Book excerpt: What is communication and why is it important? Our ability to communicate is central to everyday life and an essential skill in social work. This easy-to-read book offers a step-by-step guide to developing effective communication skills with a diverse range of service users and professionals. It is the perfect guide to help manage different communication skills in different settings, and more importantly, encourage students to continually reflect and develop these skills. Key features: - Wide range of case studies from an array of service areas and user groups - Reflective tasks and questions to stimulate critical thinking and discussion - Skills audits to test where your strengths are and areas for development This book is designed to guide readers in developing their own communication style that best suits them to become an effective social worker, whilst meeting the needs of their service user group and individual service user.