Jonathan Clifton

With the parallel expansion of both leadership research and the use of ventriloquism within communication studies, this book addresses the lack of connection between the two, arguing that ventriloquial analyses can add significant insights to leadership research and that leadership research can be a fruitful avenue of inquiry. Focusing on the ventriloquial approach to organising originating from the Montreal School, which emphasizes the analyses of “actions through which someone or something makes someone or something else say or do things”, the book offers a new and exciting way of looking at the materiality of leadership. Drawing on ventriloquial analyses of naturally-occurring workplace interaction; interviews with key organisational players; and training sessions about leadership, the author posits that other-than-human actants affect many areas of leadership and organisational communication. Offering fresh insight into leadership practice, this book will be an essential read for scholars and students of organisational communication, leadership, and management.

This book showcases various methodological approaches to the analysis of organizational talk and text. Arguing that organizations are discursive constructions that are communicatively constituted, the authors use the analysis of transcripts of audio-recordings of naturally-occurring workplace talk and authentic written texts to demonstrate what applied linguistics has to offer to scholarly research into organizations as well as management practice and training. The authors discuss the theoretical underpinnings of discursive approaches to the role language in the communicative constitution of organization, and then each chapter focuses on one particular analytical approach. The chapters cover conversation analysis; membership categorization analysis, positioning theory; ventriloquism; metaphor analysis; and metadiscourse analysis and computer-mediated discourse analysis. Consequently, this interdisciplinary work presents a number of methods that allow researchers unfamiliar with fine-grained linguistic analyses of naturally-occurring talk and text to explore ways of adding to their repertoire of research skills.

With the parallel expansion of both leadership research and the use of ventriloquism within communication studies, this book addresses the lack of connection between the two, arguing that ventriloquial analyses can add significant insights to leadership research and that leadership research can be a fruitful avenue of inquiry. Focusing on the ventriloquial approach to organising originating from the Montreal School, which emphasizes the analyses of “actions through which someone or something makes someone or something else say or do things”, the book offers a new and exciting way of looking at the materiality of leadership. Drawing on ventriloquial analyses of naturally-occurring workplace interaction; interviews with key organisational players; and training sessions about leadership, the author posits that other-than-human actants affect many areas of leadership and organisational communication. Offering fresh insight into leadership practice, this book will be an essential read for scholars and students of organisational communication, leadership, and management.

Imagine if you could always get what you want – just by speaking well. For decades academics have been slowly cracking the secret codes of spoken language used by successful speakers to achieve their aims. Now in this practical and eye-opening guide, Jonathan Clifton, a linguistics expert who has been decoding language for decades, identifies these below-the-radar tactics, explaining how and why they work. And he sets out 100 ways to successfully apply these secret codes of spoken language yourself, and achieve your goals in life, love and work. Debate, small talk, negotiation, advertising, apologies, presentations, and news interviews, all are revealed in Dr Clifton's prescription for conversational joy. Dr Clifton, an associate professor at the Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, France, has been teaching communication to students at universities in Europe and India for the past 25 years. However, he has come to realise that academics are often writing only for each other and their work is often obscure and inaccessible to a wider public. To spread the practical benefits of linguistics, he is bringing his research insights to a popular audience in a clear and jargon-free manner. His message is that if you want to improve your communication skills, you must study how other people use language as they go about their daily business. Then you’ll be able to crack the codes of conversation for yourself – and talk your way to success. Imagine what a difference that could make to your life. Just by applying some thought and the right words. Reviews "Drawing from years of research and university teaching, Jonathan Clifton masterfully guides the reader through the secret codes of conversation - without the academic jargon. Through easy-to-follow examples taken from contemporary scenarios, this book encourages you to notice the subtlest of cues in language, and it equips you with concrete communication strategies, one hundred of them to be specific. From celebrity interviews to police negotiations, from adverts to everyday chatter - if you ever wondered how people really communicate and how they achieve their goals, you won't be able to put this book down!" – Erika Darics, language consultant and Professor of Applied Linguistics, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. "Jonathan Clifton is an outstanding scholar, as his many academic publications attest. Yet, what makes him truly stand out from the ‘academic crowd’ is his ability to translate complex analyses into plain language. Combine this with an excellent nose for captivating cases, and you have a recipe for success, as this book shows! Because seriously, who wouldn’t want to know how to crack the language codes as used by the likes of Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, and Meghan and Harry?!" – Dorien Van De Mieroop, Professor of Linguistics, Leuven University, Belgium." "This wise book resonates with academics and professionals by showing how communication shapes reality. “TALKING FOR SUCCESS: The Secret Codes of Conversation and How to Master Them” is a one-of-a-kind guide to communication strategy that is both specific and actionable. These very valuable insights are also rooted in strong research but shared in an engaging and conversational tone. To boot, the candid, and sometimes humorous delivery, is a fun read. I highly recommend it!" – Jacqueline Mayfield, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Management, Texas A & M International University. Co-Editor, the International Journal of Business Communication

This book showcases various methodological approaches to the analysis of organizational talk and text. Arguing that organizations are discursive constructions that are communicatively constituted, the authors use the analysis of transcripts of audio-recordings of naturally-occurring workplace talk and authentic written texts to demonstrate what applied linguistics has to offer to scholarly research into organizations as well as management practice and training. The authors discuss the theoretical underpinnings of discursive approaches to the role language in the communicative constitution of organization, and then each chapter focuses on one particular analytical approach. The chapters cover conversation analysis; membership categorization analysis, positioning theory; ventriloquism; metaphor analysis; and metadiscourse analysis and computer-mediated discourse analysis. Consequently, this interdisciplinary work presents a number of methods that allow researchers unfamiliar with fine-grained linguistic analyses of naturally-occurring talk and text to explore ways of adding to their repertoire of research skills.

Fascination with leadership and its relation to world events seems to be ever growing, and leadership narratives are a key element through which leader identities are constructed. Contemporary research into leadership tends to recycle the same old myths of the heroic white male leader. By looking at stories told by leaders in Australasia, Asia, North America, the Middle East, and Africa, this book explores different aspects of leadership narratives. The Language of Leadership Narratives brings linguistics and leadership research together, showcasing different analytical and methodological approaches and enabling a more critical approach. Each chapter focuses on a specific area of leadership research, from dark leadership to gendered leadership. This book introduces the advantages of analysing leadership narratives as social practice and discusses some of the main themes in contemporary leadership research. This volume is key reading for scholars and students of linguistics, communication studies, and business studies, and for those working in business and intercultural communication in the workplace.

Fascination with leadership and its relation to world events seems to be ever growing, and leadership narratives are a key element through which leader identities are constructed. Contemporary research into leadership tends to recycle the same old myths of the heroic white male leader. By looking at stories told by leaders in Australasia, Asia, North America, the Middle East, and Africa, this book explores different aspects of leadership narratives. The Language of Leadership Narratives brings linguistics and leadership research together, showcasing different analytical and methodological approaches and enabling a more critical approach. Each chapter focuses on a specific area of leadership research, from dark leadership to gendered leadership. This book introduces the advantages of analysing leadership narratives as social practice and discusses some of the main themes in contemporary leadership research. This volume is key reading for scholars and students of linguistics, communication studies, and business studies, and for those working in business and intercultural communication in the workplace.