What Do I Say Next?: Talking Your Way to Business and Social Success [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Susan RoAne (Author, Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997

A professor emeritus of business at Stanford University has found only one consistently common trait among successful MBA graduates: great conversational skills. Now, Susan RoAne, the author of How to Work a Room and The Secrets of Savvy Networking, shows how anyone can vastly improve their conversational skills and acquire the necessary verbal tools and techniques to move forward in career and business.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Beginning with her observation that "conversation is the core of communication, the key component in leadership and overall success," RoAne provides insights, ideas, tips, and techniques that can make anyone successful in conversation. Successful conversation is within our reach as long as we prepare, practice, pay attention to and respect others, and make a personal commitment to developing conversational prowess. The author teaches that conversation is a function of who are involved, what is happening for each person at that particular moment in time, the chemistry between them, and the lifetime experience of everybody. RoAne concludes with "Ten Commandments of Conversation," which include "Thou shalt prepare for conversation by being well read and well rounded" and "Thou shalt listen, listen, listen (with ears, eyes, face, heart)." This entertaining book offers many words of wisdom and valuable insight that will lead to improvement of relationships as well as self-confidence. The author assures us that those who know how to converse with ease and skill play the game of life better and have more fun. Mary Whaley --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From AudioFile

RoAne discusses her theories, ideas and the practical steps to take to gain confidence and success in the art of conversation, no matter what the occasion or place. RoAne's strong, positive tone of voice matches her message. She reads her text with a steady, smooth pace. Her enthusiasm for her subject matter seems to flow seamlessly to the listener. Occasionally RoAne slips in a bit ofhumor to sharpen the listener's focus and to add a different perspective to the material. These interesting conversational "how-to's" are presented in an enlivened narrative sure to appeal to most adults. P.A.J. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Hachette Audio (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570425256
• ISBN-13: 978-1570425257
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,973,461 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan RoAne leads a double life as a bestselling author and a sought-after keynote speaker Known as "The Mingling Maven'," she gives her multi-generational audiences the required tools, techniques and strategies they need to connect and communicate in today's global business world. Her practical, informative, and interactive presentations are known for what The San Francisco Chronicle calls her 'dynamite sense of humor.'
She received her Master's Degree from San Francisco State University and her Bachelors in English from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, where she was honored at 'Authors Come Home'. She still considers herself one of the Fighting Ilini! A former teacher, Susan now lectures for major corporations and conventions and at major universities such as Yale, Wharton, University of Chicago, University of Texas Law School and will return as guest faculty for the eighth time for NYU's Summer Publishing Institute.
Because of her groundbreaking best-seller, How to Work a Room', Susan is considered the undisputed and original networking and conversation expert. She has sold over a million books worldwide and has launched an industry that she continues to create and shape in the 21st Century. Her forthcoming book, Face To Face: How To Reclaim the Personal Touch in a Digital World will be published October, 2008, by Fireside Books.
An expert on connecting and communicating, Susan RoAne is often quoted in such diverse venues as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Maxim, CNN.com and Forbes.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Ways to Improve Conversational/Social Skills, June 12, 2003

By 

Edward J. Vasicek "Author, pastor, columnist" (Kokomo, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Do I Say Next?: Talking Your Way to Business and Social Success (Paperback)

"What Do I Say Next" is a book filled with practical tips for improving conversational skills. Although the book is not really designed for the super introvert, it will help typically shy folks to become better conversationalists. It also provides much needed direction for the outgoing but rude. Perhaps the best word to describe Susan Roane's approach is "balanced."

Unlike some books about conversation which are highly manipulative, this book is designed for both business and social conversation. Its direction is useful for almost any situation.

The book is written casually. Although it is not disorganized, its casual manner with numerous case studies (these are great stories illustrating specific points) means you can pick up a paragraph here or there and find a complete thought.

Much of the material in this volume sounds like common sense. After many of Roane's suggestions, readers might think, "Of course. That's obvious. Why didn't I already know that?" She offers practical, down to earth, and realistic advice.

The author reinforces her main points with a helpful synopsis after each chapter. For shy people, she encourages them with studies that show 75 per cent of good conversationalists consider themselves shy. Her solution: use the "OAR" approach (Offer an observation, Ask a question, and Reveal your thoughts, ideas, or opinions). But do not drive people crazy with a barrage of questions, she warns us.

