We’re always on the lookout for resources to help clients become better communicators.

Here are some books (including several written by our founder Ken Haseley) that pass muster. Also included is an archive of Forward Look, our quarterly newsletter on smarter IR communications.

Oh No, Not PowerPoint! Relax, Help Is on the Way. A PowerPoint Repair Manual by Ken Haseley

Despite PowerPoint’s widespread use, perhaps no other communications tool in business gets as much ridicule – from the very people who use it or sit through it. This amazing tool is simply being misused. This book will change the way you think about and use PowerPoint.

Mission Point Press, 2024. 148 pp.

Change the Way You Communicate: Why You Should. How You Can. by Ken Haseley

The book provides a practical, comprehensive look at the communication situations those in business will likely face, and the communication skills they’ll need in their professional life.

Mission Point Press, 2021. 225 pp.

Resonate: Present Visual Stories That Transform Audiences by Nancy Duarte

One of the best books on how to craft an effective presentation.

John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010. 250 pp.

The Essentials of Persuasive Public Speaking by Sims Wyeth

A cleverly written book that can be read in less than an hour, but one that provides solid, useful information.

W.W. Norton & Company, 2014. 165pp.

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath & Dan Heath

Essential reading for anyone involved in message development (that’s most of us, right?). This book will change the way you communicate.

Random House, 2007. 294pp.

Forward Look is our firm’s quarterly newsletter for IR professionals and C-suite execs. It explores a variety of ideas – some of them unconventional, many of them new and research-based – about communicating effectively with investors, analysts, investment bankers and business reporters. (To get on the mailing list for this free, quick-read resource, subscribe here.)

How One Company Hits Home Runs in Its Analyst Presentations (Q3 2026)

Analyst presentations rank among the most important events a publicly traded company hosts. Typically, the CEO, CFO, head of IR and sometimes several additional executives are the individuals involved. The presentations often are held in New York and may run a half-day or more in length. In short, they’re a big deal. 

Let’s Talk About Your Quarterly Earnings News Release (Q2 2026)

Among a company’s most important IR communications is its quarterly earnings news release – typically issued in conjunction with its required earnings filing and optional conference call. The release has the dual purpose of detailing financial performance and providing insight into management thinking.  

Tough Earnings Call Questions and How to Handle Them (Q1 2026)

Most quarterly earnings calls are one hour in length, including Q&A. In one study, buy-side analysts said that 45% of the time spent on earnings calls should be devoted to Q&A. A better approach in an hour-long call is to limit prepared remarks to 15 minutes.

What Can We Learn from Cracker Barrel’s Recent Crisis? (Q4 2025)

In August 2025, restaurant chain Cracker Barrel unveiled a new logo and offered a look at the updated restaurant interiors planned for its 660 locations. The changes were part of an effort to refresh the brand to attract younger customers and improve financials. 

To Read or Not to Read . . . Verbatim from a Script (Q3 2025)

Former Presidents Obama and Biden were frequently criticized for teleprompter overuse. They’d be at some informal event where speaking “off the cuff” or glancing at a few notes would be expected, but instead their prepared remarks scrolled on a screen. (President Trump also is criticized . . . for not using a teleprompter enough.)

What’s Your Company’s Investible Idea? (Q2 2025)

One question potential investors ask themselves: What is it about this company that makes it an attractive investment option? Your investible idea is something that causes investors and those who advise them to take a closer look at what your company has to offer. 

Caution: Analyst Interaction Slip-ups (Q1 2025)

For executives and IR professionals, interacting with analysts is a given. But every interaction – whether during earnings calls, presentations or in more informal situations (cocktail hours, lunches, dinners, tours) – involves a degree of risk. Here are the most common and damaging mistakes made, especially during those informal moments.

Those Pesky Safe Harbor Statements (Q4 2024)

Among the first words usually spoken by IR professionals during earnings calls and analyst presentations are that forward-looking statements will be made. And on screen is a text-heavy slide – usually unreadable – communicating that message. But there’s a better way to begin.

Surprising Research: When You Hold Your Earnings Call Matters (Q3 2024)

Research shows that the best days for earnings releases and conference calls are Tuesday through Thursday. But there’s evidence that suggests the time of day you hold your earnings call also matters.

Live Video: The Future of Earnings Calls (Q2 2024)

Quarterly earnings conference calls haven’t changed much. A typical call features executives sitting around a conference table with scripts, notes and a speaker phone. Today, many companies are transitioning away from outdated, audio-only calls to live, video earnings calls that can help them deliver more engaging content and improve audience attention and enjoyment.