Communication for International Business: The Secrets of Excellent Interpersonal Skills

English may be the language of international business, but when talking to colleagues or business partners it can be clear that we’re not always speaking the same language. This guide will give you the strategies you need to communicate interpersonally with colleagues at home and overseas in the increasingly diverse and complex field of international business. It contains clear and practical advice from experts in the field of international business and communication to ensure you can build and enhance the relationships you need to be successful. Part one covers fundamental communication skills, enhancing your presentation skills, and interactions with colleagues and business partners. Part two enables you to develop the specific skills needed for building and maintaining successful business practices and relationships, covering topics such as networking, influencing, and managing conflict. Part three focuses on improving your skills when working in teams and when communicating via email, telephone, and video conference, with a view to delivering measurable business results.

Bob Dignen is a director of York Associates, a training company which offers a range of professional courses to develop international team and leadership skills. Bob specializes in delivering seminars to develop international project team performance. Ian McMaster is editor-in-chief of the business English magazine Business Spotlight. His specialist research interest is the use of English as a lingua franca in business, and communication problems between native and non-native speakers.