Author: Mark Rhodes
Publisher: Capstone
Reviewer: Olivia Chute, operations manager, Chazbrooks Communications
My first impression of this book – with its bold fuchsia and white writing on black with wind up talking teeth – was not good. Was this to be some practical joke dare I say suited to a male audience? Then what to make of the blurb and endorsements promising instant tips to boost confidence? A self help guide for success-driven and/or image-conscious people?
Past a somewhat rushed and confusing intro, I was relieved when the rest of the book was easy to read – Part one discusses facing up to inner demons known to undermine confident communication; Part two investigates the four stages of interactions (based on AIDA) and Part three covering voice and other techniques with tips about resolving conflicts at work. What links the parts is the blend of common sense and real life examples (from business and social contexts) across the simple theme that opportunities and new experiences lie with people that you do not yet know.
What perplexed me was the dissonance between the brash cover and the actual humility with which Rhodes guides the reader through different scenarios; how with a little practice you can take better control of emotions, how a positive mindset can then help you get what you need from talking to people, how to tailor words and meaning to different people and contexts, and above all how you can increase the chances of a win-win situation for all parties and reap the benefits. At the very least readers will be challenged to think about the effect of the words they use, and at the most, less confident people will take away some inspiring tips on how to start chatting to strangers, how to use them as ‘guinea pigs’ for practice and how this approach will help them communicate better, build confidence and get better outcomes.
Star Rating: 3/5