A Woman's Guide To The Language Of Success: Communicating with Confidence and Power

This practical, candid guide shows women how to shed the language of weakness and gain the language of power. Providing real-life examples, specific advice, practical tips, exercises and business and literary references, it shows professional women how to kick the "spontaneity" delusion; grow the vocabulary of power and eliminate limp words and phrases that hurt credibility; overcome subtle and overt chauvinism; command all forms of communication - verbal, non-verbal, writing, reading and listening - as tools for power and influence; and shape policy decisions at the top.

Much has been written--and said--about how men and women communicate differently. Deborah Tannen has documented these differences and their effects, both in the workplace and in personal situations, in such best-selling works as Talking from 9 to 5 (1994) and You Just Don't Understand (1991). Now Mindell, an international communications consultant, provides a practical guide for professional women on how to use language more effectively to persuade, succeed, and be more assertive. Throughout, Mindell emphasizes that "weak" language should be avoided in order not to "sabotage" one's message. She covers grammatical construction, vocabulary, structure and organization, body language, and style. Modes of communication considered by Mindell include presentations, writing, listening, and even reading--noting that what and how women read is also important. David Rouse