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Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma
Nick Morgan shows how anyone can be an effective speaker by presenting an image of authenticity and respect for their audience, whether in a group presentation or a one-on-one conversation. He presents a four-step process, perfected in his teaching at Harvard, that enables the reader to use their own personal speaking style while becoming a more persuasive and charismatic communicator and leader. The basis of this process is the fact that when words and body language are in conflict, body language wins every time. This isn't easy to overcome, because normally body language is immediate, while the words lag slightly behind, and even a momentary conflict is perceptible to the audience. The key to success is to train your body language to unconsciously align with your message. The four steps:
Form the attitude and intent to be open, and then let your body naturally express that intent. This feeling of openness will naturally affect the content of what you are saying, and it's that natural evolution that is at the heart of the process. Become connected to your audience. This creates a mutual energy, and you will naturally begin to think in terms of what the audience wants and needs in shaping your content. Ask yourself, what's my underlying emotion? Why does this matter to me? Becoming passionate about what you have to say naturally makes your audience care about it too. Really listen to the audience. Understanding their needs and reactions will enable you to direct your communication in mutually beneficial ways.
Form the attitude and intent to be open, and then let your body naturally express that intent. This feeling of openness will naturally affect the content of what you are saying, and it's that natural evolution that is at the heart of the process. Become connected to your audience. This creates a mutual energy, and you will naturally begin to think in terms of what the audience wants and needs in shaping your content. Ask yourself, what's my underlying emotion? Why does this matter to me? Becoming passionate about what you have to say naturally makes your audience care about it too. Really listen to the audience. Understanding their needs and reactions will enable you to direct your communication in mutually beneficial ways.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
10 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Nick Morgan
21 books140 followersDr. Nick Morgan is one of America’s top communication speakers, theorists and coaches. A passionate teacher, he is committed to helping people find clarity in their thinking and ideas – and then delivering them with panache. He has been commissioned by Fortune 50 companies to write for many CEOs and presidents. He has coached people to give Congressional testimony, to appear in the media, and to deliver an unforgettable TED talk. He has worked widely with political and educational leaders. And he has himself spoken, led conferences, and moderated panels at venues around the world. During the last election cycle, he provided expert commentary on the presidential debates for CNN.
Nick’s methods, which are well-known for challenging conventional thinking, have been published worldwide. His acclaimed book on public speaking, Working the Room: How to Move People to Action through Audience-Centered Speaking, was published by Harvard in 2003 and reprinted in paperback in 2005 as Give Your Speech, Change the World: How to Move Your Audience to Action. His book on authentic communications, Trust Me, was published by Jossey-Bass in January 2009. His book on communications and brain science, Power Cues: The Subtle Science of Leading Groups, Persuading Others, and Maximizing Your Personal Impact, was published by Harvard in May 2014. His latest book, Can You Hear Me?, on the perils of virtual communication, is due out from Harvard in 2018
Nick served as editor of the Harvard Management Communication Letter from 1998 – 2003. He has written hundreds of articles for local and national publications, and appears frequently on radio and TV. Nick is a former Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
After earning his PhD. in literature and rhetoric, Nick spent a number of years teaching Shakespeare and Public Speaking at the University of Virginia, Lehigh University, and Princeton University. He first started writing speeches for Virginia Governor Charles S. Robb and went on to found his own communications consulting organization, Public Words, in 1997.
Nick attributes his success to his honest and direct approach that challenges even the most confident orators to rethink how they communicate.
Nick’s methods, which are well-known for challenging conventional thinking, have been published worldwide. His acclaimed book on public speaking, Working the Room: How to Move People to Action through Audience-Centered Speaking, was published by Harvard in 2003 and reprinted in paperback in 2005 as Give Your Speech, Change the World: How to Move Your Audience to Action. His book on authentic communications, Trust Me, was published by Jossey-Bass in January 2009. His book on communications and brain science, Power Cues: The Subtle Science of Leading Groups, Persuading Others, and Maximizing Your Personal Impact, was published by Harvard in May 2014. His latest book, Can You Hear Me?, on the perils of virtual communication, is due out from Harvard in 2018
Nick served as editor of the Harvard Management Communication Letter from 1998 – 2003. He has written hundreds of articles for local and national publications, and appears frequently on radio and TV. Nick is a former Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
After earning his PhD. in literature and rhetoric, Nick spent a number of years teaching Shakespeare and Public Speaking at the University of Virginia, Lehigh University, and Princeton University. He first started writing speeches for Virginia Governor Charles S. Robb and went on to found his own communications consulting organization, Public Words, in 1997.
Nick attributes his success to his honest and direct approach that challenges even the most confident orators to rethink how they communicate.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 13, 2017
Nick Morgan has the ability to clearly delineate what has been a elusive topic for many leaders. I appreciate how he defines and demystifies authenticity and charisma and gives practical tips for how to develop these qualities. Nick's style is straightforward and practical. He also includes research and client stories to back up his recommendations.
November 23, 2021
It might seem odd that one of my most recent book reviews was Humilitas and focused on humility and now I’m reading about charisma. Perhaps your thinking is that the humility thing was just a phase. However, my favorite thought about humility is “power held in service of others.” One of the things that I’ve realized is that my intent is good. I really do want to help folks get more value out of technology, but sometimes the message doesn’t come out right. I’m like the awkward teenager at a dance, unable to make what’s in my heart come out clearly. I realize that we have all had at least one of these moments – even if it wasn’t at a dance. The thinking for me is to minimize the number of times when I’m not able to authentically communicate my intent to others.
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May 18, 2013
What makes this book powerful is its distinct perspective, based on the nature of human behavior and intuition, rather than a logical approach to speaking. Nick Morgan also demonstrates a successful track record to back his theories. Trust Me is already a favorite for me in the genre of communication and leadership books. The key idea behind his approach is that every conversation is really two conversations: the verbal and the non-verbal. Excellent communicates combine the two for maximum effect, primarily by starting with intent, which lets the sub-conscious help us achieve gestures, then thoughts, and finally the words.
February 18, 2012
Anyone who has to present, give speeches, lead meetings, or communicate in public in any way will benefit from reading this book. Morgan writes about the two channels of communication, verbal and non-verbal. The often-neglected non-verbal gestures and body language that accompany our speech can unconsciously determine the success or failure of a communication. He explains how this happens and how to use this knowledge to improve our communication.
January 1, 2016
initially the book started quite slow with a bit of theory however give this one some time. it goes into great depth on practical examples on the difference and importance of the 2 "conversations" verbal and non-verbal..
it makes a lot of practical sense and lays it out step by step.. a quick read as well. one that should be mandatory reading in schools!
it makes a lot of practical sense and lays it out step by step.. a quick read as well. one that should be mandatory reading in schools!
January 22, 2014
If i could give it 3.5, I would
August 16, 2015
Practical, but repetitive at times. I'd rate this only slightly lower than The Charisma Myth, though.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews