Books to Help Engineers Communicate in a Business Context

If you’re a student beginning work within a professional environment you’ll find that there are expectations people have around communications, which are particular to the workplace. A lot of books for engineers cover how to communicate professionally within a business context. These books tend to be oriented toward helping the reader learn skills for improving the way they communicate their own specialized knowledge not just to their peers but perhaps more importantly, to people that do not have the same level of specialized engineering knowledge.

Depending on the position you take, you may need to present to clients or fellow employees. Likewise, different forms of communication (e-mail, live presentation, etc.) have their own characteristics, which you should use as relevant to the content you need to communicate (not to mention the people you’re communicating with).

Here is a list of several books that address communications topics and were written for engineers. These are all available from the Concordia Library so if you’re a student at Concordia they’ll be easy to find. I’m also providing links to find the books on the Worldcat site in case you happen to be interested in any of them and are not a Concordia student.

Access this list from Zotero or RefWorks or read on.

Oral communication excellence for engineers and scientists: based on executive input

By Judith Shaul Norback
Electronic resource (read it online) or find it with WorldCat

Description quoted from the book

“Engineering students and practicing engineers generally cannot give stellar presentations or communicate flawlessly by phone, in meetings, and in teams. They have little notion about which medium (in-person, voicemail, E-mail, IM, texting) is most effective in particular situations. And students and professionals are not aware of how to use oral communication to network on the job” This book aims at helping people solve these problems though practical advice, examples, and exercises.

Engineering your writing success: how engineers can master effective on-the-job communication skills

By James E. Vincler & Nancy Horlick Vincler
Print resource (pick it up at the library) or find it with WorldCat

Description quoted from the publisher

“You’ll never dread a writing project again when you learn to use the step-by-step approach given in Engineering Your Writing Success. This book shows you the nuts and bolts of starting and finishing all your writing projects–reports, proposals, memos, letters, data sheets, and procedures. Learn to design your message to reach your reader, choosing the right words every time. Don’t let poor writing skills hold back your career–this book can help!”

How to Communicate in Business

By David Silk
Electronic resource (read it online) or find it with WorldCat

Description quoted from the book

“This book aims to help engineers to communicate effectively with non-engineers, in the business context. It will also be useful to people from other technical or numerate backgrounds. It will help you to consider the various methods of communication used in business, and consciously develop your own skills. The approach is practical, although built upon some simple ideas of what we mean by communication, and its role in the business enterprise. Major chapters deal with spoken communication, written communication, business presentations and business meetings. They cover the main communication skills that an engineer is likely to need, both in a professional capacity and in a management or administrative capacity. Cross-cultural and international aspects are considered.”

What every engineer should know about business communication

By John X. Wang
Print resource (pick it up at the library) or find it with WorldCat

Description

This is part of a collection of primers on topics that engineers should know for the practical workplace. This book addresses how to make presentations and reduce your fear of presenting. It also addresses how to improve writing skills, how to write for business impact, developing listening and interactive communication skills, preparing engineering reports, and more. Check out the other primers for related topics in this style.

Business communication essentials

By Courtland L. Bovée, John V. Thill, Jean A. Scribner
Print resource (pick it up at the library) or find it with WorldCat

Description

This book covers topics such as understanding business communication in today’s workplace, mastering team skills and interpersonal communication, job interviews, career development guidance, and developing reports.

Power Through Presentations: Tips and Tricks to Build a Better Slide Deck

By Andy Balser
Print resource (pick it up at the library) or find it with WorldCat

Description quoted from the publisher

“Tackling a challenge faced by millions of business professionals every day, this handy guide shows how to create effective, visually appealing PowerPoint slides… It addresses common user concerns, such as turning facts and data into compelling visual images, generating concise project updates, creating presentation decks to be emailed or reviewed over the phone, and finding useful PowerPoint examples with minimal research.”

Access this list from Zotero or RefWorks

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