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Talk is (Not!) Cheap: The Art of Conversation Leadership
Jim McCann has spent his career talking. For McCann, the founder and CEO of the world’s leading florist, 1-800-Flowers.com, being open and ready to speak to a variety of audiences is his most powerful leadership tool.
In Talk Is (Not!) Cheap, McCann illustrates how the art of conversation leadership—the process he developed to engage others and create forward momentum in the workplace—can be used to inspire, innovate, and win. Using a blend of how-to and insightful personal stories, this book argues that the gift of gab may just be the most critical (and undervalued) skill set in today’s workplace.
Lessons include how to overcome hesitation when diving into conversation with strangers and knowing when to just “shut up and listen!” McCann’s practical advice comes from twenty years of experience as the voice of small business, and from meeting and exchanging ideas with other influential business leaders around the world.
Whether you’re interacting with customers, pitching new business to a client, or seeking to be heard within your own company, Talk Is (Not!) Cheap will strategically transform the way you communicate and listen. With McCann as your guide, this important book will teach you how the art of conversation leadership can improve and joyously change your life.
In Talk Is (Not!) Cheap, McCann illustrates how the art of conversation leadership—the process he developed to engage others and create forward momentum in the workplace—can be used to inspire, innovate, and win. Using a blend of how-to and insightful personal stories, this book argues that the gift of gab may just be the most critical (and undervalued) skill set in today’s workplace.
Lessons include how to overcome hesitation when diving into conversation with strangers and knowing when to just “shut up and listen!” McCann’s practical advice comes from twenty years of experience as the voice of small business, and from meeting and exchanging ideas with other influential business leaders around the world.
Whether you’re interacting with customers, pitching new business to a client, or seeking to be heard within your own company, Talk Is (Not!) Cheap will strategically transform the way you communicate and listen. With McCann as your guide, this important book will teach you how the art of conversation leadership can improve and joyously change your life.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2014
66 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 14, 2014
Talk is (Not!) Cheap: The Art of Conversation Leadership
By Jim McCann
I must admit the title caught my eye, and I wanted to read it to improve my own conversation leadership style. There is some good, and some not so good in the book.
Firstly the good. It is a quick and easy read, with a few gems to find that will improve your conversation skills. It would be ideal for a sales manager to pass onto his sales team to read, as they would find some gems in relating to customers.
It does provide a common sense guide of home truths to apply to any conversation. It has ten principles or tips, with the best being common sense "stop talking and start conversing. Start listening to each other. Start asking questions to get more information."
The not so good, is that it not a leadership guide or manual to improve leadership conversation. It is more a testimony of Jim McCann’s business success. It is a blatant promotion of his company.
The book was disappointing in that it didn’t deliver what the cover promised. As for the ten principles, noting you couldn’t get from google, or talking with your grandfather.
By Jim McCann
I must admit the title caught my eye, and I wanted to read it to improve my own conversation leadership style. There is some good, and some not so good in the book.
Firstly the good. It is a quick and easy read, with a few gems to find that will improve your conversation skills. It would be ideal for a sales manager to pass onto his sales team to read, as they would find some gems in relating to customers.
It does provide a common sense guide of home truths to apply to any conversation. It has ten principles or tips, with the best being common sense "stop talking and start conversing. Start listening to each other. Start asking questions to get more information."
The not so good, is that it not a leadership guide or manual to improve leadership conversation. It is more a testimony of Jim McCann’s business success. It is a blatant promotion of his company.
The book was disappointing in that it didn’t deliver what the cover promised. As for the ten principles, noting you couldn’t get from google, or talking with your grandfather.
March 20, 2020
Great story, great advice. Practical application of using skills to best communicate and achieve what you need to do. It' a great follow up of "Stop and Sell the Roses". I do wish the audio book was read by Jim McCann himself, but the audio reader was very good.
A quick read on business and life that doesn't try to re-invent the wheel but lnstead help it spin smoothly. Jim McCann details the need we have to connect with all the people we have in our lives: family, friends, co-workers and business associates.
Jim McCann is a highly successful entrepreneur whose vision and energy have helped grow 1-800-FLOWERS.COM®, the company he founded in 1976, into the world's leading florist and gift company. He is also the founder of Celebrations.com and appears frequently on many national TV networks, including CNBC, CNN, Fox News Channel, and Bloomberg TV.
A quick read on business and life that doesn't try to re-invent the wheel but lnstead help it spin smoothly. Jim McCann details the need we have to connect with all the people we have in our lives: family, friends, co-workers and business associates.
