This book reads at times like an ode to what is clearly a passionate interest of the author. It covers six basic skills for effective communication in the workplace and for life generally – skills which are often neglected in many ambitious information managers' professional development strategies. Essentially a quick-and-easy read, the author adopts a friendly tone, recounting personal anecdotes to illustrate his use of communications principles.
Primarily aimed at information and records managers in the corporate sphere, the content is rather US-centric. The reader is presented with examples from American history's finest, such as Abraham Lincoln's public speaking skills and Rockefeller's persuasiveness. Some of these examples may seem rather a stretch for government or education librarians or information managers to relate to, as may some of the more recent case studies involving, for example, tips for producing sales pitches to corporate executives. Essentially, however, the principles can boil down to relevant advice for negotiating with colleagues and senior management in any sector.
The book is divided into seven sections, each covering one essential communication skill: be brief, be clear, be receptive, be strategic, be credible, be persuasive, with the last section illustrating the principles through case histories. The structure of the chapters in this way is logical and allows ease of use for future reference.
The two case studies in the last chapter are, again, set in corporate America and may not seem of much relevance to many readers on first inspection. However, with some teasing out of useful information, helped by tables set up by the author with points for each story set against his six key principles of communication (‘be brief’, etc.), some relevance can be found for nearly any situation.
Occasionally the text reads like a self-help book, which some readers may find jarring. Some of the author's personal stories can also seem a bit far-fetched as metaphors for mastering public speaking or learning to negotiate – tales of the author's sporting accomplishments in university, for example. However, this has presumably been a deliberate choice on the author's part as an example of how to connect with people by sharing personal information. If nothing else, it does add to the warm and reassuring tone of the book.
The ending is wonderfully personal and powerful, as the author attempts to leave his readers with a sense of the power and artistry that can be found when communication is treated like a lifelong pursuit. This is a nearly perfect ending to inspire readers to view their day-to-day communications in a new light and as a continuous opportunity for self-improvement and career advancement.