How do communications work, and how can you make them work for you? Communications affect every aspect of our lives, from speaking to someone face-to-face, to sending an e-mail or making a telephone call. Written by authors experienced in teaching on business communications skills courses, this essential textbook serves as a definitive guide to how communications work and how to make them work effectively in businesses and organizations. The authors show that all communication takes place in a cultural context, and that the best approach to improve communication is by a step-by-step development of a communication strategy, providing crucial cultural and strategic perspectives on the topic. The authors systematically take students through the types of communication models, explain cultures and strategies, and help them to improve performance communications. The book explains: How to structure and write a communications strategy How to implement the strategy for written, oral and visual means of communication How to communicate in different situations: in meetings, as a leader, to present an image, or across boundaries Business Communications additionally covers web-based communication to ensure content is appropriate for e-commerce and e-business. Theory and practice are combined at every stage to link understanding with implementation and demonstrate how to use strategies to improve communications. Ideal for introductory business students, Business Communications will complement and go beyond the generic skills covered in many more elementary books. This book is supported by a comprehensive website.