her publications isGuide to Managerial Communication-recently published in its sixth edition and named "one of the five best business books" by the Wall Street Journal. She has also published many other articles and books and consulted with over ninety corporate and not-for-profit clients. Harvard Business Essentials The Reliable Source for Busy Managers The Harvard Business Essentials series is designed to provide comprehensive advice, personal coaching, background information, and guidance on the most relevant topics in business. Drawing on rich content from Harvard Business School Publishing and other sources, these concise guides are carefully crafted to provide a highly practical resource for readers with all levels of experience. To assure quality and accuracy, each volume is closely reviewed by a specialized content adviser from a world class business school. Whether you are a new manager interested in expanding your skills or an experienced executive looking for a personal resource, these solution-oriented books offer reliable answers at your fingertips.

Now reorganized into an easy-to-follow, six step approach to effective writing for every business communication format.

With advice and tools for improving a wide array of communication skills--from delivering an effective presentation to drafting proposals to the effective use of e-mail--Business Communication helps managers deliver information effectively.

The Write to the Top process helps you write clear, reader-centered documents that drive action and get results. Productivity—it’s vital to corporate and personal success. Yet business people spend countless hours deciphering vague and rambling written messages. The results: information overload, sluggish operations, delayed decisions, and plummeting morale. Quality—when you receive a business document, e-mail, letter, report, or proposal, do you immediately know what it’s about? Do you know what you’re supposed to do about it? When you send messages, do your readers act on them? They quickly will, if you use the proven Write to the Top process. Put The Six Steps to Reader-Centered Writing® to work to help you • sell your ideas or services more effectively • write up to twice as fast and save time for your busy readers, too • break through writer’s block • target your readers’ needs • demonstrate your leadership in writing • design documents for visual impact and easier navigation • improve your ability to think strategically, propose solutions, and speed up decision making

Fast, accurate answers to all your business writing questions will be at your fingertips when you put this handy, carry-it-anywhere resource to work for you. Packed with practical guidance and real-world examples, it helps you write better business documents in half the time; design proposals that get the results you want; generate e-mail that commands attention; use new technology with confidence; write with greater clarity and impact; avoid redundancy, stiff phrasing, and "bureaucratic" writing; make every word count; handle complex technical topics with ease; learn the fine art of sending bad news; avoid embarrassing mistakes in grammar and usage; organize formal documents for impact; use visuals to maximum effect; and choose the best formatting techniques.