Customer Reviews

Talk Less, Say More (Audiobook)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
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2 star:		(1)
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I do not think there are many people that will find this book useful. Most people will be in one of two camps:

1.) If you think about communication at all, probably nothing in this book will be new to you.
2.) If the information in this book *is* news to you, then its style will not be helpful to you.

The book is intentionally short and takes a very imperative tone. I read the whole thing in under 30 minutes. The problem is, with nuanced topics like communication, when you distill them down that far, you end up with recommendations like - I am not making these up, they are taken directly from the book:

"Be tolerant of different viewpoints"
"Contain the outbursts"
"Show respect"

Those are particularly egregious examples, but my point remains, as I read this book every page just felt blindingly obvious.

That would be fine, if the book were evocative and resonated. Plenty of books in this genre tell us what we already know but do so in an emotional way so that it really sticks, or speaks to us anew. Patrick Lencioni's "Five Dysfunctions of a Team" is a great example - the whole book is an evocative 'fable', a story, with well-developed characters that bring his points to life.

By contrast, Talk Less, Say More distills even the stories down. Here's an example, verbatim:

"Sharon learned the hard way that firing off an e-mail was not the right way to thank the vice president who interviewed her. The vice president chose another equally qualified applicant, in part because the other applicant took the time to send a handwritten thank-you note. Sharon lost the job by not noticing that the vice president valued a personal approach. If she'd scanned his desk during the interview, she would have noticed many handwritten notes."

That's not evocative at all. All of the stories are just like that - very matter-of-fact with no interesting characters or anything memorable. There's nothing emotional to any of them.

In fact, I found nothing emotionally compelling about the entire book, and that's why I say that if this information *is* new to you, I doubt you'll be able to meaningfully use it. Dieken provides checklists at the end of each section for what points you should work on, but if you have the self-awareness to fill out those checklists, then by definition you don't need them.

I'm sure when Ms. Dieken works personally with clients, they benefit immensely because she's able to observe them and give personalized feedback, but the value isn't just in the words she's saying but her demeanor, her engagement, her personal connection: all the things she talks dispassionately about in this book.

Some people might find this an entertaining read, but it's hard to imagine anyone reading this book and actually using it to become a better communicator.

I can't believe the difference this book is making in my life. It's NOT the same old, same old and it really resonates with me. For example, it's given me much more IMPACT with someone who's very egotistical and acts like he's more important than everyone else.

Here are some specific things I learned from reading Talk Less, Say More:

- How to "Frontload" to get his attention so he feels good at the beginning of our conversations and doesn't automatically cut me off or talk over me.

- How to "Stay in His Moment" to prevent him from dismissing my ideas or going off half-cocked like he normally does.

- How to apply "Goldilocks Candor" so I don't over-share or under-share and give him more ammunition to try to cut me down or use my words against me.

- How to alter my facial expressions and "Adjust my Energy" so that he'll reciprocate and be more positive.

- How to "Sound Decisive" and stop tagging my sentences which was undermining my ideas and causing me to sound like I needed his validation which I don't.

If you have a difficult person in your life, this book can totally change how that person treats you because you learn how to gain their attention, get to your point and get them on board. It's an easy read because it's not full of fillers like other books. Every page contains insights and tips to help you communicate much more effectively and gain anyone's respect. I really like the writer's style because it doesn't waste my time.

It even tells you exactly what page to turn to to solve specific communication problems you may be having, which I think is INGENIOUS. I refer to it frequently.

I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Talk Less, Say More gives valuable, real-world communications advice from a true communicator. I found this book to live up to its title, as it gets to the point clearly and quickly. If you have any contact with the public, or even with co-workers and clients, this will definitely help you get your points across with more impact.

MK

Talk Less Say More is a must-have title for any professional. In a world of instant gratification and information overload, you will learn how to:
-get people to listen AND take action - read an audience and adapt your delivery style -critique others -solicit honest feedback -and, so much more!
The information will help you transform more than your communication skills. The book offers concrete, practical methods to improve your personal leadership, credibility and eliminate "career-limiting behavior." Author, Connie Dieken is an authority on influential communication. With experience as an Emmy winning news anchor and talk-show host and CEO of onPoint Communication, she has represented more than 50 companies as their spokesperson including Intel, GE, Sealy and Goodyear.
V. Kocin

Quite possibly, our society became programmed to provide way too much information, thanks to our institutions of higher learning (Rockford College, Class of '74); it always seemed the professors wanted us to be windbags, spewing out an inordinate amount of information, just to prove we really understood the material.

Nowadays, nobody wants to listen to complicated, long-winded disertations; they want to know (in 140 characters or less, if possible) what they need to know, quickly and concisely. They don't have the time or patience to listen to any rambling messages. Cut to the chase.

Clearly, Connie Dieken understands that; her advice is wonderfully concise, and certainly right on the money. It's perfect for the fast (and getting faster) paced world we live in, where everyone's hooked on Twitter or Facebook. Without a doubt, now more than ever, "less is more" for engaging others to receive your message.

You get the picture; now go buy the book: Talk Less, Say More: Three Habits to Influence Others and Make Things Happen

This book is unique in that it delivers exactly what it promises...and more! Talk Less SAY MORE provides a meaningful blend of logical intuition and incisive observation coalescing into practical advice that most of us would benefit from and will find easy to implement. Connie Dieken's concepts are delivered concisely and without pretense, making the book an ideal 'coach on your desk' long after you have finished reading it.

Direct and to the point! A book you won't want to put down. I read this one "cover to cover" and wasn't bored for a minute! 'Portion Control'was my favorite and LIFE CHANGING! Perfect for business people, professionals, mom's and teachers! The Author took years of front line experience and delivered it amazingly! Fran Rambo SVP and Mom of 4.

Connie Dieken's book, "Talk Less Say More", has been nothing short of a major marketing breakthrough for me and my projects. So well-written, I was able to get through it in one night. Very organized thoughts and techniques fill the pages! And in such a way that it was very easy for me to institute the wisdom immediately.
Her insights are so simply put that anyone can understand her great wisdom and put it into practice. I found myself understanding human nature better and, consequently, using her techniques without even realizing...both professionally and personally.
I only got the book about a week ago and I've already seen some success stories in my life, all of which have been obstacles I didn't want to touch because I didn't fully understand them.

Talk Less, Say More: Three Habits to Influence Others and Make Things Happen

Yes, the actual book is phenomenal (I have it too); but hands down, the audio version is the smart buy. Best business communication book I've ever read made better on audio. NOT all the same tired principles from every communication book with slightly new faces. A unique perspective filled with proven tactics.

I like to retain and then employ useful information. Listening in my car and on my mp3 player has turned this from a great book into a rally point in my career. Read by the author who is a former TV personality, news anchor and voice-over specialist - the book on audio is stunning. What a powerful communication tool and absolutely a keeper.

Connie Dieken's book, Talk Less, Say More, is nothing short of brilliant.

As a corporate VP, I'm frequently at the front of the room giving presentations and leading meetings. Prior to reading this book I got pretty good feedback on my communication skills.

Now, after reading Talk Less, Say More and applying the book's principles, my feedback is GREAT. My peers say my communication style has been transformed. They tell me I have a lot more impact and come across as more focused and in control. It's a lot easier to prepare for presentations now because I have the connect, convey, convince method, and I actually can't wait to present, rather than dreading it.

The book's ideas were so persuasive that I contacted Connie and got some one-on-one coaching.