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Speak with Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others
When you know what to say and how to say it, people listen. Find your powerful voice, and step into leadership. Speak with impact. Every day, you have an opportunity to use your voice to have a positive impact -- at work or in your community. You can inspire and persuade your audience -- or you can distract and put them to sleep. Presentation styles where leaders are nervous, ramble, and robotic can ruin a talk on even the most critical topics. As your performances become weak, your career prosects start to dim. To get ahead and make an impact, you need to deliver well-crafted messages with confidence and authenticity. You must? sound ?as capable as you are. Public speaking is a skill, not a talent. With the right guidance, anyone can be a powerful speaker. Written by former opera singer turned CEO and TEDx speaker Allison Shapira, Speak with Impact unravels the mysteries of commanding attention in any setting, professional or personal. Whether it’s speaking up at a meeting, presenting to clients, or talking to large groups, this book’s easy-to-use frameworks, examples and exercises will help Learn to conquer fear, capture attention, motivate action, and take charge of your career with?Speak with Impact.
240 pages, Paperback
Published April 12, 2022
190 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Allison Shapira
1 book8 followersAllison Shapira is founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking LLC. A former opera singer and TEDx speaker, she and her team deliver keynote speeches, workshops, and executive communication coaching for Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations around the world. Shapira is an adjunct lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School, a member of the National Speakers Association, and was a finalist for 2017 Woman Business Owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business Owners, San Diego chapter. She is also an internationally-renowned singer and songwriter. She lives in Washington, DC.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 16, 2018
As a 5’3” (barely) woman with a naturally quiet voice I have had to learn to command attention. It is never given freely to me. I have written my fair share of speeches and talking points for others during my career and one thing I know to be true is no matter how eloquent or succinct one’s words are, one has to have a certain personal presence for maximum effect. Speak with Maximum Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others covers this maxim. Allison Shapira shares excellent techniques and strategies to engage an audience and create executive presence. Whether you are delivering a sales pitch to top-level executives, delivering an impassioned speech at a community event or simply trying to reason with your teenage kids, Speak with Impact will empower you.
Merged review:
As a 5’3” (barely) woman with a naturally quiet voice I have had to learn to command attention. It is never given freely to me. I have written my fair share of speeches and talking points for others during my career and one thing I know to be true is no matter how eloquent or succinct one’s words are, one has to have a certain personal presence for maximum effect. Speak with Maximum Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others covers this maxim. Allison Shapira shares excellent techniques and strategies to engage an audience and create executive presence. Whether you are delivering a sales pitch to top-level executives, delivering an impassioned speech at a community event or simply trying to reason with your teenage kids, Speak with Impact will empower you.
Merged review:
As a 5’3” (barely) woman with a naturally quiet voice I have had to learn to command attention. It is never given freely to me. I have written my fair share of speeches and talking points for others during my career and one thing I know to be true is no matter how eloquent or succinct one’s words are, one has to have a certain personal presence for maximum effect. Speak with Maximum Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others covers this maxim. Allison Shapira shares excellent techniques and strategies to engage an audience and create executive presence. Whether you are delivering a sales pitch to top-level executives, delivering an impassioned speech at a community event or simply trying to reason with your teenage kids, Speak with Impact will empower you.
November 17, 2018
There's nothing particularly new in this book, but everything in it is smart, sensible, and immediately useful. The book will be useful for anyone looking for at clear, concise summary of the important things to think about before giving a presentation. It's all here, from thinking about the audience to creating the speech to rehearsal and delivery. This is an excellent one-volume statement about the art and science of good public speaking.
August 28, 2024
The skills to speak well can be practiced and made better. There are tried and true methods for gaining confidence, influencing others and developing an executive presence. The case for getting there is concisely made and effectively spelled out in the 2018 book Speak with 'Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others' by Allison Shapira.
