Introduction: communication is a life-or-death matter -- Establishing your credibility -- Conversing one on one -- Making small talk a big deal -- Winning people over to your way of thinking : being persuasive -- Holding your own in meetings, but working as a team -- Listening until you really hear -- Asking the right questions without being intrusive -- Answering questions so people understand and remember what you say -- Saying no and giving other bad news without damaging the relationship -- Apologizing (and accepting apologies) without groveling or grit -- Giving feedback or criticizing without crippling -- Taking the sting out of negative feedback or criticism leveled at you -- Giving advice or coaching someone can really use -- Getting advice or coaching that’s helpful -- Negotiating so everyone feels like a winner -- Resolving your conflicts without punching someone out -- Mediating others' conflicts without getting caught in the line of fire -- Responding to insults, boasting, insensitivity, gossip, and other goofs hurled at you -- Praising (and accepting praise) so your comments carry weight -- Delegating and giving instructions so "nothing falls between the cracks" -- Minimizing cross-talk between men and women -- Crossing the cultural gulf -- Syncing your body language with your words -- Presenting yourself online through social media -- Communicating common courtesy : etiquette matters.