Customer Reviews

You've Got to Be Believed to Be Heard, Updated Edition: The Complete Book of Speaking . . . in Business and in Life!

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The main premise of this book is that you, as a speaker, must speak in such a manner that the listener will believe you on a subconscious level, that is, with their "first brain," the primitive brain consisting of the brain stem and limbic system and opposed to the "new brain," that advanced, intellectual, conscious part developed later in our evolution and known as the cerebral cortex. This is accomplished by speaking naturally, comfortably, and with animation, speaking the truth. Unfortunately, the author takes the first 70 pages to establish this premise, something that could easily have been done in 10 pages. He provides example after example of speakers who do and do not speak to the first brain.

I could not finish this book because it was so dreadfully boring, repetitive and annoying! The editor should have slashed through half the text and tightened it up. An example of unnecessary writing follows: "If one is telling the truth there is nothing to be nervous about. And confidence will show. And listeners will see it. The continuous mind chatter of the listener will tell him or her about the behavior of the communicator. And what will be believed and trusted. Or not..." (Two paragraphs later) "So we need to establish trust immediately if we are to be believed. In your first meeting with a huge potential client in a selling situation-you need to establish trust. When you are in a seemingly compromising situation that is perceived erroneously-you need to establish trust. When you are the leader of a new group-you need to establish trust. You must get to trust, or you get nowhere." What's that again? Trust, you say? This type of writing goes on for PAGES!

If you, as a speaker, stand behind a podium, move very little, speak in a monotone voice, and recite facts from a piece of paper, then this book could not hurt you. If you are already adept at speaking to an audience from your heart with animation, then pass this up. It will be painful. I tried for several days to finish this book and just couldn't. And for me, that is rare.

This book provides the reader with a wonderful series of insights about how public speaking works. There are none of the old stereotypes -- and there is none of the usual advice (ie seeing the audience in their underwear). This is fresh information, delivered by a master. The kind of book that will make a difference in your life if public speaking is occasionally important to you.

One of the greatest fears the average person has is public speaking.Most people end up reading presentations,voices racing in a monotone,sweaty hands gripping a podium. This book gives both a conceptual and practical guide to persuasive public speaking.It explains why certain techniques are more interesting to listeners and how to adapt those techniques to develop your own style. The authors don't have any magic, no effort tricks.Like most things,to look effortless in public speaking requires practice,practice,practice.BUt the time spent will reap immeasurable returns.

This book teaches the young and the old to communicate to their full potential. You learn how to not only convince other people, but to convince yourself as well. This book touches on everything from sitting posture to language spoken. A must read to suceed in business and in life!!!!

A GOOD READ, AND SOME VERY GOOD IDEAS ON HOW TO SELL, COMMUNICATE BETTER. DECKER IS RIGHT... COMMUNICATION DETERMINES SUCCESS IN OUR HUMAN RELATIONS WORLD. THE PROBLEM IS... IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO READ ABOUT HOW TO BECOME A BETTER COMMUNICATOR, YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY GO AND OBSERVE AND DO IT, READING IT DOES NOT ALWAYS HELP.

"Communicating is a contact sport," says Bert Decker. "Your ability to communicate is the single most important skill determining your success in every aspect of your life. You dare not make the mistake of thinking that communication is nothing but dumping information on another person."

So what is communication? It's selling. "People buy on emotion and justify with facts," says Bert Decker. If he's right--you may need to tune-up your public communication style and skills. An emotional decision isn't necessarily the wrong decision, says the author, and then he reminds us what counts in public speaking: the 3 V's. Verbal is seven percent, vocal is 38 percent and visual (what the listener sees) is a whopping 55 percent. Yikes--the sub-conscious impression wins every time. So does likeability.

Decker trains politicians, Fortune 500 company CEOs and thousands of other people in effective public speaking. I dog-eared the pages in his book at least 30 times. Truth Number 1: "The spoken word is almost the polar opposite of the written word." He's right. "If you want the boss to give you a raise, don't send him a memo. Go to his office, look him in the eye, and persuade him that you're worth it."

The subtitle reads "The Complete Book of Speaking...in Business and in Life" and it is an amazingly complete book. Not only will you devour the take-`em-to-the-bank principles and ideas, you'll improve your own speaking ability immediately. Example: place paper faces on chairs in an empty room--and practice your talk.

"Old Communicators" get bogged down with too many boring facts. Apple's Steve Jobs (a "New Communicator") is "effective as a speaker because he's focused on the audience experience, not on dispensing data." He adds, "Use the action channel, not the information channel." (Last week, I listened to six speakers at a one-day conference. Five of them MUST read this book ASAP!)

The book is a page-turning joy to read--it grabbed my emotions and my brain. You'll appreciate Decker's insights on what makes a politician an effective communicator (Bush at Ground Zero versus Bush today). You'll never listen to your pastor or public speakers the same way again and you'll recognize bad habits instantly like the fig leaf flasher, the finger-pointer, and the sin of hiding behind lecterns (and pulpits). Another no-no: reading your speech. You'll also understand why communicators must first build trust--and why university students encountered a bubble gum machine outside their president's "open door policy" office.

Decker nails it: "The most important dimension of communication takes place not at the conscious level, but the unconscious level. We're talking about trust, believability and likeability--the emotional connection."

How important is this book? Earlier this year, I wrote Mastering the Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Nonprofit. Had I read Decker's book before I wrote mine, I would have added Bucket #21: The Public Speaker Bucket.

Great book! It has it all - skills you need to develop if you're looking to improve your communications as well as tools to incorporate with the developing skills. I love the Decker Grid. It is the definitive tool for preparing and presenting an effective speech. This book is full of valuable insight from an expert communicator (I have seen this author speak, and he is truly a gifted communicator.) I like how this book covers more than just public speaking, but also focuses on communicating in every setting where you have to influence people. I learned a lot that can help me every day in making an impact. And it was an enjoyable read - great guidance blended with great stories. I'll be keeping this one and making references to it continuously.

If you read one book on speaking and presenting, this is still the one. I've read it five or six times and I'm still incorporating Bert's ideas into what I do. The basic science he describes also applies beyond speaking to one-on-one interaction, so it's on my recommended list of the nine best sales books of all time.

This is one of the best communication texts written ... I use it as a text for forensic accounting [adult professionals]

This is a classic. Well written, clear and full of very useful tips that you can put into effect today. Lesson learned. The words you use only convey 7% of your message., yet we sweat bullets over the words, neglecting how we deliver it. If you have to communicate in your life, you need this book. I found it in bargain bin, but its a treasure. He has had over 35 yrs experience helping people become better and more spontaneous speakers. Recommended.