Shapira, skilled in speaking and coaching on the subject of speaking, offers insight aided by experiences with Toastmasters International, TED Talks, Harvard Kennedy School and the business she founded and leads, Global Public Speaking, LLC. There are loads of practical advice mixed in with the citing of relevant sources for further in-depth focus on subjects for specialization. Much rings true with my own experiences in and out of Toastmasters, including consideration for the audience, approaches for creating a speech, rehearsing and delivery.
A new, strong nugget for me from the first 15% of the book, for example, was the raising of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence by Alan Monroe. Many further calls to further study add to the reach of this work. The call to enlist colleagues and trusted allies in your personal speaking, public speaking and influencing journey extend the value further.
Whether or beginning speaker or a seasoned coach looking to expand your acumen, the value in 'Speak with Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others' as written by Allison Shapira is high. I grant the book 4.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.
Shapira, skilled in speaking and coaching on the subject of speaking, offers insight aided by experiences with Toastmasters International, TED Talks, Harvard Kennedy School and the business she founded and leads, Global Public Speaking, LLC. There are loads of practical advice mixed in with the citing of relevant sources for further in-depth focus on subjects for specialization. Much rings true with my own experiences in and out of Toastmasters, including consideration for the audience, approaches for creating a speech, rehearsing and delivery.
A new, strong nugget for me from the first 15% of the book, for example, was the raising of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence by Alan Monroe. Many further calls to further study add to the reach of this work. The call to enlist colleagues and trusted allies in your personal speaking, public speaking and influencing journey extend the value further.
Whether or beginning speaker or a seasoned coach looking to expand your acumen, the value in 'Speak with Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others' as written by Allison Shapira is high. I grant the book 4.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.
September 28, 2023
My boss recommended this book. Since I'm giving a big speech in a week, I thought I ought to check it out. I'm glad I did!
Speak with Impact is the best book I've read on presenting so far. I found her three questions, for example, especially helpful to clarify my speech: 1) Who is your audience, 2) What is your goal, and 3) Why you?
After thinking about them, I realized I'd written my speech to the wrong audience. After figuring out my target audience, I also found this piece of advice helpful:
"You might decide to start the speech with the goal in mind: 'I'm standing before you today because I hope to earn your vote in November.'"
I completely rewrote my speech, addressing my audience exactly what I intended to do, and then arranged the rest to flow from my intent. It worked much better.
Shapira's book also has great advice about breathing, not overusing slides, and executive presence. I really enjoyed it and will recommend it to anyone who needs to give speeches.
Speak with Impact is the best book I've read on presenting so far. I found her three questions, for example, especially helpful to clarify my speech: 1) Who is your audience, 2) What is your goal, and 3) Why you?
After thinking about them, I realized I'd written my speech to the wrong audience. After figuring out my target audience, I also found this piece of advice helpful:
"You might decide to start the speech with the goal in mind: 'I'm standing before you today because I hope to earn your vote in November.'"
I completely rewrote my speech, addressing my audience exactly what I intended to do, and then arranged the rest to flow from my intent. It worked much better.
Shapira's book also has great advice about breathing, not overusing slides, and executive presence. I really enjoyed it and will recommend it to anyone who needs to give speeches.
June 18, 2021
Mostly filled with common sense and vague anecdotes. A lot of bragging as well that I don't feel adds substance to the book. She also spends a lot of time referencing other works, which is fine but I don't pick up a book for book recommendations. The book also sometimes feels awkward because it tries to offer strange pseudo-medical advice. I found the book to be very boring and repetitive. It was about as useful and in-depth as an online article.
My takeaways:
-We engage in public speaking every day, even the phone counts
-Pause and breathe
-Speak up
-Carry yourself well, part of executive presence
-Look at the camera on telepresence
-Confidence matters
-Be accessible
-Focus on authenticity
My takeaways:
-We engage in public speaking every day, even the phone counts
-Pause and breathe
-Speak up
-Carry yourself well, part of executive presence
-Look at the camera on telepresence
-Confidence matters
-Be accessible
-Focus on authenticity
June 8, 2023
Extraordinary book. With lots of practical advice.
