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Business and Professional Communication
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Business and Professional Communication
A Human-Centered Approach

First edition
January 2025 | 632 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Business and Professional Communication: A Human-Centered Approach prepares students to succeed in today’s workplace defined by changing technology, a diversifying workforce, and an increase in remote and hybrid work. Authors Curtis Newbold and Jessie Lynn Richards guide students through the principles, practices, and techniques, helping them see that business communication is more than just a series of documents, meetings, and presentations – it’s a human-centered process that requires a holistic understanding of communication across modes and contexts. With accessibility and inclusion leading the way, this text encourages students to be more conscientious, purposeful, and ethical in the way they communicate at work and beyond.
 
Part I: People – Communicating with Coworkers
 
Chapter 1: Understanding People: Communication, Empathy, and the Workplace Culture
The World is Changing-So Should the Way We Communicate

 
How Humans Think and Why This Matters at Work

 
Making Empathy and Inclusion a Top Priority

 
Organizational Culture and the Role of Communication

 
 
Chapter 2: Creating Meaningful Messages: Informing, Persuading, and Sharing Ideas at Work
Persuasive Workplace Communication: Assessing Purpose and Goals

 
Understanding Our Available Means

 
Appealing to Our Target Audiences

 
Creating Messages With Representation and Value

 
Making Ethical Choices

 
 
Part II: Modes – Mastering Communication Methods
 
Chapter 3 Interpersonal Communication: Verbal and Nonverbal
Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace

 
Verbal and Nonverbal Interactions in Workplace Environments

 
Listening and Responding to People's Needs, Concerns, and Ideas

 
Interpersonal Collaboration and Inclusivity

 
 
Chapter 4 Written Communication
Writing as a Process: Prewriting, Writing, and Rewriting

 
Writing Inclusively for Diverse Audiences

 
Staying Organized With Structure in Mind

 
Working Toward Clarity, Simplicity, and Style-In That Order

 
 
Chapter 5 Visual Communication: Designing Information to be Clearer, More Engaging, and More User-centered
Why Visual Communication Is an Imperative Professional Skill

 
Designing Information to Be User Centered

 
Simplifying Content With Callouts and Tables

 
Visualizing Messages With Photos, Colors, Icons, and Charts

 
Branding, Design, and Your Company's Image

 
 
Chapter 6 Digital Communication: Emerging Methods for Connecting With People
A New Era of Business Communication

 
Accessible Communication and the Role of Technology

 
Toggling Between Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication

 
Your Company's Website and the Content Within

 
Social Media and Its Value at Work

 
 
Part III: Contexts – Adapting to Situations
 
Chapter 7: Day-to-day Conversations: Regular Messages between Co-workers
Routine Communication

 
The Channels We Choose to Connect Daily With Colleagues

 
Taking a Human-Centered Approach to Day-to-Day Communication

 
Requests, Replies, and Adjustments

 
Saving, Organizing, and Archiving Day-to-Day Messages

 
 
Chapter 8: Live Audience Deliveries: Presenting to Groups and Crowds
Importance of Live Presentations

 
Before You Present: Topic, Audience, Exigence, and Inclusion

 
Preparing Presentations: Purposes, Mediums, Types, and Methods

 
Creating the Presentation: Tools and Tips

 
When It's Virtual: What Changes and What Doesn't

 
 
Chapter 9: Informative Messages: Sharing, Reporting, Updating, and Storing
Delivering Information to Share, Update, and Report

 
Meeting Expectations: Informing People So They Know How to Plan

 
Using Alternative Methods for Sharing Information

 
Distributing and Archiving Informative Messages

 
 
Chapter 10: Requests and Propositions: Getting People on Board with Your Idea
How and When We Make Requests and Propose Ideas

 
Anticipating Audience Needs

 
Building Credibility Starts With Research

 
Presenting Your Message to Be Clear and Persuasive

 
 
Chapter 11: Collaborative Projects: Working in Teams
The Importance of Team Communication

 
Building a High-Functioning Team

 
Best Practices for Communicating in Teams

 
Teaming Communication Through Conflict

 
Collaborative Projects

 
 
Chapter 12: Leadership and Project Management: Guiding Others Toward Success
Communication's Role in Leadership

 
Representing the Company as a Leader

 
Seven Leadership Styles Shaped by Communication

 
Leading Through Action and Language

 
 
Chapter 13: Client and Customer Interaction: Representing the Business
When You Communicate to Outside Stakeholders

 
Speaking to Customers for Different Reasons

 
Promoting Your Business to Potential Customers

 
Using Social Media to Engage With Audiences

 
 
Chapter 14: Education and Training: Sharing and Building Knowledge at Work
Learning, Teaching, and Professional Development: Your Roles and Responsibilities

 
Delivering Learner-Centered Trainings

 
Training People Through Written and Visual Instruction

 
Trainings Designed With Safety in Mind

 
 
Chapter 15: Career Communication: Researching, Applying, and Interviewing for a Job
Searching for a Job in a Changing World

 
Establishing Your Personal Brand and Visual Identity

 
Applying for the Job

 
Interviewing for the Job

 
 
Appendix A: Document Formatting Guide
 
Appendix B: Data Visualization Guide
 
Appendix C: Technology Guide: File Formats, Color Modes, and Fonts
 
Appendix D: Slide Deck Guide: PowerPoint Tips, Tricks, and Ideas.
 
Appendix F: Research Methods Guide

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Student Study Site

What might well be the next level of business writing textbook. …The more up to date material especially on inclusion and diversity along with digital and set in a covid plus world.

Sarah Duerden
Arizona State University

If you're hoping for a book that is responsive to communication in the workplace of the 2020s, then this is your text. It is approachable, written with the reader in mind, and better represents technological advancements in the workplace.

Nick J. Sciullo
Texas A&M University - Kingsville

I think its focus on inclusivity is really novel. I found that to be a major feature in my opinion.

Andrea L. Meluch
The University of Akron
Key features
  • This text is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
    • Flashcards and note-taking tools help students better prepare for class.
    • NEW! Audiobook Player allows students to listen to text content, boosting comprehension and retention. It offers flexible, on-the-go access, engaging both reluctant readers and auditory learners, improving the overall reading experience.
    • The Offline Reading option in the Student Dashboard offers greater accessibility to Vantage’s reading content, regardless of where students are or how strong their internet connection may be.
  • A human-centered approach highlights the importance of becoming an empathetic, ethical, and inclusive communicator with a people-first mentality to become a strategic problem-solver and connect with people in diverse contexts.
  • Chapters organized in a progressive framework with three scaffolding parts. Part 1 covers people and communicating with coworkers, Part 2 covers modes and mastering communication methods, and Part 3 covers contexts and adapting to situations.
  • Emphasis on ethics, inclusion, accessibility, and culture that is integrated throughout the text.
  • "Their Story" Examples open each chapter with a real-world anecdote of a professional that shares insights and perspectives about their experience communicating in workplace topics across a variety of industries.
  • Chapter ending Skills Mastery Workshops feature activities, exercises, and practical true-to-life scenarios designed to develop actionable business communication skills.
  • Appendices include five hands-on, how-to guides for practical guidance and to help develop applied workplace skills such as formatting letters and memos, designing charts and graphs, applying research methods like content analysis, and more.

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