To the Letter
A Handbook of Model Letters for the Busy Executive
Published on 14. July 1998
Book
Paperback/Softback
544 pages
978-0-7879-4479-7 (ISBN)
Description
Customizable pre-written business communications
Business communication is often tricky; the line between professional and impersonal is difficult to parse, and arriving at the perfect tone can take more time than many of us have to spare. To the Letter: A Handbook of Model Letters for the Busy Executive is the solution. With pre-written letters and over 1,500 customizable phrases for nearly any occasion, this book is a major time saver! Copy a letter exactly or use it as a starting point for your own to make professional communication quick and easy.
Business communication is often tricky; the line between professional and impersonal is difficult to parse, and arriving at the perfect tone can take more time than many of us have to spare. To the Letter: A Handbook of Model Letters for the Busy Executive is the solution. With pre-written letters and over 1,500 customizable phrases for nearly any occasion, this book is a major time saver! Copy a letter exactly or use it as a starting point for your own to make professional communication quick and easy.
More details
Edition
Revised Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 280 mm
Width: 210 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
1323 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7879-4479-7 (9780787944797)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
01/1986
Jossey-Bass
€84.32
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Dianna Booher is an American author, and communication expert. She is also the chief executive of Booher Research Institute, a Colleyville, Texas-based company that offers communication consulting, executive coaching, and publishing strategies for Fortune 500 organizations and nonprofit organizations.
Content
A NOTE TO THE BUSY EXECUTIVE ix INTRODUCTION x
ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2
To Document to Colleagues and Superiors 2
ADJUSTMENTS 4
Positive Response 4
Negative Response 6
ANNIVERSARY DATES 10
Of Your Own Firm 10
Of Individual's Service to Your Firm 12
Of Client's or Customer's Business 14
ANNOUNCEMENTS 16
Of Mergers, Acquisitions, Restructuring 16
ANNUAL MEETINGS 20
4) Notice of Meeting Time and Place 20
Shareholder's Proxy 23
ANNUAL REPORTS 24
Letter from the CEO 24
Congratulatory Responses 30
APOLOGIES 36
Admitting Error 36
Avoiding Responsibility for Error 40
APPOINTMENTS 44
Requesting 44
Declining 48
Postponing or Cancelling 52
APPRECIATION 56
Absence from Office Because of Illness or Travel 56
On Presentation of Awards, Bonuses 60
BIDS 62
Soliciting 62
Accepting 66
Rejecting 68
BILLING ERRORS 72
Pointing Out 72
Correcting: 76
Buyer's Error 76
Seller's Error 80
COMMENDATIONS 86
To Program Chairperson or Meeting Planner 86
To a Speaker 88
For Excellent Service from Outside Staff 90
For Excellent Service, Work, Results from Your Own Staff 94
COMPLAINTS 98
1 To Subordinates 98
To Peers 102
To Superiors 106
About Poor Service, Defective or Inferior Product 110
CONDOLENCES 116
Death 116
Response to Condolences 122
CONFIRMATIONS 124
Of Phone Conversations or Meetings 124
To Speakers 128
Of Attendance at Event 130
CONGRATULATIONS 132
Expression on: 133
Receipt of an Award 133
Birth of Baby 136
Birthday 138
Civic Achievement 140
New Job 143
Promotion 146
Publication 149
Retirement 156
Wedding 158
Response to Congratulations 160
CREDIT AND COLLECTION 164
To Creditors Promising Payment 164
Investigations 168
Offering Credit 172
Refusing Credit 174
Cancelling Credit 178
Collection Letters 182
Casual Reminder 183
Stronger Reminder 185
Appeal for Discussion 190
Urgent Demand 193
DISMISSALS 196
Layoffs 196
Unsuitable Employee 200
EMPLOYMENT OFFERS 202
Accepting Job 202
Declining Job 204
EXPENSES 206
To Encourage Employees to Watch or Eliminate 206
FAREWELLS 208
To the Person Leaving 208
From the Person Leaving 212
HIRING 216
Acknowledging Receipt of Resume 216
Offering a Job 220
Refusing an Applicant 224
HOLIDAY GREETINGS 228
HONORARY USE OF NAME, TESTIMONIAL, OR CHAIR POSITION 236
Requesting 236
Accepting 240
Declining 242
INFORMATION 244
Requesting: 244
From Client, Customer 245
From Vendor 249
From Others 251
Providing: 254
