The Pin Drop Principle: Captivate, Influence, and Communicate Better Using the Time-Tested Methods of Professional Performers

by David H. Lewis, G. Riley Mills

Tap into the powerful techniques of professional actors and great communicators The Pin Drop Principle is a step-by-step master class for anyone wishing to become a more confident and credible communicator. Lewis and Mills believe all business professionals ought to deliver their message in such an engaging way that one could literally hear a pin drop when they speak. The secret to doing so comes from an unusual world: professional acting. By activating "objective" and "intention"―the main tools of actors (and great communicators)―business people can give their messages meaning and relevance, so the recipients walk away knowing why the message is important and what is in it for them. The Pin Drop Principle is an accessible resource for anyone who routinely needs to present ideas to large or small groups, convey feedback effectively, conduct difficult conversations, and persuade others.

Genres: Business, Self Help

272 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2012

Reviews

[Josh Mcclary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, well written book. This book respected my intelligence but still held my hand with thorough explanations. Too many books today are written for the "busy professional," someone who apparently doesn't have the time to read complete sentences, or needs the pages to glow with flashy colors. Through the use of research, old and new wisdoms and stories, this book gives the reader concrete guidance to apply the communication principles covered in the book to many different scenarios (customer presentation, personal relationships, etc). I bought this book thinking it would give me ideas for being a more effective sales professional, but I found that the communication principles presented can be applied to any situation where one needs to be an effective communicator. Another neat feature is after reading the first chapter or two, you can easily skip around the book to other chapters based on your specific interests at the moment--highly recommended.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best communication books I've read in a decade. I am partial to books that have a well-done index and if a book has a glossary, it will skyrocket its value. Each chapter in Pin Drop can be read separately. This is such useful book, I was able to apply the concepts the SAME day. Effective, easy-to-understand, and permanently a part of my Toolkit.

[Kev Willoughby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most practical and complete book I have ever read on public speaking, because it covers everything from purposeful preparation for your written speech to subsequent oration before large groups. It includes insightful wisdom about your non-verbal language during message delivery as well as professional pointers about your one-on-one or small group follow-up meetings after the initial communication has taken place. This book is sufficiently thorough yet succinct. There are only 10 chapters, and you could easily read one per day and knock out the book in less than two weeks. Think about that... You could significantly improve your communication skills in just two short weeks with this book.

The authors (who use their experience as professional actors to convey these skills) are able to articulate each principle in a way that is simple, yet profound. They practice what they teach as they write. Everything makes perfect sense and there are easy and quick exercises in each chapter that reinforce what you are learning. I don't usually re-read books or even keep them after I'm finished, but this is an invaluable reference that I plan to wear out with regular use.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting through this book just because I wasn’t in the mood for this literary style. However, it had extremely helpful tips on presentation and even having difficulty conversations that I will be implementing in all aspects of my life.

[Carlos Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book to learn the mastery of professional public presentations. Experienced authors with plenty of practical resources. Easy to read. Easier to put into practice

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was ok. A lot of it was common sense or thing you learn throughout life

[Jesse · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel like this book does not follow its own rules. Bloated, structurally confusing, and redundant. The value I got from this could have been communicated with a handful of bullet points.

[Caitlin Zinsser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. One of the best business books I've read the last year... But still a business book.

[Kyle Farris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having spent the past 10 years preparing for and practicing public speaking, this book was a refreshing summation of the most valuable lessons one can learn to effectively deliver information. I was fortunate to participate in a Pinnacle workshop this past week, and I was gifted this book for one of the activities. To be honest, many of the points in the book were explored in the seminar, including some of the stories (just a warning for those that may think they're getting all new information after attending a Pinnacle seminar). The reader can expect a more thorough exploration of those concepts with a great balance of anecdotes and research to back the claims presented in the book. I'd recommend this to anyone that wants to improve their communication skills.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for anyone who is looking to improve their communication skills. The author explains the technique, gives examples, and then encourages the reader to practice it. I suggest that you get the book, not the audio book. The exercises and reference documents are more easily consumed through a physical book.

[Xuejin Chuang · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rehash of a lot of different materials. What made me gave 3 stars is the author writes too much fillers that detracted from the main message. These fillers do give some motivation, background or even reasons why his approach works, but it is too much that made me lose focus.

[Yuriy Ivanchenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

will read again. it packs a large punch of information that can be utilized immediately to improve your communication