Customer Reviews

Communicating Effectively for Dummies

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With this book, Marty Brounstein breaks down communications into bite-size morsels that are easily digested. This book covers a broad range of territory from speaking clearly, using active listening techniques for better understanding, dealing with conflict, and appropriate uses for email, telephone and other forms of communication.

There's a tremendous amount of information, and I find myself going back to review the material often, especially when a meeting or conversation goes badly.

There is nothing here you can't find in other books, but it's all collected neatly under one cover, and the author presents the material in interesting ways that make it easier to absorb and put into practice.

Definitely a worthwhile read!

I really liked this book. One of the rare "for dummies" books that is low on fluff and high on substance. What the author presents here is an entire training course and then some on how to communicate effectively. This book will help you clearly get your message across to people at work, in social circles, in relationships. I was notoroious for being a very abrasive communicator. This book is already helping me smooth out some of the sharp edges. I listen far better now, and when I speak I no longer beat around the bush.

I have used this as a textbook for the advanced communications class I teach, and have come to appreciate it - especially the information on conflict resolution. Not everyting was applicable for my purposes but I recommend this book without hesitation.

The book is well written with plenty of illustrations. It is everything I hoped it would be.

This is a great book with a wealth of very useful information. As a project manager, communicating is a large part of my job. This book will definitely make my life a lot easier -- especially the chapters on conflict resolution.

I wish I had bought this book 2 years ago, when it first came out -- I could have avoided a lot of headaches.

The book covers good topics, but only addresses communication in the workplace. It needs to cover personal communication skills too.

In the last two years my company has been using Mr. Bounstein's advice to develop various management tools. "Communicating Effectively" has been a corner stone of new policies and everyone has been required to read the book. It is a decent one stop reference when you want to review your communication skills.

While supervisors and low level manages are working better, the Sr. Staff is utilizing the author's tools in a micromanagement-fest. For example, the review process has become a long drawn out process that requires several hours a week for the employee to revise their personal "assignment sheet". At the end of every three months you then have the employee summarize all their previous tasks for time, issues, schedule, etc. The quarterly review takes about 2 weeks with several cycles of review and rewriting with Sr. Staff members. Every detail is gone over and over. It is not uncommon to loose a week of productivity.

Read the book but maintain some common sense about how you apply the information.