To Client, Customer 255
To Vendor 256
To Others 257
Refusing 258
INTRODUCTION 262
Of a New Employee 262
Of an Outside Person 264
Of an Outside Service or Company 268
INVITATIONS 270
To Speak: 270
Extending 270
Accepting 274
Declining 276
To Event: 278
Extending 278
Accepting 282
Declining 286
ISSUES 292
1 To Manage Crisis 292
To Express an Opinion to a Public Official 294
To Urge Employee, Colleague Participation 298
MEDIA NOTICES 302
Press Releases 302
Support for a Position 306
Demand for a Retraction, Clarification to Editor 308
MEETINGS 312
Announcing 312
Confirming Attendance 316
Declining Attendance 318
ORDERS 320
Placing and Filling 320
Delaying Because of Misfortune 324
Delaying Because of Missing Information, Errors 326
PERMISSIONS 330
Requesting: 330
To Use an Oral Comment, Story, Anecdote 331
To Use Copyrighted Materials 332
Granting 334
Refusing 336
POLICY STATEMENTS 340
Company Standard 341
New Policy 342
Changes 343
Employee Benefit Programs 346
PROMOTIONS/TRANSFERS 348
Your Own: 348
Requesting 348
Accepting 350
Your Staff: 352
Announcing 352
Approving 354
Disapproving 356
PUBLISHING 360
Query for Professional Journal Article 360
REFERENCES 362
Requesting 362
Supplying a Favorable Recommendation 366
Supplying a Neutral Recommendation 372
Declining to Give 374
Thank You for Reference 378
REFERRALS 382
Requesting 382
Offering 384
REMINDERS AND FOLLOW-UPS 386
REPRIMANDS 390
RESIGNATIONS 394
On a Positive Departure 394
On a Negative Departure 398
Acceptance of 402
RESUME TRANSMITTALS 406
Introducing Yourself 406
Introducing Another Person 412
SALES AND MARKETING 416
Lead-in to a Phone Call, Appointment 416
Follow-up to a Phone Call, Appointment 422
Introduction of New Sales Representative 426
Introduction of a Product or Service 428
Submission of Bid or Proposal 432
Goodwill Building 434
Inactive Accounts 440
Rate Increase or Policy Change 442
Thank You for Buying 446
Declining to Do Business 450
Encouragement to Sales Staff 452
SOLICITATIONS 456
Requesting 456
Responding Positively 460
Responding Negatively 462
SUGGESTIONS 464
Inviting Them from Your Employees and Customers 464
Offering Them to Your Superiors 466
Replying Positively 468
Replying Negatively 472
THANK YOU 476
For Award, Bonus, or Benefit 476
For Gift or Donation 480
For Service to Community 484
For Hospitality 486
For Referral or Reference 490
Response to a Thank You 494
TRANSMITTALS 496
WELCOME 500
To Potential Customer, Client New to the Area 502
To New Shareholder 506
APPENDIX A: TO THE LETTER CHECKLIST FOR FORM 509
Attention Lines 511
Addresses-Inside and Outside 511
"Boilerplate" Paragraphs 512
Complimentary Closings 512
Copy Notations 513
Date Lines 513
Enclosure Notations 513
Envelopes 513
Formats for Typing 513
Block Style 514
Indented Style 515
Identification Initials 516
Mailing Methods 516
Personal Pronouns 516
Postscripts 516
Reference Lines 516
Salutations 517
Second-Page Headings 517
Signatures 517
Stationery 518
Subject Lines 518
Visual Placement and Design 519
APPENDIX B: FORM FOR CUSTOMIZING AND DICTATING LETTERS 521
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 524
ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2
To Document to Colleagues and Superiors 2
ADJUSTMENTS 4
Positive Response 4
Negative Response 6
ANNIVERSARY DATES 10
Of Your Own Firm 10
Of Individual's Service to Your Firm 12
Of Client's or Customer's Business 14
ANNOUNCEMENTS 16
Of Mergers, Acquisitions, Restructuring 16
ANNUAL MEETINGS 20
4) Notice of Meeting Time and Place 20
Shareholder's Proxy 23
ANNUAL REPORTS 24
Letter from the CEO 24
Congratulatory Responses 30
APOLOGIES 36
Admitting Error 36
Avoiding Responsibility for Error 40
APPOINTMENTS 44
Requesting 44
Declining 48
Postponing or Cancelling 52
APPRECIATION 56
Absence from Office Because of Illness or Travel 56
On Presentation of Awards, Bonuses 60
BIDS 62
Soliciting 62
Accepting 66
Rejecting 68
BILLING ERRORS 72
Pointing Out 72
Correcting: 76
Buyer's Error 76
Seller's Error 80
COMMENDATIONS 86
To Program Chairperson or Meeting Planner 86
To a Speaker 88
For Excellent Service from Outside Staff 90
For Excellent Service, Work, Results from Your Own Staff 94
COMPLAINTS 98
1 To Subordinates 98
To Peers 102
To Superiors 106
About Poor Service, Defective or Inferior Product 110