I Highly recommend it to anyone that's involved in talking to groups of people. Be it in office, publicly, in communities, or events, or conferences, or teaching, or whatever involves a room that is focusing its attention on the speaker.
I'm doing a lot of public talks lately with groups ranging from a handful to overcrowded conference halls. I found a lot of very useful ideas in this book, that either confirmed things as per the feedback I'm receiving, or that have enlarged my view on how to improve my approach and especially my preparation.
I Highly recommend it to anyone that's involved in talking to groups of people. Be it in office, publicly, in communities, or events, or conferences, or teaching, or whatever involves a room that is focusing its attention on the speaker.
I'm doing a lot of public talks lately with groups ranging from a handful to overcrowded conference halls. I found a lot of very useful ideas in this book, that either confirmed things as per the feedback I'm receiving, or that have enlarged my view on how to improve my approach and especially my preparation.
March 17, 2021
3.5, but that's not the book's fault. I borrowed this book from the library and only have a small window of time to read before I have to return it (it is nonrenewable).
This book is information dense. To receive maximum benefit from it, one needs to purchase this book and take the time, effort and energy to practice the exercises and memorize the lessons. I believe that if I had the opportunity to own this book and taken my time with it, I would have given it 5 stars.
This book is information dense. To receive maximum benefit from it, one needs to purchase this book and take the time, effort and energy to practice the exercises and memorize the lessons. I believe that if I had the opportunity to own this book and taken my time with it, I would have given it 5 stars.
April 11, 2020
Allison Shapira wrote a very comprehensive book on public speaking. It contains very useful information coming from experience, and it's presented in a very coherent layout. There's nothing groundbreaking in this book. The information is not unique.
It's simply a great reference for public speaking
It's simply a great reference for public speaking
September 23, 2024
Great book filled with a ton of information about speaking in multiple settings. This will be a book to keep as reference to turn back to to help you before any speech. Allison has summarizes chapters for a quick review. She also has laid the book out to make it easy to following or jump around different sections.
October 19, 2018
Such a great read! Shapira beautifully strikes the balance between a strategic how-to guide and an enjoyable read full of engaging anecdotes from Shapira's own experience as well as her clients'.
January 17, 2021
Great tips! The last chapter was great for a sum up 👍 I also appreciate what Shapira said about public speaking being a skill (to be learned) not a natural-born talent 👍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2021
Great book filled with insights, practical tips and applications to concisely improve speaking and presentation skills. As well as with executive presence and charisma.
August 16, 2021
Well written guide for public speakers, trainers and business leaders who wants to create an impact in their speeches. Covers both live events and online webinars.
February 21, 2022
Although not perfect, this has some solid advice for beginning public speakers. I may recommend it to people working on improving their public speaking skills.
January 26, 2023
A great set of reminders of how to be an effective speaker in almost any setting.
February 13, 2025
It was useful as a refresher from other books and from school. She does a great job of giving a little more detail and emphasizing aspects of public speaking. It is a good book.
November 1, 2018
I read saw a friend on Instagram reference this book early last month and I ordered it to give me some additional things to think about going into a speaking event. I found it easy to read and valuable to my personal preparation for that event. She talks about speaking in both small and large groups. I can totally see myself picking this up as a reference again before other speaking engagements in the future.
November 10, 2020
We are engaged in Public speaking every day - It can be presentations, interviews, pep talks, discussions with boss etc.. In order to make an impact to other individuals, we need to upgrade our skill set in terms of confidence, verbiage, framework and content.
This book is apt to give us these essentials to make a mark for ourselves.
This book is apt to give us these essentials to make a mark for ourselves.
July 28, 2024
The title was sexier than the content, but the book remains a solid 101 on public speaking.
October 28, 2018
Honest and in-depth advice for reaching your full potential. This advice is presented in easy to follow language that can be broken up and applied in pieces at a time.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews