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Communicate with Mastery: Speak With Conviction and Write for Impact
Develop your leadership communication Communicating with Mastery provides readers with a rich treasure trove of frameworks and tools for leadership communication as developed and taught over the past decade at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. Designed for the business leader on the go, it provides you quick access to helpful approaches to vexing communication problems leaders face today in speaking and writing to various audiences. Projects often fail not because of the vision, but in the articulation of that vision. With the help of this book, you’ll learn how to ensure you get the results you desire as a leader and communicator Every time you write or speak, you need to make your words count. And this book shows you how.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 22, 2020
46 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 12, 2020
I love the frameworks that JD has provided across the spetrum of communication methods. As a working professional that needs to persuade others through email, presentations, and in meetings, I found JD's book to be thorough, concise, and actionable. I'll be implementing his suggestions and would strongly recommend his book to anyone looking to improve their communication skills.
September 21, 2020
Here is what I’ve found most useful from this book:
Professors Lynn Russell and Mary Munster created the AIM model: Audience (who), Intent (why), and Message (what).
Write for Impact: Active, Brief, and Clear. (ABCs). Leave the audience to make them act, think, or feel differently.
Reiteration: Practice, get feedback, practice, get more feedback, etc.
Perfection is impossible, but growth is always attainable.
Spend half your time on the content and half on delivery.
Chris Lipp’s The Startup Pitch provides a 4-part structure to an effective pitch: Problem, Solution, Market, Business. For Solution - what is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP), Why you, why this, why now? Think Steve Jobs introducing the iPod Nano - “Imagine a thousand songs in your pocket.”
For Business - What is your go-to-market strategy? When and how? What’s your model for earning revenue, and when might you be profitable?
What matters is the message your audience both recalls and retells.
Kim Scott’s book Radical Candor proposes that there are two axes that provide the framework for effective feedback. We must both “care personally” and “challenge directly.”
Professors Lynn Russell and Mary Munster created the AIM model: Audience (who), Intent (why), and Message (what).
Write for Impact: Active, Brief, and Clear. (ABCs). Leave the audience to make them act, think, or feel differently.
Reiteration: Practice, get feedback, practice, get more feedback, etc.
Perfection is impossible, but growth is always attainable.
Spend half your time on the content and half on delivery.
Chris Lipp’s The Startup Pitch provides a 4-part structure to an effective pitch: Problem, Solution, Market, Business. For Solution - what is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP), Why you, why this, why now? Think Steve Jobs introducing the iPod Nano - “Imagine a thousand songs in your pocket.”
For Business - What is your go-to-market strategy? When and how? What’s your model for earning revenue, and when might you be profitable?
What matters is the message your audience both recalls and retells.
Kim Scott’s book Radical Candor proposes that there are two axes that provide the framework for effective feedback. We must both “care personally” and “challenge directly.”
July 17, 2020
All of us can be more effective in our work and in our lives by being better communicators.
The book covers many aspects of communication, including the written word, presentations, conversation and body language. It’s designed to be practical, and puts all guidance in the context of the goal you’re trying to achieve.
Schramm and Levy know what they’re talking about. Schram founded the Mastery in Communication Initiative at Stanford’s GSB (I wish this program had been founded when I was there, as I would have benefited). And Levy is an executive communication coach with an MFA in writing.
I consider myself to be a good communicator already. I was an English major, I’ve written two books, and I make a living as a professional speaker. But I still found a lot of new ideas and tips in Schramm’s book. He’s truly a master communicator and an excellent guide. This is a book I know I will return to again and again.
The book covers many aspects of communication, including the written word, presentations, conversation and body language. It’s designed to be practical, and puts all guidance in the context of the goal you’re trying to achieve.
Schramm and Levy know what they’re talking about. Schram founded the Mastery in Communication Initiative at Stanford’s GSB (I wish this program had been founded when I was there, as I would have benefited). And Levy is an executive communication coach with an MFA in writing.
