Product Description
Nick Morgan shows how anyone can be an effective speaker by presenting an image of authenticity and respect for their audience, whether in a group presentation or a one-on-one conversation. He presents a four-step process, perfected in his teaching at Harvard, that enables the reader to use their own personal speaking style while becoming a more persuasive and charismatic communicator and leader. The basis of this process is the fact that when words and body languag… More >>
Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma
#1 by Dave Carpenter on May 5, 2010 - 10:34 pm
With all the breeches of trust that have been occurring (ala the Madoff fraud, et al), I have been reading more on the subject of “trust” of late. This book jumped off the shelves and into my arms at a local book store. I am very glad that it did.
I am fortunate that I read this book just after completing Jeff Gitomer’s Little Teal Book on Trust (which I separately reviewed). Author Nick Morgan has written an outstanding companion to Gitomer’s book which I consider the best I have read on the subject of trust. Morgan takes the fundamentals laid out in Gitomer’s book to an even higher level by describing a four step communication process to enhance the trust one communicates. The four step process is brilliant and is, as the author claims, capable of being quickly learned.
If you are a completely trustworthy person and want to get even better results with your wonderful attribute, I highly recommend this book. If you are a scammer, I hope that you don’t get this book, less you become an even better scammer. If you are a mere mortal (like me), you may want to read Gitomer’s book first and then read, and implement, Morgan’s approach to more trustworthy communication.
Truly an exceptional resource!
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Sally Hogshead on May 6, 2010 - 1:06 am
Every day, in order to succeed, we must persuade others through our communication. In some cases, our “audience” might be an auditorium full of sales reps, or board room of executives. Other time, the “audience” could be a key new business prospect, or a single person sitting on the other side of the desk in a job interview. In every situation, we must persuade the audience’s opinions, and influence its actions, in order to achieve any type of meaningful result.
This is where TRUST ME comes in.
This book is an elegant-yet-practical guide to authentic communication. Rather than addressing only the theory and pragmatics of a great speech, Nick Morgan deftly draws upon his impressive track record of coaching Fortune 100 leaders to show us exactly how the greatest pieces of communication are developed and executed.
In addition to the nuances of presentation how-to, Morgan also investigates the heart and soul of every conversation. We learn how to craft a message with grace and intent (“Verbal restraint can be a more powerful indicator of depth of feeling than excess”) and share our most deeply-held beliefs in a more authentic way (“The first place people look to find passion is in the voice”).
One of the most practical and profound aspects of the book is Morgan’s description of the subtle ways in which we can unwittingly sabotage our one-to-one conversations, such as with unintentional voice cues, or alienating body posture. It doesn’t matter how carefully we conceive a message if our non-verbal communication contradicts what we want to convey.
As you might imagine, the application for this instruction goes far beyond the realm of business. Whether you lead an organization that sells pharmaceuticals or farm equipment, whether you’re speaking to a group as a politician or a parent, Morgan’s insight will how how even subtle changes in communication style can help your message stand out and make a difference.
There are many books on the topic of how to give a speech. Nick Morgan’s teaches us how to powerfully wield our communication with the ultimate purpose of strengthening relationships, influencing results, and making our ideas matter out in the world.
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by A. Kinnier on May 6, 2010 - 1:39 am
Trust Me is powerful reading. It makes sense that when we communicate there are two simultaneous conversations–verbal (conscious) and nonverbal (unconscious)–where the ladder is both faster and more efficient. Learning the Trust Me way of consciously and enthusiastically listening to non-verbal cues while I am speaking has provided me new ways of understanding and connecting with those I work with.
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Steve Farber on May 6, 2010 - 2:06 am
Nick Morgan is a master of the art of communication, and this book is masterful. If you plan on spending more than 60 seconds in front of a group of any size, do yourself a favor and read this first.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by J. P. Johnson on May 6, 2010 - 2:30 am
I work for a large consulting and accounting organization, and I see non-authentic, non-charismatic communication every day. By contrast, it’s incredibly powerful when a business leader steps up and communicates passionately, honestly, directly, and in a way that connects deeply with the audience and generates trust.
In this book, Nick Morgan “cracks the code”. It’s *not* a matter of chance whether you communicate the right way or the bad way. And it’s *not* that “some people are born that way.”
There are teachable steps you can take to up your game.
The thrust of the book is to identify 2 “conversations” that happen every time you interact with someone: the words you say (the verbal) and the nonverbal messages you send. Nick Morgan’s project is to identify how you can make both of those conversations as strong as possible. He also lays out how you can make both conversations match the other, since our nonverbals often undermine our spoken messages.
Along the way, Nick lays out four aspects of achieving powerful communications. With each of these, he discusses tips and tricks for both the verbal and also the nonverbal. The four aspects are:
- Openness (sincerity, inviting the audience in, warmth)
- Connectedness (to your audience)
- Passion (for the subject at hand)
- Listening (understanding the journey you want to take your audience on, and gathering feedback all through your communication about where they are, so you can make judgments about how to move them along)
They key to aligning your nonverbals and your verbals is this insight: your nonverbals happen a split second before the synapses fire for speaking. In other words, you can’t fake it. (There are parallels to method acting here.) Both the nonverbals and the verbal communication have to flow authentically from the same place.
Nick has a great writing style: intelligent and engaging. He also keeps the book lively through the generous use of illustrations and anecdotes. He is informed by the latest brain research, and lays out a sound theoretical basis for the 2 conversations. But Nick never loses sight of the practical. There are passages where you can imagine the implications have to be worked out in 1-on-1 coaching, but overall the book itself will go a long way towards helping even the most experienced communicator.
Rating: 5 / 5