Book excerpt: Communication seems so simple, yet breakdowns in communication abound and serious misunderstandings can have you losing your temper, face or credibility and failing to achieve what you want. But both written and presentational business communication are career skills – affecting your current job and future prospects – in which you simply must excel. This book reviews the key factors that will help you prepare and communicate clearly, effectively, impressively and memorably. In five steps, the book will help you: avoid communications pitfalls; plan what to say, what not to say and how to put it across; set out a clear written message; prepare a formal presentation; overcome “nerves”; win attention and give a clear, calm and confident presentation; and use language to put over technical, financial and other details effectively. In every way it will help make sure that your communications achieve what you want and position you as effective and competent.