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The Articulate Executive

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The Articulate Executive

Learn to Look, Act, and Sound Like a Leader

McGraw-Hill,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

How to turn a little speech into a big opportunity: what great speakers do to leave the audience wanting more.

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Greenville N. Toogood is a top executive communications expert, an established speaker (who used to be a TV reporter and network news producer), trainer, and writer, so he draws upon a vast amount of useful and successful tips for anyone interested in becoming a top-notch communicator. Although this book is written in a conversational, accessible style, you won’t find any fluff and filler, just on-target training. He covers planning your talk, speech, or presentation; your delivery and appearance; and pitfalls to avoid. He tells you how to deal with visual aids, Q&A sessions, and even the media. The author stresses that the book’s instructions can make anyone an effective and dazzling conversationalist, not just a great speechmaker, though both are well-rewarded skills. getAbstract recommends this book to every professional, on every level, and to those who would like to excel as communicators.

Summary

The Speaking Game

The ability to make an articulate, interesting, successful verbal presentation - whether it’s a ten-minute pitch in a meeting or a one-hour speech in an auditorium - is essential for executives and non-executives alike. Those who are serious about their careers have to be able to speak effectively in interviews, meetings, pitches, presentations, lectures, and other assorted communications.

To look, sound, and act more "like someone worth listening to," think of speaking as an opportunity, and not something to fear. Consider it a challenging, fun, and productive activity that, like a sport or game, involves knowledge and skills, whether natural, learned, or practiced. It also takes good timing and the right moves. Public speaking is an opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas, and to gain advantage in any professional setting. Articulate people who are comfortable speaking to others, even just in conversation, will always do better professionally. Great leaders excel in three areas that combine to create super-competence: competence, clarity, and communications. Communication skill can make or break a professional, particularly a leader. "Those...

About the Author

Granville N. Toogood is a top executive communications expert, as well as an established speaker, trainer, and writer. Prior to starting his own company in 1982, he was a TV reporter and network news producer for NBC and ABC. He now works with dozens of blue-chip clients and has been a consultant to 38 of the Fortune 50 CEOs, as well as thousands of senior executives, elected officials throughout the world. This book is based on his corporate workshops in executive communications.


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