It is this kind of sensibility and balance that makes this a useful book. It is a practical self-improvement book, not a detailed analysis. Good conversationalists will find a useful pointer or two, weak conversationalists will be overwhelmed with a wealth of advice (and will struggle as to what to do first). Although I did not agree with the author on every point, I recommend this book heartily.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview on the subject, December 15, 2000

By 

scott gossard (Anaheim, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Do I Say Next?: Talking Your Way to Business and Social Success (Paperback)

This book was my first -- and only -- purchase on the subject of conversation. In other words, it got the job done. After perusing books on the subject on Amazon.com and at various bookstores, I settled on this book because of its straightforward and commensensical approach. Let's face it, the art of conversation is not rocket science; anyone can do it, they just need some simple tools and some experience. This book provides the tools and the general encouragement to get you into the arena with some confidence.

The great thing about this book is that it avoids the false dichotomy that I saw in a lot of books on the subject: conversation as manipulation or as self-abnegation. The former approach teaches you how to insincerely steer the conversation to your purposes; the latter resigns you to the role of passive agent of others' whims. Susan Roane takes the high road of letting you be yourself -- and letting others be themselves.

Ms. Roane's approach is refreshingly proactive: if you want to be a good conversationalist you need to work at it. She lays out important principles and ideas that have substance. For instance, she sets you at ease by reminding you that there is no shame in small talk; that small talk is a large part of making a connection with someone, whether you've known that person for thirty years or for thirty seconds. After all, do you and your closest friend talk about deep issues twenty-four hours a day? Or do you never, ever mention the weather with them? So don't feel that you have to present a dissertation on quantum physics to make a strong impression, let alone to break the ice! Nor should you regard discussing the weather as hopelessly gauche. Ms. Roane's more general advice is just as refreshing in its simplicity: she notes that to be a more interesting conversationalist you need to be a more interesting person; and to be a more interesting person you need to read widely and experience life. Good advice! And a far cry from the kind of book that has you memorize hundreds of questions or bits of information. How boring; and more fundamentally, how fake. You engage in conversation to learn interesting things and develop a connection with people; not so you can demonstrate your ability to memorize lists with which to flatter a person into your good graces -- or in order to sacrifice your independence in order to look impressive in someone's eyes.

My complaints with the book are few and minor, the main one being that the writing is overburdened with puns, and that Ms. Roane's penchant for crediting her sources is overdone to the point of distraction. (Ms. Roane would have better served the reader by saying "a friend" a little more often rather than "Mr. so-and-so from such-and-such corporation" every time she mentioned someones' advice.)

To be good at anything requires honest work, and Susan Roane doesn't shy away from this fact. But the great thing about conversation is that it is the most natural thing in the world once you realize a few important points and own a few skills. Whether you are interested in the art of conversation for your business or your personal life, this book will help you accomplish your goals. Honest contact better serves even a business-related conversation -- and is a hell of a lot more fun to boot.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Many fine ideas!, November 10, 2005

By 

Blaine Greenfield "eclectic reader" (Belle Meade, NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Do I Say Next?: Talking Your Way to Business and Social Success (Paperback)

Heard WHAT DO I SAY NEXT? . . . written and read by

Susan RoAne, its subtitle proves to be an apt description of what

the book is all about: TALKING YOUR WAY TO BUSINESS AND

SOCIAL SUCCESS.

There are many fine ideas presented here, all designed to make

communication just a little bit easier . . . many of them I've heard

before, yet even those I've too often forgotten.

I guarantee that by listening to or reading RoAne's work, you'll get

at least one tip that you can begin applying in a work and/or

home situation . . . to cite a few for your consideration:

Prepare for conversations by talking to yourself first. Make sure

your conversations are positive.

Always have a 7-9 second introduction for yourself.

Put your nametag on your right side. This makes it more visible

when you shake hands.

Make nametags large enough so all can read the names.

[if you forget somebody's name] Stick out your hand when you say

your name. People respond in kind 90% of the time.

Never ask, "Do you remember me?"

Conversations should have a non-compete clause.

People who say they are brutally honest are usually more

brutal than honest.