Customer Reviews

Power Talk: Using Language to Build Authority and Influence

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

This book made a profound difference in the way I conduct my business. I was an "Edge" person to the extreme. I had always been taught that asking questions and constantly probing was the best and most powerful way to deal with clients and prospects. Not so! There's a time to stop asking and start "telling."
My clients want confident advice from me. They don't want to sit around and explore options forever. I do not understand some of the negative reviews of this book. I found it to be a great help.

The first half of the book is more informative than the second half. Most of the second half are fillers.

The thesis of this book is that there are two types of communication. One is language from the center which:

1)Directs rather than responds
2)Makes statements
3)Contextualizes with authority
4)Contradicts, argues, and disagrees
5)Practice affect of control.

The other type of communication is language from the edge which:

1)Respons rather than directs
2)asks questions
3)contextualizes with strategies
4)avoids open argument
5)Practices conversational maintenance

To be an effective communicator, one must know how and when to communicate effectively in either styles. The book provides insights on how and when that might be.

Overall, reading this book and applying its methods will make you a better communicator, but probably not by much. But improving your communication even by 5-10% will probably make a difference in your career and life. So I recommend this book for its worthwhile content and methods.

The first six chapters are helpful and contain useful information about the use of Language from the Center and from the Edge. However, the next two chapters are simply the author's social commentary about not pre-judging people on their differences in communication. The last chapter is just an overview of the study of linguistics.

It seems as if authors and publishers have decided to sell something that is marginal at best, just include the words Power,Prestige, wealth all seemingly offering some simple strategy to imporove and empower your life, Power talk fails to live up to its title. It is a ok book on how we talk and what the 2 distinct communication styles are all about. But it doesnt take a 200 page book to tell us that the key is to merge the two? This book is geared towards salespeople and corporate executives, if you work for a firm of 20 or less this probably won't help much. The key to success is adaptation to the enviroment your in rather than discuss key words or stratagies for enhancing vocabulary, structure , etiquitte this book just rehashes the adaptation philosophy. Probably great for some but the majority will just be wasting their time with this title.

This book was full of everyday scenarios, which were interpreted in a very narrow way to show the author's point. The connections between the examples and her points were vague at best. The real problem with this book is that it would only appeal to those with very little self-confidence, and if that person took the advice to heart the result would be laughable.

I really don't think that changing my voice mail will help me succeed in my corporation. The author talks about mixing two forms of language (Edge and Center) to have a perfect communication with the people you work with (employees, employers, boss, etc) and never tells you how to mix these concepts... and besides, if a certain form of language works for me, center or edge, I really don't see the point on changing the way I speak.I never close a book forever before finishing it but after reading a couple of pages after the middle of the book and realized that I could be reading something else so I decided to stop with the torture.

Good communication skills are a key ingredient in the recipe for success. But a solid career plan must also include achieving corporate and community visibility. To really take charge of your career there is no substitute for creating a strategic 'personal' publicity plan. People not only have to hear your voice "loud and clear," they need to know who's talking! They need to have a clear understanding of who you are, what you stand for, and why they should hire you, promote you, or do business with you. That's really taking charge of your career.