How to Speak So People Really Listen

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.

Foreword by Andy Bounds ix Introduction: Why this stuff really matters 1 Part 1: The Seven Great Sins of Speaking 17 Sin 1: A failure to make your message sticky or memorable 19 Sin 2: Drowning people in detail 27 Sin 3: A failure to consider or understand your audience’s needs 35 Sin 4: Focusing on features rather than selling benefits 41 Sin 5: Winging it 49 Sin 6: Showing slides that suck… the life out of your audience 55 Sin 7: Taking people on a pointless ramble 61 Part 2: Eight Great Ways to Speak so People Really Listen 67 Way 1: Get real 69 Way 2: Get your attitude into gear 77 Way 3: Start at the end 89 Way 4: Sort out your skeletons 95 Way 5: Grab ’em by the eyeballs 105 Way 6: Become an artist 121 Way 7: Learn lessons from JC, Jo, and the Greek guy 141 Way 8: Shine at question time 157 Part 3: I’m Glad You Asked That… 167 Question 1: Is it possible to get rid of my nerves before presenting? 169 Question 2: Is it ever appropriate to use humour in my presentation? 179 Question 3: How important is body language when communicating with others? 191 So what’s next for you? 201 So what did you think? 207 About Paul McGee 209 Other books by Paul McGee 211 Want Paul to speak for your organization? 213 Index 215