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How to Speak So People Really Listen: The Straight-Talking Guide to Communicating with Influence and Impact
Learn how to inspire your audience with best-selling author Paul McGee!13 things you'll discover when reading this book...
1. The big lesson Steve Jobs learnt when an advertising exec threw something at him... and how it will help how you communicate.
2. Seven ways to manage your nerves (surprisingly, you don’t want to eliminate them).
3. Why our obsession with body language is totally wrong, and what to focus on instead.
4. Why you must think about a beachball before you next speak. Believe me, it’s essential.
5. A question your audience is always thinking, and how to ensure you provide the answer.
6. The most common mistake experienced presenters make that nervous ones never do.
7. Why so many presentations cure insomnia, and how to make sure you’re serving an extra strong double espresso instead.
8. The number one thing most presenters forget to bring when they’re speaking to others.
9. Discover the most underprepared part of your presentation, and how to avoid making the same mistake.
10. What women’s magazines and TV soap operas have to teach us about audience engagement.
11. What I learnt from a guy with one of the most powerful memories on the planet, and how it can transform your communication.
12. Discover Tony Blair’s biggest fear when Prime Minister, and how you can tackle the same issue with confidence.
13. Why you don’t have to be funny to use humour in your presentation, and three easy ways to do it.
1. The big lesson Steve Jobs learnt when an advertising exec threw something at him... and how it will help how you communicate.
2. Seven ways to manage your nerves (surprisingly, you don’t want to eliminate them).
3. Why our obsession with body language is totally wrong, and what to focus on instead.
4. Why you must think about a beachball before you next speak. Believe me, it’s essential.
5. A question your audience is always thinking, and how to ensure you provide the answer.
6. The most common mistake experienced presenters make that nervous ones never do.
7. Why so many presentations cure insomnia, and how to make sure you’re serving an extra strong double espresso instead.
8. The number one thing most presenters forget to bring when they’re speaking to others.
9. Discover the most underprepared part of your presentation, and how to avoid making the same mistake.
10. What women’s magazines and TV soap operas have to teach us about audience engagement.
11. What I learnt from a guy with one of the most powerful memories on the planet, and how it can transform your communication.
12. Discover Tony Blair’s biggest fear when Prime Minister, and how you can tackle the same issue with confidence.
13. Why you don’t have to be funny to use humour in your presentation, and three easy ways to do it.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2016
46 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Paul McGee
51 books37 followersPaul McGee is one of the UK’s leading authors and speakers on the subject of change, workplace relationships and motivation. His book 'SUMO' (Shut Up, Move On) became an instant best seller and 'Self Confidence' reached number one in the WHSmith’s business book chart and remained there for a further 24 weeks. He has appeared on BBC Breakfast television and is a regular contributor on BBC Radio.
Building on his background in psychology, Paul’s aim is to deliver a practical, relevant message that he hopes can make an immediate impact on people’s professional and personal lives.
Paul has written eleven books, and is in the process of writing number twelve, and co-writing thirteen (a children's book). He has spoken at over 1,000 organisations in 41 countries to date, and from Todmorden to Tehran and from Bradford to Brisbane, Paul also has created a schools pack, with resources and literature to link SUMO principles with the PHSE curriculum.
Building on his background in psychology, Paul’s aim is to deliver a practical, relevant message that he hopes can make an immediate impact on people’s professional and personal lives.
Paul has written eleven books, and is in the process of writing number twelve, and co-writing thirteen (a children's book). He has spoken at over 1,000 organisations in 41 countries to date, and from Todmorden to Tehran and from Bradford to Brisbane, Paul also has created a schools pack, with resources and literature to link SUMO principles with the PHSE curriculum.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 10, 2020
Very straightforward guidelines. Just like the title, it is compelling and attracted me to read. This book focuses mainly on the situation where you are pitching or presenting in front of a group of audiences. However the useful tips although seemed simple and you might have known about it, it would be a good reminder for every one of us to improve the communication skills.
The practical part is always the hardest part. So what I did was, whenever I will be having an important conversation or presentation, I will try to recall the points of the books by looking at the summary. With that said, it serves more like a handbook to me.
The practical part is always the hardest part. So what I did was, whenever I will be having an important conversation or presentation, I will try to recall the points of the books by looking at the summary. With that said, it serves more like a handbook to me.
June 18, 2020
بعكس كثير من كتب تنمية الذّات ،
تفادى الكاتب تكرار أفكاره إلى حدٍّ كبير و صاغها بسهولة و مرح و تشويق ،
استمتعت كثيراً بـ رحلتي مع "بول ماكجي" رجل السّومو
"شُهرته" و هو ليس بـ مُصارع .
