Peter Meyers & Shann Nix
As We Speak: How To Make Your Point and Have It Stick
(Atria, July 2011)
An internationally renowned communication expert presents a revolutionary guide to public speaking and becoming more effective and persuasive in all areas of life. Peter Meyers—a former actor, theater director and the founder of the Stand & Deliver Consulting Group—has taught executives from global companies including Nestlé, Cisco Systems, ING, Black Rock, international diplomats and CEOs. Meyers has honed a comprehensive approach for turning fear into strength when faced with speaking in public. At the core of As We Speak lies a simple, three-step approach that addresses content, delivery, and state of mind. Meyers and associate Shann Nix, an award-winning former journalist, take readers through every fundamental aspect of high-performance communication. They offer advanced exercises to help readers gain true confidence and use their communication skills to create better relationships at work and at home. The knowledge Meyers and Nix impart makes it easier to have even the most difficult conversations with coworkers, bosses, and family. Peter Meyers is the founder of Stand & Deliver Consulting Group. An award-winning actor, he currently teaches High-Performance Communication® at IMD—the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland—and as a guest lecturer at Stanford University. Shann Nix is a former award-winning journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle, a talk radio host for KGO Radio in San Francisco, and as a consultant to Stand & Deliver.
Praise for As We Speak
“Whether you are a seasoned speaker or a novice, the advice here will carry you to the next level, helping you make authentic audience connections, deliver relevant messages, and become a better communicator overall. This book truly helps one master the moment in all kinds of speaking situations.”
—Governor Jack A. Markell
“This book is a how-to guide for creating a connection with one person or a thousand. Peter and Shann helped shift my interactions from talking to communicating. Their advice can help you transform your message so it will be received and appreciated.”
—Mike Latham, Global Head of iShares
“This career-changing book will enable you to overcome your fears and limitations, making you a far more effective speaker and inspiring leader of your team, your company, or your country. Their high-impact strategies have been transformational for me. Simply put, it’s the single best guide to public speaking you’ll ever read.”
—Jon Cowan, president, Third Way, and former chief of staff of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
“The key to being a good coach is good communication. For coaches, leaders, teachers, or parents—this book will help motivate people to be the best they can be.”
—Ronnie Lott, NFL Hall of Famer and sports announcer
“Effective communication is critical to success in virtually everything we do. As We Speak provides a fresh look and unique perspective that will prove valuable to anyone who needs to improve their communications skills, which is to say, basically . . . all of us!”
—Thomas Rowe, CEO, California State Fund Insurance
“This is a must-read book for every leader who wants to communicate with deep impact. It can be used as a guide for self-coaching in all situations where leaders need to stand and deliver.”
—George A. Kohlrieser, professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior, IMD Business School, and author of Hostage at the Table: How Leaders Can Overcome Conflict, Influence Others, and Raise Performance
“This book engages the reader not only with the written word, but also with suggested exercises, master tips, feedback forms, and many other tools. Anyone seeking the power to engage need look no further.”
—Magnus Bocker, chief executive officer, Singapore Exchange
“Drawing from hundreds of years of cumulative knowledge, ranging from great Russian acting teachers to Fortune 500 CEOs and radio show personalities, As We Speak is as strikingly modern as it is practical and insightful. There’s not a person I know who wouldn’t benefit from a close study of Peter and Shann’s profound ideas.”
—Jack Conte, composer
“I wish I’d had this book twenty years ago when I was first starting out. It is an important work, not just about communication, but about the most effective ways to bring people together. This book has inspired me to become a better leader.”
—Doreen Ida, VP, Marketing, Nestlé USA
“In the new global world, your success is defined by your ability to work across multiple cultures, time zones, and boundaries. This book gives you one crystal- clear universal strategy to do the most important thing of all—create trust.”
—Yvon LeRoux, vice president, Cisco Systems