Present Like a Pro: The Field Guide to Mastering the
Art of Business, Professional, and Public Speaking
byCyndi
Maxey and Kevin
E. O'Connor
ISBN
978-0312347734
Format
Paperback
Publisher
St. Martin's Griffin
Targeting managers, salespeople, professional
speakers and even best men preparing wedding toasts,
communications and leadership consultants Maxey and O'Connor
provide useful advice and moral support to anyone who is
about to speak up. Through judicious peppering of personal
stories, they demystify the near-universal fear of speaking
in public, while offering potential speakers at all skill
levels encouragement and practical advice. The guide is
organized for ease of navigation in short, snappy chapters,
each concluding with a boldfaced summary of key points—a
boon to time-crunched presenters. Among numerous pointers,
the authors emphasize practicing your speech, especially in
front of someone or by timing and taping yourself. The
authors conclude that any speech is "all about you in
conversation with the audience"; they stress the importance
of knowing your audience and their language, achieving
rapport with repetition and with stories, and making an
immediate connection with a creative introduction. Though
some of their advice is common sense (e.g., attend to your
appearance), inexperienced speechmakers in particular will
find this manual instructive.
Review
"A must read for aspiring speakers as well as the
experienced professional. The authors leave no rock unturned
through the process of what is required to enhance your
speaking skills."
Les Brown, author of Live Your Dreams"
Present Like a Pro: The Field Guide to Mastering the
Art of Business, Professional, and Public Speaking