I consider myself to be a good communicator already. I was an English major, I’ve written two books, and I make a living as a professional speaker. But I still found a lot of new ideas and tips in Schramm’s book. He’s truly a master communicator and an excellent guide. This is a book I know I will return to again and again.
March 4, 2022
Covering the aspect of communication requires significant endeavour and a Milliarde of pages. The author focuses mostly on presenting, forcing me to wonder whether book's title is accurate. In the domain of how to present with impact, he proposes nice techniques, with which students can develop good presentation skills. However less insights to professionals. Although including advice to individuals from different sex groups can be considered perceptive, I couldn’t understand how these differ from group to group. On contrary, all seem generic and common sense. After finishing reading, I discerned it didn’t get me much further.
April 21, 2023
Excellent frameworks and practical advice for verbal and written communication in different business contexts. JD opens by asserting that mastery in communication is an unattainable aspiration. Encourages an ongoing practice: Every time you communicate you are choosing to either reinforce bad habits, or apply yourself to improve.
Takeways:
GENERAL
- AIM (Audience, Intent, Message), where Intent = what you want the audience to do after they've received the message.
- Solicit early feedback from devil's advocates - critics unafraid to poke holes in your argument.
WRITING
- Active, brief and clear
- Don't close with a full summary/overview. Close with your synthesis & highlights.
- First, just write. Relieve yourself from the burden of editing.
PRESENTING / PUBLIC SPEAKING
- Ask questions about which past talks were most successful and why
- Deeply research your audience, including running talk by a representative focus group if possible.
- Account for your "secondary" audience - who the message may be passed along to.
- Craft the structure and content of your message. Choose the medium, channels, appropriately.
- Manage your anxiety. Expand your body and turn "I'm nervous" into "I'm excited." Try conversational style to take the pressure off.
- Help the audience understand "Why you?" Why are you the one to communicate this message? What is your credibility?
-- Verbal: Consider what you say first and what you say last. Start with an active word, not passive or filler. Smooth transitions. Use silence for impact & emphasis.
-- Vocal: Speak slowly with a strong clear voice. You can vary speed to your advantage - faster creates energy; Slowing down adds weight and gravitas.
-- Visual: Hold 4-5 seconds of direct eye contact: Complete one whole thought before looking elsewhere. Feet hip-distance, ideally arms at sides, not tucked at the elbow (creates T-rex arms if you gesticulate).
- Avoid commenting on slip-ups - it just undermines your credibility further. Rather than apologize or acknowledge - just keep going with a neutral expression and even tone.
- Sit next to or adjacent corner from the decision-maker.
- Prep by watching a recording of yourself. First watch: get all the dislikes out of the way; Second watch sound on/video off: Assess word choice, content structure, supporting evidence, enunciation, volume, vocal variety. Take notes on what you notice. Third watch sound off/video on: Body language, slides, gestures, eye contact, etc. Take notes. Fourth watch everything on: Force yourself to note everything you like about your presentation and delivery. Double down on your strengths!
USING SLIDES
- KISS: Minimize clutter; Deliver one message per slide.
- Begin headlines with "power verbs" (e.g. accelerate, believe, conclude, eliminate, forecast, interpret, preview, synthesize, verify, yield, etc.).
- Animate strategically.
- Select Q&A slide with care. (No "?". Instead, repeat a killer chart or image from earlier in the talk, or simply restate your thesis with contact information. Then verbally segue into Q&A.
- Announce before you advance. Drive the slides, don't be led by them.
- Learn the keyboard shortcuts
- No laser pointers lol
PITCHING
- CUE (Curiosity, Understanding, Evangelism). Take your readers from "uninterested, disengaged, distracted" to "curious" to "new understandings" to "evangelizing the problem -they want to give you their money and make this problem go away and tell all their investor / customer friends about it".
- Story is a great way to generate curiosity.
- Every good story charts a CHANGE.
- If using data, break it up with descriptive headers that highlight the takeaway.
SELF-DISCLOSURE
- Check your motives - if self-serving, reconsider your choice to share.
