Power Communication

Developed by Dr. Tom Clark over a fifteen year period of teaching writing, presentation, and small group communication skills at Procter & Gamble, (the business thinking capital of the world), Power Communication provides you with a systematic presentation of how to compose persuasive written and oral messages. Organized around the acronym POWER, you'll learn to Plan, Organize, Write, Edit, and Revise letters, memos, e-mail, and presentations for effective communication.

POWER Communication includes the following:

Guidelines on how to write a one-page memo that clearly and concisely communicates your ideas to your readers

Document design techniques that assist you in composing documents that are well-designed and effectively adapted to the needs of readers. POWER Communication will teach you how to design documents that are attractive when skimmed and scanned, and logically argued when read word for word.

A planning matrix that will help you write complex reports quickly and efficiently.

Guidelines on communication in a multicultural environment that help you develop appropriate writing and speaking styles.

Exclusive treatment of how to write to avoid litigation, exploring legal issues in oral and written business communication.

A chapter of Model Documents which you can use as a starting point for organizing a variety of business messages.

Procedures for defining your communication objectives by setting quality control criteria that allow you to translate your objectives into four observable and measurable standards.

Techniques for organizing your presentation by time blocks so you spend an appropriate amount of time on issues most relevant to your listeners.

Examples of effective presentation openings and closings to guide you in the critical preview and review portions of a presentation.

Designing visual aids that illustrate your presentations effectively without overwhelming them.

Using mental rehearsal to prepare for questions and objections in advance of a presentation. Techniques for answering questions quickly and effectively.

Learning how to relax physically and mentally, with progressive relaxation, positive self-talk, and autogenic training.

Achieving vocal and visual effectiveness by practicing speaking emphasis exercises.

Guidelines for rehearsing presentations.

Message planning aids including a helpful timetable for communication, action step outlines and planning sheets for e-mail, voice mail, memos, reports, group communication and oral presentations.

A comprehensive appendix that includes a compact guide to usage, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization as well as discussions of team writing and writing for another's signature.

Guidelines on how to write and speak with authority, with a special focus on powerful and powerless speech.

Techniques for transforming negative communication into positive communication.

Guidelines for effective editing and revising messages quickly and efficiently, including messages written by co-workers and subordinates with a focus on how to create and reinforce images of expertise, strategic insight, goodwill, dynamism, power, and transparent thinking.

Examples of how to open meetings with an organized statement that indicates to listeners that you are going to lead a well-organized meeting that ends on time, with each item on the agenda receiving appropriate analysis and follow-up.