Simply Said

The Essential Guide to Business Communication—Now Updated for the Hybrid, AI-Driven Workplace

We all communicate every day, but few of us do it as well as we could. Did that email come across harsher than you intended? Did your presentation fail to land? Have you ever walked out of a meeting wondering if anyone really heard you? It comes down to one deceptively simple idea: the most effective communicators focus less on themselves and more on the people they're trying to reach. In this revised and updated tenth anniversary edition of his bestselling handbook, Jay Sullivan—award-winning author and former Managing Partner of Exec|Comm—builds on that core philosophy with fresh guidance for the ways we work today.

Simply Said has empowered thousands of professionals at Fortune 500 companies, top law firms, and global organizations to communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and impact. This new edition brings Exec|Comm’s proven framework fully up to date, addressing the communication challenges of video calls, hybrid teams, and AI-assisted work, while staying true to the principles that have made this book a go-to resource for a decade.

Inside, you'll find:
Practical frameworks for every setting—one-on-one meetings, boardroom presentations, video calls, conference calls, and large-scale formal presentations Updated guidance for hybrid and virtual communication, including how to command a room on camera, manage eye contact on video, and keep remote audiences engaged Proven techniques for crafting clear, audience-focused messages that get heard, remembered, and acted upon Strategies for active listening and asking better questions—the underrated skills that separate good communicators from great ones New content on AI as a communication tool, with guidance on using it to enhance your writing and presentation prep while keeping your authentic voice
For managers, executives, lawyers, and professionals at every stage of their careers, Simply Said delivers the essential framework for anyone who wants to communicate with greater clarity, earn deeper trust, and have real impact—whether they're speaking to one person or one thousand.