The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication . . . Change Your Life [Hardcover]

William E. Lampton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1999

Are you tongue-tied? Terrified of public speaking? Do you have any doubts about your ability to communicate effectively. If so, professional speaker and consultant William Lampton has come to your rescue, addressing the daily challenges we confront in being communicators. Lampton offers practical tips for personal and business situations and includes topics such as increasing understanding, fostering listening skills, speaking to groups, understanding feedback, and improving writing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As a quarterback for Ole Miss, the National Football League, and the Canadian Football League, my team's success always depended on communicating clearly, on every play. That's true with all teams. Knowing Bill Lampton's ability to teach communication skills, I'm sure this book will help people play the game of life more effectively. Consider this his playbook for success!" -- Eagle Day, 1998-99 President of the Steering Committee of the National Football League Retired Players Association

"Because I hosted Dr. Lampton as a speaker at two conventions, I'm delighted that he has made his communication training available for the public by writing this book. Readers can expect what Bill's listeners are accustomed to--a presentation that's interesting, entertaining, and packed with practical advice that helps people communicate more effectively." -- Kelly Smith, Executive Director, Independent Banks of South Carolina

"Bill Lampton brings to his communication career the rare combination of a Ph.D. and experienced practitioner. Persons seeking advice and improvement in their communication behavior will be wise to listen to his voice." -- Dr. Calvin Logue, Josiah Meigs Professor of Speech Communication, University of Georgia

"If communication can be seen as a journey of ideas from sender to recipient, then why risk the costs of misspent travel? Bill Lampton has invested a career in exercising the rules of the road, as not-for-profit sector executive, writer, facilitator, and consultant. You'll find this book to be a "dashboard atlas" for your personal communication journey, laced with Bill's disarming style, while brandished with the wisdom and salt from his diverse experience." -- Paul G. Alexander, CFRE, Senior Vice President, Baptist Health Care Foundation, Montgomery, Alabama

About the Author

William Lampton has studied, taught, and written about communication for three decades. A native Mississippian, he graduated from Millsaps College, then earned his Ph.D. in Speech Communication from Ohio University. He has taught at the University of Georgia, the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, and in numerous seminars sponsored by corporations and associations. Also, he served as vice president for three colleges and a medical center, focusing on development and public relations.

Dr. Lampton's career has included a broad array of communication services. He is recognized for achievements as a newspaper and magazine columnist, keynote and motivational speaker, and a trainer with a highly interactive style. In radio and television, he has enjoyed opportunities as an announcer, disc jockey, talk show host, narrator, producer of commercials, and frequent guest. An avid golfer, he cherishes his experience of broadcasting the Atlanta Golf Classic, a regular PGA tour event, for WSB radio.

As president of Championship Communication, based in Gainesville, Georgia, Dr. Lampton has been a featured speaker and workshop leader for diverse clients. Among them are the National Park Service, the Mining Association of South Carolina, the Mississippi Division of Tourism, and The Missouri Bar.

Dr. Lampton holds membership in the National Speakers Association and Meeting Professionals International.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 148 pages
• Publisher: Hillsboro Press (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577361334
• ISBN-13: 978-1577361336
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #344,515 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Only Communications Book You Need!, May 24, 2003

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication . . . Change Your Life (Hardcover)

The Complete Communicator is simply the best, most complete communications book it has been my pleasure to read. Simple, direct, concise and compelling in its stories . . . this book embodies its own messages in wonderfully effective ways.

Poor communications is the problem that holds humanity back from making progress more than any other. Think of it as being like a stalled engine that would otherwise pull your car forward at whatever rapid pace you like. Overcome that stall, and progress will be yours.

Because of the importance of improving communications, I have made it a point to read every book about communications that I can find. Most of these books provide an in-depth look at one aspect of communications, while ignoring all of the others. Many times, communications books are not as simple and direct as they could be. Other times, they lack compelling stories.

I can think of few elements of effective communications that are not covered by Dr. Lampton's superb book, with Neuro-Linguistic Programming being the main exception. As a result, a person can read and employ the lessons of The Complete Communicator and have the benefits of reading many dozens of other books. For that reason, I think The Complete Communicator is the best communications book I have read.

Here are the subjects covered:

Person to Person (including self-talk, making connections, getting information, finding prospects for a business, and deepening relationships)

Nonverbal Communication (gestures, appearances, symbolism, and credibility)

Writing (the writing process, things to emphasize and avoid, getting published and improving your writing)

Letter Writing (following up on meetings, complaints, answering complaints, and avoiding errors)

Giving Speeches (the right mental attitude, preparation, expressing yourself naturally, touching the audience and making the right impression)

Listening (what those who are speaking would like you to do, questions to ask, appropriate responses, and ways to improve)

Telephone (good habits, etiquette, succeeding through voice mail, and keeping notes on messages)

Computers (e-mail, Web sites, and Internet connections)

Media (keep it simple and effective, getting booked on broadcasts, handling crises, and letters to the editor)

Many people who try to write such an overview book fail to either properly credit their sources, don't have enough examples or make the book too long. Dr. Lampton avoids all of those snares.

To me, the best writers tell stories that grab me emotionally. Dr. Lampton did that very well with stories from his own experiences. I especially liked one about a telephone message that he read from his Ph.D. advisor.

What more can I say to convince you to read this book? Please, contact me by e-mail with any questions. Click on my name at the beginning of this review to find my e-mail address.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Communication- the key to sucess, May 23, 2004

By 

Kevin Soden (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication . . . Change Your Life (Hardcover)

Good communication is the key to success in ANY profession. Dr. Bill Lampton has written a book that will help anyone be a better leader by increasing their communication skills. Good communicators learn from others and can get their ideas across to those working with them. Bill's style is extremely easy to read and he covers a variety of topics that everyone can use. His stories will charm and encourage you. As a physician and a medical journalist for 20 years, I would encourage every doctor to read this book to better serve their patients...and every patient to read to better get what they need. This is a superlative book that you'll be glad you picked up.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Salespeople - Read This Book!, November 16, 2003

By 

Jill Konrath "Fresh sales strategies" (St. Paul, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication . . . Change Your Life (Hardcover)

As Dr. Bill Lampton so vividly points out in "The Complete Communicator", we are always communicating - whether we're aware of it or not. If you're in sales, you would be well advised to think about the implication of this on your business.

Customers and prospects are continuously evaluating your non-verbal behaviors, appearance, phone messages, presentation, listening skills and written communication. Do you know what messages you're sending? Are you sure? Making assumptions gets you into trouble too.

"The Complete Communicator" dispenses practical advice on how to increase your communication's effectiveness and how to take it to the next level. If you want to increase your sales, pay close attention to Dr. Lampton's useful tips, solid guidelines and insightful commentary on being a better communicator, speaker and writer.

And the biggest bonus - this book is filled with real-world examples and incredibly readable. "The Complete Communicator" is definitely a worthwhile investment for your sales library!

Jill Konrath
President & Sales Consultant
www.SellingtoBigCompanies.com