Written for anyone wishing to engage listeners, establish instant credibility, influence key decision makers, and
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“By bringing communication back to first principles, Lewis and Mills get beyond the tricks and traps and help you understand what really engages an audience.”
—Dylan Taylor, CEO, USA, Colliers International
“Lewis and Mills have beautifully captured their high-energy live performances and workshops in this extraordinary book. Read, enjoy, and allow The Pin Drop Principle to guide you to success!”
—Keith J. Evans, CEO, British Retail Consortium
“The Pin Drop Principle is a must-read for anyone who wants to dramatically enhance their ability to communicate.”
—Aarti Gupta, vice president, global head, learning and culture, Capgemini
“In a noisy world, communication with clear intent is critical to drive change. The Pin Drop Principle is a game changer.”
—Tom Schencker, director, sales training, Walgreens
“The Pin Drop Principle clearly, concisely, and convincingly shows you how to become a great communicator. A fast, fascinating, fun, and useful read.”
—Rob Nelson, entrepreneur and inventor, Big League Chew
“A great book. At the end of each chapter, I found myself cheering for the concepts and wishing I had been introduced to these ideas years ago!”
—Dan Hebel, former senior vice president, claims, Allstate Insurance Company
“Practical, straightforward, sane advice. Anyone who speaks will benefit from applying the concepts in The Pin Drop Principle to their communication.”
—Eloise Haverland, director, training and development, Fort Dearborn Company
“The techniques presented in The Pin Drop Principle have proven to be the most effective communication tools that I have acquired as a senior executive. I can only imagine how much more valuable they could be if I had been exposed to them twenty years ago.”
—Gregory J. Rizzo, former president and CEO, Spectra Energy Partners
“The Pin Drop Principle is essential for anyone wanting to improve presentation delivery.”
—Roshan Joseph, global head, learning and development, Virtusa Corporation
“This insightful book provides everything you need to know to move from being an average speaker to becoming a great speaker.”
—Brendan Noonan, senior vice president, learning and development, Emirates Airline Group
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
1 Understand the Secrets of Persuasion 13
Communicating with Intention and Objective
2 Tell a Good Story 29
Using Personal Experiences to Inspire and Persuade
3 Craft a Compelling Narrative 47
Building the Framework to Support Your Message
4 Be Prepared 71
Managing Nerves and Controlling Anxiety
5 Project Confidence 91
Expressing Your Intention Nonverbally
6 Say It Like You Mean It 119
Using Your Voice to Influence
7 Listen to Understand 139
Maximizing Comprehension and Retention
8 Think on Your Feet 157
Mastering Impromptu Speaking in Any Situation
9 Stay Focused and On Track 173
Handling Questions and Controlling Your Audience
10 Assert Yourself 195
Gaining Commitment, Providing Feedback, and Delivering Difficult News
Conclusion 219
Notes 221
Glossary of Terms 231
Acknowledgments 239
About the Authors 241
Index 243
