Simply Said

The Essential Guide to Business Communication-Now Updated for the Hybrid, AI-Driven Workplace We all communicate every day, but few of us do it as well as we could. Did that email come across harsher than you intended? Did your presentation fail to land? Have you ever walked out of a meeting wondering if anyone really heard you? It comes down to one deceptively simple idea: the most effective communicators focus less on themselves and more on the people they're trying to reach. In this revised and updated tenth anniversary edition of his bestselling handbook, Jay Sullivan-award-winning author and former Managing Partner of Exec|Comm-builds on that core philosophy with fresh guidance for the ways we work today. Simply Said has empowered thousands of professionals at Fortune 500 companies, top law firms, and global organizations to communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and impact. This new edition brings Exec|Comm's proven framework fully up to date, addressing the communication challenges of video calls, hybrid teams, and AI-assisted work, while staying true to the principles that have made this book a go-to resource for a decade. Inside, you'll find: - Practical frameworks for every setting-one-on-one meetings, boardroom presentations, video calls, conference calls, and large-scale formal presentations - Updated guidance for hybrid and virtual communication, including how to command a room on camera, manage eye contact on video, and keep remote audiences engaged - Proven techniques for crafting clear, audience-focused messages that get heard, remembered, and acted upon - Strategies for active listening and asking better questions-the underrated skills that separate good communicators from great ones - New content on AI as a communication tool, with guidance on using it to enhance your writing and presentation prep while keeping your authentic voice For managers, executives, lawyers, and professionals at every stage of their careers, Simply Said delivers the essential framework for anyone who wants to communicate with greater clarity, earn deeper trust, and have real impact-whether they're speaking to one person or one thousand.

Jay Sullivan is an award-winning author and columnist. He writes extensively about leadership and communication skills. For thirty years he has helped professionals in a wide array of industries think more clearly and communicate with more impact by focusing as much on listening as on speaking, and as much on trying to understand as to being understood.

Introduction: Focus on Others xiii Part I Your Content 1
Chapter 1 What Do You Mean by That?: Framing the Conversation 5
Chapter 2 Once Upon a Time: Telling Engaging Stories 23
Chapter 3 A Place for Everything: Organizing Your Content 33 Part II Your Oral Communication Skills 49
Chapter 4 Stand Up and Stand Out: Maximize the Impact of Your Body Language 51
Chapter 5 Are You Just "Waiting to Talk"?: Listening to Understand 75
Chapter 6 See It. Save It. Say It: Delivering from Notes and Visuals 97
Chapter 7 What If They Ask You Something You Don't Know?: Responding to Questions 121 Part III Your Written Communication Skills 133
Chapter 8 Challenge Every Word: Editing for Clarity 137
Chapter 9 Form Follows Function: Structuring Your Documents 153
Chapter 10 Make It Easy: Creating Reader-Friendly Documents 161
Chapter 11 Hit Send with Confidence: Writing Emails That Resonate 167 Part IV Your Interactions 177
Chapter 12 It's a Dialogue, Not a Monologue: Conducting Effective Client Meetings 181
Chapter 13 You Can't Do It All: Delegating Successfully 195
Chapter 14 Do You Have a Minute?: Sharing Meaningful Feedback 205
Chapter 15 Raise Your Glass: Giving Toasts 213
Chapter 16 Pass the Mic: Introducing Speakers and Participating in Panel Discussions 219 Part V Your Leadership 229
Chapter 17 Inspire and Influence: Leading Others 231
Chapter 18 From Invincibility to Authenticity: Showing Vulnerability 245 Grammar Guidelines for Personal Pronouns 253
Acknowledgments 257
About the Author 259
Index 261