On any given week I read about 40% of the nonfiction books that make up the top 10 of the New York Times or Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. From time to time, I like to share some of the insights that relate directly to your success in communication. Here are some tips from recent bestsellers:
Captivate: The Science of Succeeding With People
by Vanessa Van Edwards
“Whether we like to admit it or not, we decide if we like someone, if we trust someone, and if we want a relationship with someone within the first few seconds of meeting them.” Van Edwards recommends the following skills to improve the way you come across and to make a more favorable impression: 1). Use your hands when you talk, 2)Stand like a winner (Take up physical space on stage and 3). Engage with eye contact.
If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look On My Face? My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating
By Alan Alda
“Not being truly engaged with the people we’re trying to communicate with is the grit in the gears of daily life. It jams our relationships with others when people don’t ‘get it.’”
The actor Alan Alda is a student of communication. He helped to establish the Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University in New York. Among the key takeaways—the power of story. “Storytelling is amazing; it has the power to make people really aligned.” Alda interviewed some of the same researchers that I talked to for The Storyteller’s Secrets. Both books will help you understand and implement storytelling in your business.
The Fuzzy and the Techie: Why Liberal Arts Will Rule the Digital World
By Scott Hartley
“Finding solutions to our greatest problems requires an understanding of human context as well as code; it requires both ethics and data, both deep thinking people and Deep Learning AI, both human and machine,” writes venture capitalist Scott Hartley. His book is a good reminder of what Steve Jobs taught us — the best products, solutions and communicators combine technology with liberal arts.
If you have any books that I should read and share with my readers, send us your thoughts. We love to hear from you!
Carmine Gallo is a popular keynote speaker and author of the international bestseller, The Storyteller’s Secret.
Talking Leadership 