Speak Like a Leader

The Definitve Guide to Mastering the Art of Conversation and Becoming a Great Speaker

By: Andrian

Narrated by: Gregory Diehl

Length: 3 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

If You Want to Become a Great Speaker, You Need to Believe in Secrets.

The great secret of our time is that you can actually reach a very competent level at any skill just by harnessing the power of your most important asset - your brain. In Speak Like a Leader, self-growth pioneer and social chameleon Andrian focuses on fundamental principles that define our speaking ability and presents the most impactful but extremely attainable ways to improve dramatically this inherited but quite neglected skill.

Andrian begins with the contrarian premise that we live in an age of social and communicational stagnation, even though our forms of communication have evolved dramatically. The current oversimplification of our everyday processes and a lack of ambition when it comes to pursuing more deep and meaningful conversations with others have led us to dismiss the importance of the most fundamental skill that every leader must master: learning to speak in a simple yet influential way.

Leaders know how to speak well because they speak in a way that immediately gets people interested in what they have to say; in a way that evokes the right emotions and leaves people waiting, agonizingly eager, for the next words to come out of their mouths; in a way that makes them more relatable and empathic; in a way that makes people believe that what they are saying is of immense value to them. The next leaders won't seek value from others.

The next leaders will be the ones who will first find value within themselves and then offer it to others. Speak Like a Leader teaches you exactly this. Learning to speak well is a skill that anyone can master and is the most powerful way to communicate your message, discover your inner leader, and make an impact in today's loud world.

©2015 Andrian Iliopoulos (P)2015 Andrian Iliopoulos

Some good info here

I'm torn between thinking that this book is too short or too long. There are some really interesting scientific analyses of effective communication, including a good bit about the comedian Russell Brand and what makes him so compelling as a speaker. There are also some very specific tips on how to speak properly, including effective breathing techniques and proper use of vocal cords. But at 3 hrs and 35 min, the author can't go too deeply into any of the psychology, sociology, and philosophy that underpins his advice. I would almost rather just have the tips with no exposition at all, or lots more exposition. Still, there's good information here, especially if you're looking for a fast "read."

I’m interested in becoming a speaker

While there were some helpful tips for me, I was taken aback when it became apparent that this book was written for and addressed to men. I’m not sure why. Nowhere in the title or description was that mentioned. Not happy.