Power Talk: Using Language to Build Authority and Influence [Hardcover]

Sarah Myers McGinty (Author), Sarah Myers McGinty Ph.D (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2001

Show up on time, work hard, do well, and rise up the corporate ladder? Maybe. Actually, oral communication is the most crucial ingredient in advancement on the job. In POWER TALK Sarah Myers McGinty analyzes the social and psychological elements of speech in the workplace, helping readers hear who's in charge and talk their way ahead. Today's workplace isn't about gender-it's about power. Forget Mars and Venus. Instead, fast trackers match the right speaking style to the situation and develop a corporate voice that comes across loud and clear. From the greeting on the answering machine to the voice mail message that gets a call back, from how to navigate through a department meeting to how to command center stage, POWER TALK helps readers become their own best spokesperson and advocate and guarantees they'll be heard.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

McGinty taught the politics of language at Harvard and does workshops and seminars nationwide as head of McGinty Consulting. Her book focuses on workplace communications. She looks at both listening and talking and teaches readers how to use language skills to advance in the business world. She covers e-mail, voice mail, meetings, and up and down communications, and she also considers changing styles as people move up the corporate ladder. Offering lots of lists and examples, her book is easy and fun to read. Salamensky earned her Ph.D. at Harvard and is currently an assistant professor of English at SUNY. Her book brings together a wide range of writers from such areas as communications and cultural criticism to look at the concept of talk. What it means to talk, how we define ourselves though our language skills, what makes talk funny (comedy), and cultural differences in communication are some of the many topics considered. The book is organized in chapters, some of them essays by single authors and others conversations between two experts. The information on each contributor in the note section would have been nice at the chapter heads. This book is more technical than McGinty's, but both books have extensive bibliographies and notes ("gossip" in the case of Talk Talk Talk). Power Talk will be popular in public library business collections, while Talk Talk Talk belongs in university libraries and larger public libraries. Lisa J. Cihlar, Monroe P.L., WI
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Warner Business Books; 1st edition (February 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446525375
• ISBN-13: 978-0446525374
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,303,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Power Talk shows how language makes the "work"world go round, March 19, 2001

By 

patricia hunt dirlam (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Power Talk: Using Language to Build Authority and Influence (Hardcover)

Power Talk is more than a book on communicating at work. It's an essential read for anyone navigating their way through today's workworld. If you are launching your career, moving up, on, or considering a work/life transition, McGinty's ideas can help the reader understand the "power dynamics" of language at work in building a solid reputation, establishing immediate rapport, developing long-term relationships, and becoming known as a valuable resource.

In a recent job training seminar I led, I used McGinty's model on language from the center and language from the edge to help participants become more comfortable with job interview questions--How best to respond and how to ask. Take the typical (loaded) interview question: "Tell me about yourself"? Language from the center responses will allow a candidate to direct his/her answers to the often unspoken interview questions: "Will you be able to succeed here and will you be able to help me succeed?" Language from the Edge responses can be developed to confirm a candidate's work commitment and organizational fit.

Her on-the-job advice is solid. From what to do with voice mail, telephone conversatons, meeting manners, and presentations to understanding the role language plays in determining leadership, listening and speaking styles, her points are clear and concise. Everyone! Take a minute and listen to your voice mail message to see what she means.

In Power Talk, McGinty states that "language doesn't create our world". The book will, however, show the reader how language makes the (work)world go round!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Putting obvious facts and techniques into a framework, March 4, 2001

By 

"umist" (Hong Kong Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Power Talk: Using Language to Build Authority and Influence (Hardcover)

The auditor did not provide any exceptionally brilliant idea about how authority might be built. The book was full of day-to-day techniques that you and I are using everyday in our lives, though without being aware so.

I give it four stars since the auditor was able to structure those common techniques into a framework, a clear and concise one. The framework itself is interesting too. The auditor considered that our choice of speech was related to power situation. The power network and stiuation shaped our speech style and our style would at the same time impact the situation. Thus, an intentional carefully chosen style of speech might help to change the situation in the way we want.

This is perhaps the most insightful and useful idea of this book.

Not a classic book on communication skills but still worth reading it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars weLEAD Book Review from the Editor of leadingtoday.org, February 12, 2002

By 

Greg L. Thomas (Litchfield, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Power Talk: Using Language to Build Authority and Influence (Paperback)

Leadership is about language and communication. Sarah McGinty is an expert in the field of linguistics and her book offers us the opportunity to improve our patterns of speech to become a linguistic leader. She breaks down speech patterns into two basic modes of communication. These modes are referred to as "Language from the Center" and "Language from the Edge". The first of these conveys the pattern that is typically associated with leadership including knowledge, trust and authority. The later mode conveys responsiveness and collaboration.

"Language from the Center" is authoritative and tends to direct the flow of conversation. It makes statements, argues, and leads the listeners to where the speaker wants them to go. It also conveys competence, knowledge and a feeling of trust in the speaker by the nature of the confidence expressed. This mode also tends to use facts and strong analogies to make a point and demonstrate their expertise.

"Language from the Edge" is responsive rather than directive. It tends to ask questions, avoid argumentation and explore others' opinions. It explores, brings others into the conversation and seeks to gather information, to learn and listen instead of direct. In this mode objections may come in the form of a question rather than a bold statement. Some careers require this mode of communication including teachers, therapists, and counselors. In these professions communication is first gathered and secondarily is expressed with expertise when their opinion is needed.

The purpose of Power Talk goes far beyond the definition of these speech patterns. McGinty clearly shows how one can combine both modes into an effective unified communication style. By cross-training these linguistic modes a speaker is now able to immediately draw the positive aspects of both. The author believes that different situations require different communication styles and adapting the right language for the given situation will lead to greater success. The result is a linguistic toolbox referred to as power talk. However, this is not an easy task. It requires the speaker to examine himself or herself internally and discover how we sound to others. One must become aware of their own speech patterns and the speech patterns of others. Then by practice, sampling and observation the speaker can increase the effectiveness of their communication. McGinty explains how this process can work and she maintains that power talk can improve communication skills leading to greater influence and career advancement.