Having to speak in public ranks as number four in the top ten list of most frightening things in life - according to reliable research carried out in the Netherlands. Not being in control is a frequent cause of anxiety. This makes the fear of speaking in public the odd one out in this top ten, because speaking in front of a group is a skill you can learn, a fear that you can overcome...

The same research showed that the fear of public speaking decreases in ratio to the amount of practice and...

Ellie van der Est (Rotterdam 1952) is organisation consultant, coach and trainer. The first half of her career she worked in social organisations and in government institutions (on local and national levels) during which her work was focussed on management and on initiating and coaching changing processes. In 1993 she started her own company. The reason was that she wished to design her own vision with regard to cooperation and sustainable developments.

About her work she says: 'My inner mot...

Corporate Communication Worldwide covers a wide range of corporate communication aspects and prepares those who aim to be active in the communication field in an international context. In today’s world, the meaning of worldwide is truly dynamic and this book reflects such new reality.

Diplomacy aims to make the world a somewhat better place. And for that to happen, we need thoughtful people, which most diplomats happen to be. But thought alone does not carry us very far. Thought needs to result in action. It is not thinking about the world but changing it that makes for an effective diplomat. Diplomacy is not a science, but a practice. It is what diplomats do. They write reports, make public speeches, debate, negotiate, preside over meetings … For all that they need dipl...

A research project is not finished until the results have been published. No matter how spectacular the findings, they only become relevant when they have been shared with others, for instance in a presentation at a conference. Students in Bachelor's and Master's programmes are expected to present the results of their projects and their theses too. And with the internationalisation of study programmes, more and more presentations are given in English.

How do you prepare a presentation? How d...

Communication and media have become integral parts of our daily lives and society. Yet, we know very little about them. We may know how to connect with each other and which apps to download, how do all these different media actually function? And where does communication begin and end?

This introductory handbook provides an overview of both historical and contemporary developments within communication sciences. Additionally, it contains recognizable real-life cases, with contemporary examples...

Changing your life can seem like a daunting task, but it is definitely possible with some effort and commitment. In this book you will learn some steps that may help you change your life completely. The book teaches ways of discovering your own potential.

This collection of Reflections on Intercultural Craftsmanship offers an insightful and sometimes entertainingly fresh perspective on intercultural effectiveness. The starting point is our own cultural logic, the set of assumptions that we unwittingly take with us throughout our lives, and the manner in which they influence our interaction with people from a different cultural background. It is about our brain, about our intuitive mind that quickly reacts from our own deeply-rooted norms and v...