COACHING OTHERS
- Distinguish ongoing coaching from performance reviews.
- You are likely superior in the skill, but don't edit. Instead, ask guiding questions to help your mentee develop and practice the skill themselves. Let them step into the limelight.
- Use Kim Scott's Radical Candor (Caring + Directness) to avoid disingenuous manipulation, obnoxious aggression, ruinous empathy.
Takeways:
GENERAL
- AIM (Audience, Intent, Message), where Intent = what you want the audience to do after they've received the message.
- Solicit early feedback from devil's advocates - critics unafraid to poke holes in your argument.
WRITING
- Active, brief and clear
- Don't close with a full summary/overview. Close with your synthesis & highlights.
- First, just write. Relieve yourself from the burden of editing.
PRESENTING / PUBLIC SPEAKING
- Ask questions about which past talks were most successful and why
- Deeply research your audience, including running talk by a representative focus group if possible.
- Account for your "secondary" audience - who the message may be passed along to.
- Craft the structure and content of your message. Choose the medium, channels, appropriately.
- Manage your anxiety. Expand your body and turn "I'm nervous" into "I'm excited." Try conversational style to take the pressure off.
- Help the audience understand "Why you?" Why are you the one to communicate this message? What is your credibility?
-- Verbal: Consider what you say first and what you say last. Start with an active word, not passive or filler. Smooth transitions. Use silence for impact & emphasis.
-- Vocal: Speak slowly with a strong clear voice. You can vary speed to your advantage - faster creates energy; Slowing down adds weight and gravitas.
-- Visual: Hold 4-5 seconds of direct eye contact: Complete one whole thought before looking elsewhere. Feet hip-distance, ideally arms at sides, not tucked at the elbow (creates T-rex arms if you gesticulate).
- Avoid commenting on slip-ups - it just undermines your credibility further. Rather than apologize or acknowledge - just keep going with a neutral expression and even tone.
- Sit next to or adjacent corner from the decision-maker.
- Prep by watching a recording of yourself. First watch: get all the dislikes out of the way; Second watch sound on/video off: Assess word choice, content structure, supporting evidence, enunciation, volume, vocal variety. Take notes on what you notice. Third watch sound off/video on: Body language, slides, gestures, eye contact, etc. Take notes. Fourth watch everything on: Force yourself to note everything you like about your presentation and delivery. Double down on your strengths!
USING SLIDES
- KISS: Minimize clutter; Deliver one message per slide.
- Begin headlines with "power verbs" (e.g. accelerate, believe, conclude, eliminate, forecast, interpret, preview, synthesize, verify, yield, etc.).
- Animate strategically.
- Select Q&A slide with care. (No "?". Instead, repeat a killer chart or image from earlier in the talk, or simply restate your thesis with contact information. Then verbally segue into Q&A.
- Announce before you advance. Drive the slides, don't be led by them.
- Learn the keyboard shortcuts
- No laser pointers lol
PITCHING
- CUE (Curiosity, Understanding, Evangelism). Take your readers from "uninterested, disengaged, distracted" to "curious" to "new understandings" to "evangelizing the problem -they want to give you their money and make this problem go away and tell all their investor / customer friends about it".
- Story is a great way to generate curiosity.
- Every good story charts a CHANGE.
- If using data, break it up with descriptive headers that highlight the takeaway.
SELF-DISCLOSURE
- Check your motives - if self-serving, reconsider your choice to share.
COACHING OTHERS
- Distinguish ongoing coaching from performance reviews.
- You are likely superior in the skill, but don't edit. Instead, ask guiding questions to help your mentee develop and practice the skill themselves. Let them step into the limelight.
- Use Kim Scott's Radical Candor (Caring + Directness) to avoid disingenuous manipulation, obnoxious aggression, ruinous empathy.
December 6, 2023
"Communicate with Mastery: Speak with Conviction and Write for Impact" by Jd Schramm, preface by Joel Peterson, is a great resource for anyone wishing to improve their leadership communication abilities. This book offers a comprehensive set of concepts and methods aimed to refine and improve communication in a leadership environment, based on considerable teaching experience at Stanford's Graduate School of Business.
