Customer Reviews

Managing Your Mouth: An Owner's Manual for Your Most Important Business Asset

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a "one of a kind book" that deals with one of the most important aspects of one's personal development. Most people get in trouble because they say things that offend others. This book is a tremendous help in off-setting that tendency. It will help readers, in both, on the job performance and in their personal lives.

A great book on managing one of our best assets! As a manager, I found the book beneficial as it addresses the ramifications of poor communication. It addresses using body language combined with speech and/or silence. Considering "words and movement are the basis of communication" between co-workers, this book is essential in reminding all of us the joys of having and working with individuals who have "a better managed mouth".

Speaking is very likely the most important interpersonal skill behind integrity, or being true to one's words in deed and action. Mr. Genua's book, Managing Your Mouth, presents diverse examples of the same idea: how thoughtless use of the spoken word can put a person between the proverbial rock and a hard place.

Few of us understand, especially the young and un-initiated, that speaking is a high-risk proposition. One may wonder why that is so, and Dr. Robert Bolton, in his well researched book, People Skills, provides a simple answer: when we speak, we have no way of knowing in advance how the other side will react to what we say. That is why Dr. Bolton strongly recommends learning to listen, and many institutions (but not nearly enough) strongly emphasize clear and direct communication, preferably in the simplest terms possible and with an economy of words.

Mr. Genua advances thing a few more steps, and asserts that when we speak to others, not only do we not know how they will react, but we also do not know for certain how our words will be interpreted, and in a business setting with proprietary knowledge at risk, exactly what information we are consciously or unconsciously transmitting when we speak. Not only do our words communicate, but our posture, facial expressions and other body language can send unconscious signals, which to the trained observer can turn into important and useful information.

In seven quick and easy chapters, the author explains the importance of paying close attention to one's verbal and non-verbal communication, how to avoid certain destructive forms of verbal communication, and finally how to use verbal and non-verbal cues to maximum effect (as opposed to having them used against you to maximum effect), especially in business settings.

After using the preface and first chapter to lay out the reasons for paying close attention to what one says, the author gets to business in the second chapter by engaging the reader with an assessment of his or her current verbal management skills followed by a brief, detailed no-nonsense explanation of each assessment point. The third chapter assists the reader in identifying potential problems about himself or herself so that problematic speaking forms can be avoided, and also shows via vivid examples what can (and does) happen to those who utilize problematic speaking forms. Chapter four covers a variety of instances where unguarded verbal communication can lead to personal ruin, and devotes a considerable amount of space to successful navigating the job interview. The chapter concludes with a discourse on surviving and thriving in company meetings.

Chapter five elaborates on gossip, outlining in detail how bad it is and basically telling the reader to avoid it in all of its forms, such as the grapevine and the water cooler, like the plague. Chapter six explains the importance of not divulging secret or proprietary information, and reminds the reader to be on guard at all times and to use silence as a weapon. The last chapter (of bankruptcy fame) details the ins and outs of secrecy, and the effective use of deception.

My only criticism of this text is its failure to tell the reader to think carefully before he or she speaks. Most of us have to really train ourselves to do this, and work hard at resisting the urge to respond, either to demonstrate our intelligence or to counter a verbal attack (I have found that in many cases one demonstrates his or her intelligence by not speaking or responding to attacks). Most problems result because people fail to consider how their words will be received, and what exactly it is they wish to say. Merely reading about the pitfalls of speaking is one thing, but putting the author's advice to practice is quite another. All readers of this book should keep in mind that when we engage in verbal, we often pass through potentially stormy and treacherous waters.

The concept and potential of this book is great. However, the title seems to say it all - in other words, manage what comes out of your mouth, because it can affect your success. Beyond that, save your money. I hesitate to write negative reviews because I ask myself - why would I do that, they didn't do anything to me?! But actually, I bought this book based on the 5 star reviews and it was a let down. Again, the author should be commended for the concept and for meaning well on such an important topic. I just didn't really feel like it helped me manage my mouth better, which is the point of my review. I have books you couldn't pry out of my hands (like "Keeping your cool under pressure") but I would gladly give up Managing Your Mouth for one dollar of my money back.

I originally read this as part of a group communication class I was taking for work. But it has proven to be useful both professionally and personally. Not only does it provide insight on body language but how to portray and communicate what you really mean to.

This book is GREAT for identifying the trouble makers you work with and a strategy for handling them. It also helps with saving time talking to those people.

I thought this might be a good book to compliment the "Criticism Management" book by Randy Garner. Unfortunately, this was not as insightful as I had hoped. For my money, a better text would be Dr. Garner's book (mentioned above) or Weisinger's--both deal with handling criticism--the usual trigger for saying things we later regret.

Everything in this book is technically correct. For some, this will be an extremely valuable book, giving guidance on basic job environment communications. The main idea can be quickly summed up: avoid hurting others' feelings or getting them angry by taking responsibility for the what you say, the effects this has others.