How to Say it for Executives: The Complete Guide to Communication for Leaders

by Phyllis Mindell

Book Overview

How to Say It? for Executives offers everything current and future leaders need to know to get their ideas across powerfully, efficiently, and humanely. Full of practical tips, words, outlines, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0735203881
• ISBN13: 9780735203884
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.3" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Great book on leadership as well as communication

I first came across this book in shelved in the back of the bookstore with all those other useless self-improvement books. I was expecting another simple guide with commonplace advice (practice your speech before you give it, avoid the ums and ahs). Inside, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find an intelligent discussion not just of speaking skills but also communication of all forms. In fact, I found its points on leadership to be more insightful than most other management books I read. Needless to say, this book is at the top of my shelf now!

Put this on your reading list

Clients often express that their executives, male and female, cannot get their ideas across effectively, cannot communicate well with upper management, or cannot deliver effective presentations. This book shows the difference between mediocre language and strong language and how to apply strong language in every area of communication - written, face-to-face, presentations, meetings, etc. While I don't agree 100% with Ms. Mindell's style and dress comments (a bit outdated), you can get past that to see the wisdom in the remaining sections. Even if you say you don't need help with your communication skills, I urge you to read through this book and test your assumptions.

Pretty good

One of the better books for Executive communication... could have been more comprehensive covering more grey areas though

Review by the Business Librarians of the Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh

The lights go down. The speaker strides confidently towards the podium, pauses and makes eye contact with the audience. And from the very first moment you know, instinctively, that it's going to be an excellent presentation. An experience like this reinforces your desire to create your own unique aura of self-confidence. What can you do to make this happen? One thing you can do, right away, is to get a copy of Dr. Phyllis Mindell's book, How to Say It for Executives: The Complete Guide to Communication for Leaders. It's an excellent guide for acquiring and practicing the communication skills you'll need to get ahead and stay there, complete with exercises, charts, lists, examples, and a simple format that makes it all easy to digest. Primary among those skills is something obvious but often overlooked: listening. When you pay close attention when others are talking, instead of interrupting or jumping to conclusions without hearing the entire story, it will be noticed and appreciated. Of course, a favorite chapter for us here at the library is "Reading Like a Leader," in which the author doesn't tell what to read, but rather how to read - both speedily and deeply - in ways that will build skills in analysis, synthesis, and argument. A chapter on nonverbal leadership breaks down the powerful code spoken by gesture, dress, and body placement. Preparing a presentation is the centerpiece of How To Say It For Executives, and Dr. Mindell meticulously lays out each step of the process. Before you begin, gather some information about the audience. The speech should be written out, using an absolute minimum of sentences that begin with "I", and rehearsed. The most objective way to find out how you really look and sound in front of an audience is to videotape the speech. After viewing it, turn off the sound and watch it again. Now that you know where improvement is needed, complete the assignments in each chapter that target problems commonly faced by public speakers. You never know when hostile or difficult people will be in the audience. One individual can spoil an entire presentation by monopolizing the floor or asking inappropriate questions. The author offers several techniques for tactfully handling a variety of problems and disruptions that can occur in an open forum. Perhaps the most valuable lesson in How to Say It for Executives is this: Make a concerted effort to stop using weak words like "I feel", "sort of", "I guess" and "I think" in everyday conversations as well as presentations. Instead of coming across as tentative and unsure, practice substituting phrases that will make your sentences strong and persuasive. Although the advice in this book is directed primarily to those in leadership positions, anyone but a hermit will find life is made much easier by becoming a better communicator.