CONDOLENCES 116
Death 116
Response to Condolences 122
CONFIRMATIONS 124
Of Phone Conversations or Meetings 124
To Speakers 128
Of Attendance at Event 130
CONGRATULATIONS 132
Expression on: 133
Receipt of an Award 133
Birth of Baby 136
Birthday 138
Civic Achievement 140
New Job 143
Promotion 146
Publication 149
Retirement 156
Wedding 158
Response to Congratulations 160
CREDIT AND COLLECTION 164
To Creditors Promising Payment 164
Investigations 168
Offering Credit 172
Refusing Credit 174
Cancelling Credit 178
Collection Letters 182
Casual Reminder 183
Stronger Reminder 185
Appeal for Discussion 190
Urgent Demand 193
DISMISSALS 196
Layoffs 196
Unsuitable Employee 200
EMPLOYMENT OFFERS 202
Accepting Job 202
Declining Job 204
EXPENSES 206
To Encourage Employees to Watch or Eliminate 206
FAREWELLS 208
To the Person Leaving 208
From the Person Leaving 212
HIRING 216
Acknowledging Receipt of Resume 216
Offering a Job 220
Refusing an Applicant 224
HOLIDAY GREETINGS 228
HONORARY USE OF NAME, TESTIMONIAL, OR CHAIR POSITION 236
Requesting 236
Accepting 240
Declining 242
INFORMATION 244
Requesting: 244
From Client, Customer 245
From Vendor 249
From Others 251
Providing: 254
To Client, Customer 255
To Vendor 256
To Others 257
Refusing 258
INTRODUCTION 262
Of a New Employee 262
Of an Outside Person 264
Of an Outside Service or Company 268
INVITATIONS 270
To Speak: 270
Extending 270
Accepting 274
Declining 276
To Event: 278
Extending 278
Accepting 282
Declining 286
ISSUES 292
1 To Manage Crisis 292
To Express an Opinion to a Public Official 294
To Urge Employee, Colleague Participation 298
MEDIA NOTICES 302
Press Releases 302
Support for a Position 306
Demand for a Retraction, Clarification to Editor 308
MEETINGS 312
Announcing 312
Confirming Attendance 316
Declining Attendance 318
ORDERS 320
Placing and Filling 320
Delaying Because of Misfortune 324
Delaying Because of Missing Information, Errors 326
PERMISSIONS 330
Requesting: 330
To Use an Oral Comment, Story, Anecdote 331
To Use Copyrighted Materials 332
Granting 334
Refusing 336
POLICY STATEMENTS 340
Company Standard 341
New Policy 342
Changes 343
Employee Benefit Programs 346
PROMOTIONS/TRANSFERS 348
Your Own: 348
Requesting 348
Accepting 350
Your Staff: 352
Announcing 352
Approving 354
Disapproving 356
PUBLISHING 360
Query for Professional Journal Article 360
REFERENCES 362
Requesting 362
Supplying a Favorable Recommendation 366
Supplying a Neutral Recommendation 372
Declining to Give 374
Thank You for Reference 378
REFERRALS 382
Requesting 382
Offering 384
REMINDERS AND FOLLOW-UPS 386
REPRIMANDS 390
RESIGNATIONS 394
On a Positive Departure 394
On a Negative Departure 398
Acceptance of 402
RESUME TRANSMITTALS 406
Introducing Yourself 406
Introducing Another Person 412
SALES AND MARKETING 416
Lead-in to a Phone Call, Appointment 416
Follow-up to a Phone Call, Appointment 422
Introduction of New Sales Representative 426
Introduction of a Product or Service 428
Submission of Bid or Proposal 432
Goodwill Building 434
Inactive Accounts 440
Rate Increase or Policy Change 442
Thank You for Buying 446
Declining to Do Business 450
Encouragement to Sales Staff 452
SOLICITATIONS 456
Requesting 456
Responding Positively 460
Responding Negatively 462
SUGGESTIONS 464
Inviting Them from Your Employees and Customers 464
Offering Them to Your Superiors 466
Replying Positively 468
Replying Negatively 472
THANK YOU 476
For Award, Bonus, or Benefit 476
For Gift or Donation 480
For Service to Community 484
For Hospitality 486
For Referral or Reference 490
Response to a Thank You 494
TRANSMITTALS 496
WELCOME 500
To Potential Customer, Client New to the Area 502
To New Shareholder 506
APPENDIX A: TO THE LETTER CHECKLIST FOR FORM 509
Attention Lines 511
Addresses-Inside and Outside 511
"Boilerplate" Paragraphs 512
Complimentary Closings 512
Copy Notations 513
Date Lines 513
Enclosure Notations 513
Envelopes 513
Formats for Typing 513
Block Style 514
Indented Style 515
Identification Initials 516
Mailing Methods 516
Personal Pronouns 516
Postscripts 516
Reference Lines 516
Salutations 517
Second-Page Headings 517
Signatures 517
Stationery 518
Subject Lines 518
Visual Placement and Design 519
APPENDIX B: FORM FOR CUSTOMIZING AND DICTATING LETTERS 521
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 524