One of the book's main messages is the power of words and the responsibility that comes with them. Schramm pushes leaders to talk and write with conviction and purpose, making every word matter towards attaining their goals.
"Communicate with Mastery" is a must-read for leaders and aspiring leaders alike. It provides readers with the knowledge and resources they need to improve their communication abilities, ensuring that their vision is not just heard, but also understood, welcomed, and implemented.
One of the book's main messages is the power of words and the responsibility that comes with them. Schramm pushes leaders to talk and write with conviction and purpose, making every word matter towards attaining their goals.
"Communicate with Mastery" is a must-read for leaders and aspiring leaders alike. It provides readers with the knowledge and resources they need to improve their communication abilities, ensuring that their vision is not just heard, but also understood, welcomed, and implemented.
May 23, 2020
Read it. It’s short and offers advice that everyone needs.
The author provides a breadth of insights and frameworks to help even seasoned communicators improve their effectiveness. This breadth may be at times overwhelming (and to small extent repetitive) but as JD suggests: “start small and then expand”. The book draws from lessons from many distinguished professors, across multiple disciplines, making it a great intro into many facets of communication. Personal cherry on top - omnipresent references to Stanford.
One thing I felt a bit lacking was more advice on how to put it all in practice. The reader will have to figure it out themself. Maybe though, that’s the key to personal communication style?
The author provides a breadth of insights and frameworks to help even seasoned communicators improve their effectiveness. This breadth may be at times overwhelming (and to small extent repetitive) but as JD suggests: “start small and then expand”. The book draws from lessons from many distinguished professors, across multiple disciplines, making it a great intro into many facets of communication. Personal cherry on top - omnipresent references to Stanford.
One thing I felt a bit lacking was more advice on how to put it all in practice. The reader will have to figure it out themself. Maybe though, that’s the key to personal communication style?
April 17, 2022
It’s like sprinkling knowledge on too many topics without any focus.
Jd is more about ‘my time at gsb’ and nothing about general experience.
Very less storytelling and just a knowledge dump. Exactly what it shouldn’t be doing when preaching about good storytelling and communication. There are better books around this topic.
Jd is more about ‘my time at gsb’ and nothing about general experience.
Very less storytelling and just a knowledge dump. Exactly what it shouldn’t be doing when preaching about good storytelling and communication. There are better books around this topic.
January 24, 2023
As usual with this type of book, there are tips, tricks and techniques that could fit into 3 blog articles. And then 72 personal stories without much substance or useful information.
If you search the internets for "tips and tricks for good presentations", you'll probably get the same information, but in a much smaller package.
If you search the internets for "tips and tricks for good presentations", you'll probably get the same information, but in a much smaller package.
January 22, 2023
„Tell me the time, don‘t build me the clock“
Thanks to the book‘s many references I have so much more expert books & Ted talks to discover on this topic! There are definitely some useful exercises included and it’s for sure a book I will pick up again from time to time.
Thanks to the book‘s many references I have so much more expert books & Ted talks to discover on this topic! There are definitely some useful exercises included and it’s for sure a book I will pick up again from time to time.
December 24, 2020
I loved this book since it reminds me of all great communication teachings from JD during business school. It provides great frameworks.
February 11, 2024
Very informative book. I like the way the writer make all the information easy to digest. I like the book recommendations and TED talks.
I know I’m gonna use the information
I know I’m gonna use the information
November 4, 2024
What a great and full read on communication, I will try to apply the ideas in the book to my business communication as well as personal. Great read for anywhere in your career!
April 16, 2025
I will definitely read this book again.
June 22, 2025
I read this as text for graduate communications course. The first couple chapters have some really good information on communication tools.
October 10, 2025
AIM - Audience, Intent, Message
December 31, 2020
A thoughtful and engaging book with ideas and strategies that can be put into practice right away chapter by chapter.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews