As We Speak: How to Make Your Point and Have It Stick download epub

In Chapter 3, Peter Meyers and Shann Nix acknowledge their appreciation of Chip and Dan Heath and especially of what the Heaths share in their masterwork, Made to Stick. I share their high regard for this book and its co-authors. That book and As We Speak complement each other almost seamlessly. For example, the Heaths provide a brilliant explanation of the "what" and "why" of stickiness whereas Meyers and Vann provide an equally brilliant explanation of the "how" as well as why what they recommend is so effective.

Here in a single volume is just about all you need to know about high-impact communication, especially after checking out the Heaths' book and reviewing the Six Principles that all sticky ideas demonstrate. (Please see Pages 16-18.) They are Simplicity, Unexpectedness, Concreteness, Credibility, Emotions, and Stories. Meyers and Nix have decades of experience helping people whose ability to think exceeds their ability to express themselves. "We develop the language and content, put them on their feet, rehearse them, and give them the tools they need to rise to the occasion." However, and it is impossible for me to exaggerate the importance of one point: this book offers more - FAR MORE - than "how to do it" advice for public speaking.

They carefully organize their material within five Parts: Content, Delivery, State (i.e. presence), High-Stakes Situations, and Finding Your [own] Voice and Making It Heard. They are determined to help each reader's thinking gets the expression it deserves, "that the quality of the ideas is matched by the vitality of the [reader's] presence. The potential applications of what Meyers and Nix hare are almost unlimited because there are so many opportunities to achieve high-impact communication. The audience could be a single person or members of a governing board or several thousand people. The same principles apply: outstanding content + compelling delivery = high impact. As Warren Beatty suggests, "They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

After explaining in the first chapter how to ensure that a speech is outcome-focused, relevant, and on point, Meyers and Nix note that when taking the next step, "you can't just start slapping bricks together. First, you need to know where they go. You need a design. So now it's time to put together the architecture of ideas."

The architecture consists of three parts: Ramp (the beginning), Discovery (the middle), and Dessert (the end).
Meyers and Nix suggest three "Master Tips":

o Get the I/You ratio right: Use ten "You's" for every "I."'
o You have only seven seconds at the beginning in which the audience decides whether or not they're going to pay attention.'
o Don't bury the lead. If you don't hook them right up front, you've lost them forever. There are no second chances.

Here are the opening strategies they recommend:

1. Open with the word "You"'
2. Use a powerful statistic (i.e. a "sexy number")'
3. Ask an intriguing question.'
4. Shock them.'
5. Make a confession.'
6. Use the word "imagine" to serve as an invitation.
7. Tell an historical anecdote that is relevant to your key point.'
8. Tell a story: setting, characters, conflicts, tension, key developments, resolution, etc.

This book is a "must read" for those who want to develop the mindset and the skills to communicate with high impact, whatever the circumstances may be. That assumes, of course, that the content is of a very high quality and appropriate for the given audience. Hence the importance of rigorous preparation. I agree with Peter Meyers and Shann Nix: Ultimately, "It's not about you. It's all about them."

As We Speak hits all the modalities in which I interact with my client base. It was both validating and instructive. I found many of the techniques were ones I already used in my writing and my speaking. It was great to have some new slants on these techniques that I might incorporate into future presentations to maximize my effectiveness. Then there was new information that I have already begun to use and have found the results to be absolutely in line with the expectations set by the authors. this is down to earth writing, accessible by anyone who needs to communicate with others in business or in your personal life. This is a great addition to my skills and to my library. I highly recommend As We Speak and will place it on my recommend list on my own website. Thanks for well organized information.

This book contains some great points, but often gets mired down in its own sense of self-importance if that makes sense; it simply drags in places. Of course, that is probably unavoidable given the material, which is fascinating but not necessarily fresh, new or unfamiliar. This book is mostly good though, and has improved my communication with my employees significantly.

I recommend this book for all public speakers. The book contains suggestions for writing, rehearsal and delivery. It is written not for preachers but for any public speaker and is oriented toward professional business people in the corporate world. It positively changed the way I prepare and deliver sermon. I only wish I had this book 20 years. It would have made my life easier and my ministry more effective.

Superb guide for public speaking and communication.

As a speech coach, this book is invaluable. It is clear, concise, and immensely practical. I have read many books on the topic, and it is rare to find such a helpful resource. In particular, I love the way it is divided into three sections - state, content, and delivery. This clear structure offers a concrete method for approaching each and every speaking opportunity.

As We Speak gives readers a simple yet powerful way to understand the secrets to great communication. I know I will turn to this book again and again when I work with my clients - and I will recommend it to each of them.

Simple and powerful concepts from the personal and professional experience of the authors backed by modern research. A must read for anyone taking personal growth to the next level.

A a new member of a local Toastmasters club, this book opened my eyes to all sorts of ideas & techniques that were invaluable in getting me prepared for my speeches. Got "Best Speaker" awards on 2 of my first 3 speeches!!