Sparrow Training

Internet transactions offer customers convenience but remote trading has its price: customers feel much less loyalty to individual companies and the loss of face-to-face contact can result in poor or non-existent customer service. The Call Centre Customer Care Pocketbook addresses these issues, and looks at how to retain customer loyalty and offer good service in the digital age.

The Business Writing Pocketbook sets out rules of good practice, style and presentation for all types of written communication, including memos, letters, reports, minutes, proposals, faxes and e-mail. The author begins with advice on what to consider before starting to write. In dealing with the different forms of written communication, Bonny divides his subject into internal and external correspondence. For each type of written document there is advice on both content and presentation. Generic language issues (tone, manner, etc) are dealt with separately, as is the use of illustrations such as charts and diagrams. Marketing communications is covered in the penultimate chapter, followed by notes on spelling, grammar, cliches and such like in the final chapter. Throughout there are examples and self-tests.

The Business Planning Pocketbook explains what issues to address, how to write a business plan, what questions to ask, how much detail to include and the time-frame to adopt. In the chapter on planning theory the author identifies eight different planning styles, followed in the next chapter with a description of the seven stages of the planning process. In his summary the author says: 'A plan is a statement of what you intend to achieve, how, when and with what resources'. A complex subject made simple.

The Balance Sheet Pocketbook begins by constructing a model to show how money works within a business, i.e. where funds come from and how they are used. The structure of the balance sheet and the profit and loss reports are then examined and explained within the context of this model. Common misconceptions are frequently highlighted and financial jargon is clearly unravelled.

Assertiveness is the ability to maintain the right balance between your own needs and other people's needs. It empowers those who use it. In The Assertiveness Pocketbook author Max Eggert looks at the reasons for non-assertive behaviour and the differences between assertive, aggressive and passive behaviour. Packed full of good advice on how to overcome self-defeating beliefs, and deal with often-occurring problem situations. With activities to help develop assertiveness.

The Appraisals Pocketbook adopts a strongly practical approach in explaining how to set up and run an appraisal system. Using a helpful 5-stage model, the book shows how to identify the job objective and key result areas, how to set clear achievable goals, and how to structure and conduct the performance discussion. The 2nd edition of this popular title has been brought up-to-date by the author and there are new illustrations throughout. Reviewing the Appraisals Pocketbook, Management Today concluded: 'This little book provides a lot of help. It challenges managers to ask themselves whether they understand what an appraisal is for, and what questions they should be asking'.

360 degree feedback is one of the most powerful experiences a person can have in the workplace, according to Tony Peacock the author of The 360 Degree Feedback Pocketbook. In this book he shows how feedback can be used for personal development, self-awareness, identification of talent and how in flatter organisational structures it will help management obtain a richer picture of team members. The focus of these reviews is all about how people behave, the work activities they undertake and how feedback is given to facilitate change. This book guides the reader through the whole process, starting with any concerns individuals may have and overcoming objections, followed by the pluses and minuses of developing in-house systems, or using external providers. How to handle confidentiality and feedback, and the way sharing of development plans are undertaken are explained in an easy step-by-step format.