Book Review: Subject - Interpersonal Communication

Title: Life is a Series of Presentations
Author: Tony Jeary with Kim Dower & J.E. Fishman
Publisher Simon & Schuster Inc.
ISBN: 0-7432-5141-5

I love the title of Tony Jeary's latest book, Life is a Series of Presentations - 8 Ways to Punch Up Your People Skills at Work, at Home, Anytime, Anywhere. The truth is we do not deal in reality. We deal in perception … theirs not ours. What we think isn't important. It's what other people think that counts. If they think you're smart, you are. If they think you are open and receptive, you are. If they think you have their best interests in mind, you do. This holds true both in one's professional and personal lives.

"You only have one chance to make a first impression." You cannot not communicate. You are communicating all the time and you don't even know it. Everything you do speaks volumes about you. As Jeary puts it: "The way in which we present our thoughts and ideas to people - from our colleagues at work to our spouse and even the person waiting on us at the grocery store - could have a profound effect on the shape of our own lives." The fact is, you are selling all the time. Everyone is a sales person. Everyone is a public speaker. Life really is a series of presentations.

Most people would rather die than stand up in front of an audience and deliver a speech or make a presentation. The majority of participants in my workshops would rather pass on doing any role-playing at all. It's just not very high on their to-do list. However, once you master the art of presentation it's the one skill that can separate you from your competition. It can make that favourable first impression that will win you the sale or give you a shot at the corner office.

If you go to your local bookstore you'll find dozens, if not hundreds, of books on how to deliver effective presentations. So why should you buy this book? Tony Jeary's book, Life is a Series of Presentations, is jammed full of stuff that you can use. His book passed my "thumb test" with flying colours. (The thumb test is where you thumb through the book to see if there is anything worth reading before you buy it. After all, there has to be something in it for me or why would I bother.) Tony's book is filled with WIIFM's (What's In It For Me). The psychology of persuasion and influence; neurolinguistic programming, Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, conscious competence model and how adults learn, the four different behavioural styles and how to interact with each one and a great template on how to put together a presentation that will be both entertaining and informative. (You've got to be able to deliver on your audience's WIIFM's.)

Most people aren't born good presenters but given the right reasons, under the right set of circumstances, and in the right environment, anyone can learn to be one. Tony Jeary's book, Life is a Series of Presentations - 8 Ways to Punch Up Your People Skills at Work, at Home, Anytime, Anywhere is a great place to start. (Congratulations on making that all- important sale. Enjoy your journey to the corner office.)