[thruflo]

In a senior role, effective communication becomes more important. One of the best books I've read about how to communicate effectively is http://www.amazon.com/The-Pyramid-Principle-Writing-Thinking...

It introduces a specific method to write concise, effective business documents. Then it shows how you can use the method to critique your own thinking.

[Denzel]

Yes, I can't recommend this book enough. Throughout my career, I've come into contact with a number of consultants from Harvard/MIT, Bain, McKinsey, etc. They all had a way of communicating ideas so clearly and effectively that I could understand exactly what they were saying, almost immediately. There was virtually no loss of information between what they spoke and what I heard. The ideas and thoughts all just flowed into my brain painlessly. I aspired to communicate as well as these people, but I just couldn't figure out the formula.

Finally, one late night, sitting across from my managing director (the leader of a prestigious boutique pharma-consulting firm), I asked him rather bluntly, "How did you learn to speak so well?" He gave me a rather blank stare, and thought for a little while. "Ah!" he exclaimed, jumping up from his desk and darting over to his bookcase. After a little rummaging, lo and behold, he pulled out an old copy of the Pyramid Principle. I leafed through the book and found a number of notes and highlights as he explained to me that what I held was the single most influential book he'd ever read. He told me to read it, not as a way to structure presentations or emails (although it helps there), but as a new lifestyle. Fold the ideas and principles into your very being, so as to become second nature, and you'll never have trouble communicating again.

It's a must-read book.

[avenger123]

+1. What a great endorsement for the book. Your two paragraphs capture so much and in such a delightful way that it's hard not to want to buy the book.

[fjordan]

On a related note, this book (http://www.treesmapsandtheorems.com/) is excellent.

The author approaches communication from the principle of Gestalt psychology and really helps one understand how our minds communicate.

[robinwarren]

I'd second this book. I've just finished it and am writing up a synopsis for my blog. It's been useful for improving my own writing and I intend to use the processes laid out to assess decisions made by others in future.