When I teach business communication, I ask students to complete what I call a “CommBook.” This is simply a journal of professional communication that they observe in the world around them that reinforces lessons from class. The entries can be … Read More →

For me, every day is President’s Day. I’ve been a fan of presidential history since childhood. Like many, it began with a grade-school fascination with the Civil War and World War II history. This led to deep dives on Abraham … Read More →

Case studies provide accessible examples for teaching and learning. That’s why we analyze them in business and in business schools. However, useful case studies aren’t always formal articles in professional journals. Sometimes they’re right in front of you. One of … Read More →

Inbox zero. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Maybe you love it. Personally, I hate it. I think it’s contributing to the downfall of modern civilization. Okay, maybe that’s a stretch. But it’s making us bad writers at a time when—distracted … Read More →

Recently my wife sent me a text that said, “You’ve ruined me.” In the pantheon of spousal communication, this didn’t seem great at first glance. However, as I came to discover, it was intended as a compliment. In fact, it’s … Read More →

“I’m not sure what to do with my hands,” confesses Will Ferrell as the titular character in the NASCAR parody Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, as he awkwardly moves his hands during a TV interview. These words ring … Read More →

Earlier in the year, I had the honor of keynoting the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet in my hometown of Coralville, Iowa. While I speak at conferences and corporate events throughout the world, I don’t do a … Read More →

TED talks are amazing. At a time when our communication is increasingly digital, it’s a spoken word format that’s sort of a throwback to the classic oral tradition when we gathered around the campfire to listen and share stories. The … Read More →

Stories are transformative. They’re powerful tools for accomplishing our objectives. Studies have shown that stories are more memorable than bullet points in communicating ideas. However, a story in the wrong hands can be a dangerous thing. In fact, there’s another … Read More →

As a communication instructor at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business, I look at a lot of writing. Recently, while grading an executive summary assignment (students were asked to summarize an article for a fictitious superior) a couple … Read More →