This presentation was prepared for a Government class at the College of William & Mary (September 2012)

1. Communication
in the Workplace
Susan T. Evans
susantevans@gmail.com

2. Senior
Strategist
susantevans.com

3. Agenda
Day to day communication
Writing
Presentations
Bonus tips for new employees

4. Day to Day

5. Email
Exchanging information and updates
Decisions are complicated
Until you’re in charge, carefully
crafted
Make your subject lines count
Forwarding: accidentally and by others
Save it

8. Phones?
Mostly voicemail ... tag, you’re it
More efficient than email

9. Meetings
For making decisions!!
Leading (most people don’t do it right)
Attending (etiquette)

13. Face to Face
Powerful of personal communication
Body language...60% - 90%
Relationships at work are critical
Knowing when to use it

14. Questions about email,
phones, meetings, or in
person communication?

15. Writing

17. Be succinct.
This:
We recommend a review of the options and
propose a deadline of December 15 for the
decision.
Not this:
After much thought and consideration, we
recommend a thorough and careful review
of the various options. If the advisory
committee is in agreement, we propose
that we target December 15 as a
reasonable timetable for a final decision
to move forward.

18. No passive voice.
It was determined by the committee
that the report was inconclusive.
✓ The committee determined that the
report was inconclusive.
We were invited by our neighbors to
attend their party.
✓ Our neighbors invited us to their
party.

19. Bulleted lists prevail.
The benefits of this approach are:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur
adipiscing elit.
Ut consectetur erat nec dui
fringilla condimentum.
Cras accumsan tellus sed nisl pulvinar
sodales.

20. They’re called Executive
Summaries for a reason.

21. Make sure the document
can stand on its own.

22. Questions about writing?

23. Presentations

27. Be prepared.

29. The slide deck....

30. Really?
So many fonts and colors.
Too bad you can’t read this.

31. Really?
So many fonts and colors.
C a n you te ll I lo ve fo rm att ing?
Too bad you can’t read this.

32. Really?
So many fonts and colors.
C a n you te ll I lo ve fo rm att ing?
I’m a Po wer p oi n t New bie.
Too bad you can’t read this.

33. Rehearse.

35. Day of...

37. As you start...

39. Questions about
presentations?

40. Bonus Tips: New Employees

41. Mistakes new college
grads make on the job:
Texting or using phones/laptops
during meetings
Not replying to emails
Expecting to always get full credit
for the work you do

42. Getting started.
Background reading
Organize yourself
Listen and observe
Details about assignments
Establish credibility

43. Best piece of career advice I ever got?

44. No one cares about your
career more than you do.
Best piece of career advice I ever got?

45. Thanks!
Susan T. Evans
susantevans@gmail.com | susantevans.com