Jim McCann is a highly successful entrepreneur whose vision and energy have helped grow 1-800-FLOWERS.COM®, the company he founded in 1976, into the world's leading florist and gift company. He is also the founder of Celebrations.com and appears frequently on many national TV networks, including CNBC, CNN, Fox News Channel, and Bloomberg TV.
August 22, 2014
The subtitle of this book - "The Art of Conversation Leadership" - caught my eye. As an introvert whose interpersonal skills could bear improvement, I wanted to see if Jim McCann had some useful tips to help me become a better conversationalist and leader.
Unfortunately I was to be disappointed. The book is really all about burnishing McCann's personal brand and that of his company, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. It consists largely of McCann's anecdotes relaying key events in the building of his business. "Conversation Leadership" is no more than the loosest of themes, like an oversized nightshirt that fits everyone and everything. Each chapter ends with a "McCann's Principle", but most of them are too generic to be of any real benefit to the reader, e.g.:
"Converse as Though You are Sitting at your Kitchen Table"
"Converse Across Mediums"
"Never Stop Learning"
McCann writes in a breezy manner which made the book enjoyable to read. I did learn some things about the florist business in general and McCann's business in particular. That is the real subject matter of this book - not a guide to a leadership style.
Unfortunately I was to be disappointed. The book is really all about burnishing McCann's personal brand and that of his company, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. It consists largely of McCann's anecdotes relaying key events in the building of his business. "Conversation Leadership" is no more than the loosest of themes, like an oversized nightshirt that fits everyone and everything. Each chapter ends with a "McCann's Principle", but most of them are too generic to be of any real benefit to the reader, e.g.:
"Converse as Though You are Sitting at your Kitchen Table"
"Converse Across Mediums"
"Never Stop Learning"
McCann writes in a breezy manner which made the book enjoyable to read. I did learn some things about the florist business in general and McCann's business in particular. That is the real subject matter of this book - not a guide to a leadership style.
February 10, 2023
This is the first book that I read in 2023. As someone that works in an IT Industry that interacts with computer / devices more than human being, I can resonate well his term "strokes" that all human being needs. It changes my perspective of having conversation, and truly it is the real currency to open up so many possibilities and opportunities out there.
July 19, 2019
The leadership skills or the learning curve you can expect in this book is so little. It was more of his flower brand promotion and full of I do this, I do that, I do thus, I I I I I so much of self praisal that after a point it was so choking. Disappointed.
March 4, 2022
Comes from success not a guru
This is so.e great information on how to.communicate that is the most efficient way that gets people's attention and trust. This boom is written by someone who has done it and successfully.
This is so.e great information on how to.communicate that is the most efficient way that gets people's attention and trust. This boom is written by someone who has done it and successfully.
March 11, 2020
An interesting read, nothing new or notable here...
January 28, 2023
Skimmed, no insights, not worth deeply reading.
June 3, 2014
***Disclaimer: I won this in a Goodreads / Amazon giveaway. I have not been compensated for this review.
Jim McCann would like for you to talk it out. And not for any especial reason, but because it's usually the best thing to do. Talk is (Not!) Cheap: The Art of Conversation Leadership is very much a manual on the value of respectful yet candid conversation. As a leader and business visionary, McCann finds he does his best work simply listening and creating spaces where others can listen. He prizes listening above most other business processes and while there are other processes in place, most of his decision about those come back to a rubic that might be deconstructed to: "Will this allow us to hear, more clearly, what our customers want and how best to work with each other."
In a business climate where people are increasingly dissatisfied with industrial strictures on knowledge workers (i.e., your butt must be at your desk exactly 8 hours per day, regardless of whether or not your results demand that or may even by harmed by it), open, honest conversation, even if it's uncomfortable or inconvenient, is the best way to insure best possible practices.
Jim McCann would like for you to talk it out. And not for any especial reason, but because it's usually the best thing to do. Talk is (Not!) Cheap: The Art of Conversation Leadership is very much a manual on the value of respectful yet candid conversation. As a leader and business visionary, McCann finds he does his best work simply listening and creating spaces where others can listen. He prizes listening above most other business processes and while there are other processes in place, most of his decision about those come back to a rubic that might be deconstructed to: "Will this allow us to hear, more clearly, what our customers want and how best to work with each other."
In a business climate where people are increasingly dissatisfied with industrial strictures on knowledge workers (i.e., your butt must be at your desk exactly 8 hours per day, regardless of whether or not your results demand that or may even by harmed by it), open, honest conversation, even if it's uncomfortable or inconvenient, is the best way to insure best possible practices.