يتكوّن الكتاب من ثلاثة أجراء مُرتّبة بـ طريقة حازت على إعجابي ، و هي كالآتي :
• سبعة أخطاء يجب تفاديها عند الحديث ، منها : التّركيز على الخصائص بدلاً من تسويق الفوائد - الفشل في مراعاة حاجات الجمهور - الاعتماد الكبير على الارتجال و الوقوع في فخ الرَضا عن الذَات بقلّة التّحضير
• ثمانية طرق للتّحدّث بطريقة مُبهرة ، منها : الواقعيّة بإظهار شخصيّتك للجمهور و ذلك لخلق حالة اتّصال معهم و عدم تنفيرهم بالتّصنع - أهميّة أوّل تسعين ثانيّة لجذب انتباه الجمهور - التّألّق أثناء طرح الأسئلة
• أسئلة الجمهور و التّعامل معها بطرق منها : مبادئ من علم النّفس - الفُكاهة - لغة الجسد
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اقتباسات :
" المشكلة تكمن في أنّنا غالباً ما ننشغل بالتّركيز على ما سنقوله إلى حد أنّنا لا نأخذ وقتاً للتّفكير في الكيفيّة التي نقوله بها بطريقة تجعل النّاس يتذكّرونه " ص٢٥
" من المُمكن أن نُلقي خطاباً رائعاً بطريقة عظيمة لكن للجمهور الخطأ " ص٤٠
" المُبالغة في الاستعلاء تُصيب النّاس بالإعياء " ص٨١
" حينما نُركّز بشكل أقل على ما يمكن أن يسير بشكل خطأ ، و بقدر أكبر على كيف يمكننا أن نجعل الأمور تسير بشكل صحيح بالنّسبة لجمهورنا ، تزداد ثقتنا و يهدأ توتّرنا " ص٩٢
" انظر إلى التّحدّث كفرصة لتستغلها ، و ليس ككارثة يجب تجنّبها " ص٩٣
July 7, 2018
A really refreshing read, especially in the category of human science! Paul McGee engages the reader from page one, conveying his message with humour, expertise/insight, vulnerability, and to the point. He shares countless interesting and important tips on how the reader can improve, and uses just the right amount of stories to do so. McGee moreover uses visual aides to highlight the most important points and repeats his key messages in one little box at the end of each chapter. It is a light and yet expert read that will easily act as a reference book for your next presentation. Highly enjoyable! I will certainly go on to read his other books as well.
April 6, 2020
This is a very direct, hands-on book. While you will still need to practice your presentation and communication skills, this is a simple book that provides very direct and useful advice. Honestly, some of it is rather common sense, but I personally like the writing style of the author.
Not a heavy read and packed with many useful, applicable advice. Highly recommend this book to anyone looking to communicate their ideas well during presentations.
Not a heavy read and packed with many useful, applicable advice. Highly recommend this book to anyone looking to communicate their ideas well during presentations.
April 6, 2018
A surprisingly quick and informative read. I picked this up after struggling to find the right way to present my ideas to people and in having them listen to what I was saying. I needed a bit of a confidence boost and I think this has really helped me on my way to that goal. I will be using How to Speak, as a guide of sorts, as I need it.
January 20, 2020
Good people with a great message are not guaranteed a captive audience - says the author. There are several important things when you are delivering a message or presentation to others: be memorable, do not provide too much detail, understand your audience, focus on features and do not sell benefits, win over, if you use slide, make sure they are memorable, be precise.
March 4, 2017
Great book written in an engaging way (I guess should expect nothing less given the subject matter) will definitely be putting many of the things into practice in future presentations and interactions.
October 2, 2020
Should help me say less in meetings
It’s an interesting read with some good examples. I’m looking forward to giving it a go.
I particularly like the don’t suck the life out of your audience slide.
Regards
It’s an interesting read with some good examples. I’m looking forward to giving it a go.
I particularly like the don’t suck the life out of your audience slide.
Regards
June 21, 2020
A concise, genius guide to speaking so people really listen!
December 2, 2020
A very straightforward and concise book that respects your time.
April 17, 2021
A very helpful book for those who are into public speaking.
May 23, 2021
كتاب جميل قرأت النسخة العربية
Read
September 6, 2021good read and learn a lot from the book
January 5, 2022
Buen libro no soy muy fan de self help pero este Paul básicamente te da consejos muy prácticos
January 31, 2022
Excellent book. This book provides lots of good tips for the practical world.
November 14, 2022
We should learn more to make our speech very good
October 31, 2016
Paul McGee has the ability to present practical and effective advice in a very accessible and humorous way. And he has done it again with ‘How to Speak’.
Research shows that speaking in public is one of the biggest fears for so many people, yet it is a skill we need to call upon in both our professional and personal lives. Paul’s tips will help his readers not only to overcome those nerves but to present their ideas and themselves in the most powerful way possible.
Whether you are standing on stage giving a keynote presentation in front of hundreds of people, or aiming to make the best impression one-to-one, this book is an essential read.
Research shows that speaking in public is one of the biggest fears for so many people, yet it is a skill we need to call upon in both our professional and personal lives. Paul’s tips will help his readers not only to overcome those nerves but to present their ideas and themselves in the most powerful way possible.
Whether you are standing on stage giving a keynote presentation in front of hundreds of people, or aiming to make the best impression one-to-one, this book is an essential read.
January 13, 2025
You will improve your communication skills after applying the strategies mentioned in this book. The author's humor wasn't my cup of tea, but he makes a great example by incorporating his own advice which was accepting that how the audience reacts is largely out of your control. The author has my respect.
January 3, 2017
This is one of the best and most straight forward books on this topic I have read.
April 23, 2017
Paul reminds us to persue excellence. This book is a great reminder for the experienced and a useful place to start for those just beginning.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews