Customer Reviews

10 Simple Secrets of the World's Greatest Business Communicators

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There's nothing new in this book and NO, they are not secrets, BUT plenty of good material and anecdotes which may help the budding, and the experienced presenter become much, much better. Gallo has worked in communications for much of his life and brings a rich litany of anecdotes and personalities to illustrate his "secrets."

Some of his ten secrets include:
Passion: The more likely you increase your "PQ" - Passion Quotient, the more likely you are to connect with your audience.
Preparation: For his first budget speech as mayor of New York, in February 1994, Rudy Giuliani started his preparation the previous October.
Clarity: Former G.E. chief Jack Welch demanded simplicity from his executives
Command Presence: Good body language conveys confidence.

The author has either studied or interviewed a number of very well known celebrities for this work, including Howard Schultz (Starbucks), John Chambers (Cisco), Carly Fiorino (late of HP) and Arnold Schwarzenneger by whom he is particularly smitten. He also provides coaching drills at the end of each chapter for the serious speech student. Some coaching drills suggest visiting Gallo's website www.carminegallo.com to see video clips of great presenters. I couldn't find these, but the site does contain a number of interesting articles which he has written and which add to the good content in his book.

One intriguing little criticism I have of a book that I check-list now and again when preparing a speech - the front cover. One of Gallo's secrets is "Clarity," - Lose the Jargon or Lose your audience. Now, I appreciate that the author may not have had control over the cover, but it is a terribly cluttered design featuring up to twelve (yes, 12) different fonts. As Gallo suggests consistently, good communication is about consistency and simplicity. Someone forgot to tell the publishers. If I put on my marketing and communications guru hat, I reckon the jacket has cost him sales. But, don't let that put you off. It's a good book interestingly presented.

This simple book can be skimmed easily to find out the 10 straightforward secrets of great presenters, but these standard tips are only part of author Carmine Gallo's message. He is equally concerned with the messengers: expert corporate communicators and founders, from Howard Schultz of Starbucks to Richard Branson of Virgin. Although Gallo's secrets aren't so secret (be prepared, be passionate, look spiffy), his style is punchy, if a bit windy and repetitive, and he has gathered a virtual roomful of people you'll find interesting. While his book does offer basic techniques that beginning communicators can use - and old pros have always used - Gallo's real accomplishment is in sharing the insights of his podium role models. We recommend the company Gallo keeps. If you want to feel like an ace presenter, just imagine Colin Powell and Rudolph Giuliani standing right off stage and whispering suggestions to you about what to do next.

I wanted to like this book and kept reading and putting it down and then picking it up and got through it but had to really work at it. There are lots of stories and thats good. Too much high tech examples from the BAy area for me. While there are many successes there there is also so much hype you have to make sure his examples are for real. If you have the patience to stick with it his 10 'Secrets' are certainly sound but not new but many of his examples leave you wondering. Okay read but dont expect something new.

If you haven't read other books on communications, this might be an interesting one for you. However, if you are a seasoned communicator, I would skip it.

This hands-on communications book is one of the best books I have ever read personally, professionally, or academically.

I originally purchased Carmine's "10 Simple Secrets of The World's Greatest Business Communicators" for self-development benefits. Within days of reading the book and completing the exercises, I have found multiple benefits. Personally, Carmine's "secrets" are used in my daily one-on-discussions, in team meetings, and in group sessions. Professionally, Carmine's book is used as a powerful reference tool.

Anyone who has a boss can use this book. I work with high level executives who seek my advice and counsel on how to communicate effectively with their direct reports and their employees. I reference Carmine's secrets during my discussions with these executives. The executives have modified their delivery. These secrets have made a positive impact.

Academically, as an adjunct faculty at a local university, I teach business classes such as leadership, communications, and organizational development courses. I am always looking for exercises, cases, role-plays. I teach business classes such as leadership, communications, and organizational development. This book will be referenced in every class I teach moving forward.

Carmine has given me tools I can use in the classroom. At the end of every chapter, Carmine has a "Coaching Drill" section. For any facilitator/guide/trainer out there, this book can be used in your workshops or training sessions. An instructor could easily incorporate the book and the "Coaching Drills" into the classroom experience.

It is an outstanding, useful, and thought-provoking book. Carmine uses current examples. Examples from people we know and from whom we can relate. Carmine is a very gifted researcher, interviewer, and writer.

I purchased the book in search of some inspiration and direction in order to prepare of an up coming presentation. Not only did it help revise my presentation, the 10 Secrets have dramatically re-shaped the way I address audiences and conduct business.

Refreshing insight and a fantastic resource.

Thanks Carmine !

I am a second-year MBA at Rice University, and this past weekend, the Rice MBA team won the first annual Goizueta Principled Leadership Case Competition at Emory's Goizueta Business School. Having just been forwarded an email from one of our Communications faculty about Mr. Gallo's take on Steve Jobs' amazing presentation skills, I thought it most appropriate to give thanks to Mr. Gallo for his "10 Simple Secrets of the World's Best Business Communicators." I bought this book last fall, and I read it for the third time before going to the competition in Atlanta last weekend. After winning both First Place and People's Choice (voted best presentation by our peers), Rice beat nine other top schools, including Wharton, McCombs, Texas A&M's Mays School, Duke, Emory, USC, University of Chicago, UNC-Chapel Hill, Minnesota, and Georgia Tech. I gave the book to a teammate, as well, and I can honestly say that Mr. Gallo's insight and understanding helped us deliver our top leadership communications presentation. The Rice curriculum has a communications focus, and those skills seem more important to me than anything function-specific that I take away as I graduate. This book helped to reiterate those key learning points, as well as provide new perspective, and I have benefited tremendously from the stories and insight that this book offers!

I highly recommend this book for anyone who presents to groups both large and small, and I would also recommend it as a useful tool for day-to-day effective speaking in all situations.

Gallo does a great job of distilling the important characteristics of successful presenters into simple, practical, easy-to-emulate bits of advice. I have found the book's format particularly convenient. I can easily pick the book up, open to any page, and start learning. No need to read it from start to finish if that's not your style. Gallo shows considerable insight into what makes for success. Buy it!

After reading this book for 2 days, i can tell this is the best book about Speech i've ever read. I am hoping someday this will be required reading for every sales executive in different company large and small. the book is well organized and well research, my copy is mostly hightlited in every pages, notes everywhere. good job, carmine.

Nat

I am a CEO of a technology consulting company. I always considered myself a good communicator and have done very well in the business world, but this book took me to another level. This book has completely revolutionized my company and the way I communicate in business and in life. I have made it a mandatory read for all employees who deal with clients... and just anyone who actually opens they mouth to speak. The author uses the 10 secrets in writing the book itself, so it is very entertaining and easy to understand. He uses case studies of some of the most modern successful speakers in the business world, so all the information is relevant. I think this book MUST be read by every person on the planet. It doesn't just help communication in the business world, but in every part of life. I have noticed dramatic differences in the results I get; I speak clearer, in less time, and get more results. The most important lesson this book taught me is how to best communicate my company's complicated technology services to my clients. This has raised profits. I just hope my competitors don't start reading it. :-/