March 1, 2016
In today's world we think that communication means that we email someone or send them a text. Too frequently topics that would benefit from a conversation or a little face to face time with the other person are done through some form of electronic communication. The are of conversation is a critical leadership tool and an important part of strong communications.
In this book Jim McCann demonstrates the power of conversation. As the owner of the largest flower store he shares how he used conversation as a leadership tool with investors, customers, and employees to build a workplace that was open, fun and had great success. Jim talks about many of the important conversations that need to take place with each of these constituency groups and provides personal examples of success driven conversation.
As a leader a believe strongly in having conversations at all levels. I find that having conversations builds relationships and helps me understand the other persons point of view much better than any other method. I am committed to having conversations that make a difference with the people I work with and this book is a great tool for strengthening this skill.
In this book Jim McCann demonstrates the power of conversation. As the owner of the largest flower store he shares how he used conversation as a leadership tool with investors, customers, and employees to build a workplace that was open, fun and had great success. Jim talks about many of the important conversations that need to take place with each of these constituency groups and provides personal examples of success driven conversation.
As a leader a believe strongly in having conversations at all levels. I find that having conversations builds relationships and helps me understand the other persons point of view much better than any other method. I am committed to having conversations that make a difference with the people I work with and this book is a great tool for strengthening this skill.
June 12, 2017
I was intrigued by this when I first saw it. Decided to go the audiobook route and was taken back right away. A book about the importance of talking and Jim Mcann doesn't even read his own book?!? But still I mentally filed that away and listened eagerly still. Halfway through I was still wondering what the real point of this was for. He details the rise of his company and the challenges and failures he's had during its tenure., but the answers and lessons learned from those challenges and failures didn't help illustrate where the book was heading with this.
An interesting read but unfortunately a forgettable one.
An interesting read but unfortunately a forgettable one.
February 2, 2014
There is Value in that Conversation
Jim McCann had me with the title, Talk is (NOT!) Cheap. For years I’ve thought that the art of conversation and connecting with others is the most important part of leadership. However, what goes hand in hand with conversation is listening. I mean truly actively listening to those that you talk with every day. The steps that McCann writes about are simple to follow and will help you carve out a nitch in your field of expertise. This is a quick and easy to read book that will certainly increase your leadership potential.
Jim McCann had me with the title, Talk is (NOT!) Cheap. For years I’ve thought that the art of conversation and connecting with others is the most important part of leadership. However, what goes hand in hand with conversation is listening. I mean truly actively listening to those that you talk with every day. The steps that McCann writes about are simple to follow and will help you carve out a nitch in your field of expertise. This is a quick and easy to read book that will certainly increase your leadership potential.
July 11, 2014
This was an easy read, written as if the author is sitting across the table with you having a cup of coffee and conversation. I cannot say that I learned anything new but it reminded me of things I knew but were not implementing. I do feel it is a good read for anybody in business not just leadership. I enjoyed the personal stories of service beyond the 'job duties' written in the employment contracts. More businesses should make this a mandatory read as it will help all levels of employment not just management.
March 28, 2015
Lots of good advice. Even some good takeaways for pastoral leadership.
However, it very much is written to extroverts. The author would do well to read "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking." Much of his advice is typical of the extrovert-oriented business culture that the "Quiet " author exposes.
I listened to the audiobook. In my opinion, they choose the wrong voice to read the book. The content has a warm and inviting tone to it, but the voice is stiff and proper. Just doesn't seem to fit the author's personality.
However, it very much is written to extroverts. The author would do well to read "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking." Much of his advice is typical of the extrovert-oriented business culture that the "Quiet " author exposes.
I listened to the audiobook. In my opinion, they choose the wrong voice to read the book. The content has a warm and inviting tone to it, but the voice is stiff and proper. Just doesn't seem to fit the author's personality.
August 15, 2016
Words...I love reading them, writing them, playing with them. Conversation...words spoken aloud. This was a departure for me from reading about writing, and it was an enlightening experience. I'll have to consider reading more books about public speaking. Thanks, Amazon, for the recommendation.
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August 6, 2016As à communications dégrée holder, I especially lied thiosulfurique book. As a new manager, it was good advice.
October 14, 2014
I received my copy of this book via giveaway from Goodreads. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed reading this book and took away lots of good ideas for interacting with others.
I enjoyed reading this book and took away lots of good ideas for interacting with others.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews