For pros or novices, this guide to internal communiation delivers

This review of Shel Holtz's Corporate Conversations by Josh Byerly appeared in the March-April 2005 issue of IABC's Communication World. Byerly is an award-winning television reporter and writer. He currently manages internal communication for Flowserve Corp.'s more than 14,000 employees in 56 countries.

In my office, there are many books that I use on a daily basis: a dictionary, a thesaurus, the AP stylebook and others, some of which I've had since college. "Corporate Conversations" has now joined that list.

There is no shortage of materials available to communication professionals that dole out ideas and theories on how to communicate more effectively with employees and other stakeholders, but this one actually makes sense. "Corporate Conversations" has a firm grip on the challenges and realities of internal communication, and it's written by someone who clearly understands the subject matter. Shel Holtz has delivered a book that is appropriate for professionals who live and breathe communication, as well as executives and novices who are just being introduced to the subject matter. One of the book's hidden strengths is how Holtz gives a general overview of the discipline while providing relevant and insightful information to seasoned veterans.

I began to read "Corporate Conversations" strictly to review it for this column, but I found myself relating the material to my current job, and felt like Holtz was writing directly to me. The book enabled me to generate new ideas and strategies for communication programs, and Holtz's real-life examples are some of the most relevant I've ever seen. If ever there was a book that provides best practices forinternal communication that are appropriate for all sizes and levels of organizations, this is it.

Focus on internal communication

Holtz pays close attention to effectively leveraging an organization's intranet and other nontraditional forms of communication. He also devotes an entire section to managing communication overload -- a critical issue for any communication department. Holtz spends a significant part of the book describing how the ideal internal communication department should be structured, and in a move sure to rattle the higher echelons of management, he suggests that the internal communication function should report directly to the CEO. (You may want to refer to page 167, "Overcoming Resistance to Change," before you propose that particular organizational structure to your boss.)

"Corporate Conversations" offers fantastic ideas on how to elevate internal communication to what it truly can be. This book will motivate you because it presents cutting-edge ideas on how to really leverage internal communication into a program that employees will turn to and depend upon. What I liked best about this book is the fact that its ideas and examples are completely achievable. There have been many times I have read other books and thought, Yeah, that would be great if we had the time and money. But Holtz has delivered something all of us can actually use. More important, he shows us how to measure its success. As most of us know, it is sometimes difficult to prove the return on investment of communication, but Holtz provides easy-to-explain and easy-to-implement examples of measurement tools and theories.

"Corporate Conversations" is a rare and rewarding find. Holtz does a superb job of articulating both historical and emerging challenges facing internal communication professionals. He offers workable solutions and ideas, and he explains the pros and cons of each. I have given copies of this book to everyone in my department, and I would recommend it as a core information source for anyone in the communication field. Holtz has delivered a tool for communication professionals that is filled with ideas and practical examples. This book will remain on my desk for a long time and you should put it on yours as well.

Order Corporate Conversations.