By Larry King
"We've all gotta talk." Larry King, the master of the mic is going to helps us do it better.
In How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere: The Secrets of Good Communication, King tell us communication is not that hard. "It's about making a connection with the other person." (218). It's about being prepared. It's about learning to listen, because if you want to speak well listening well is a must.
King's book is divided into thirteen chapters, covering a variety of topics including: Breaking the Ice, Social Talk, Business Talk, and Eight Things the Best Talkers Have in Common. Chapter 7, "My Best and Worst Guests, and Why" contains Larry's "4 Characteristics of a Good Guest." Insightful stuff! This is communication 101 and more.
5 helpful takeaways from How To Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere:
1. Hit 'em where they live: "Make sure you remember who your audience is, what its interests are, and what it wants to hear from you." 184
2. 4 Rules for Job Interviews: (1) Show what you can do. (2) Maintain an open attitude. (3) Be prepared. (4) Ask questions.
3. Larry King's first rule of conversation: "I never learn a thing while I'm talking." Asking questions is how you learn.
4. Preparation and Passion: "The three most important things in running a meeting are preparation, preparation, and preparation." 128. This applies to effective communication in general. Ted Williams, arguably the greatest hitter in the game of baseball, took batting practice every day. Passion as a communication must appears more than once.
5. Level with people. You overcome blunders and gain credibility if you simply level with people when it comes to your communication. Be honest! King's anecdote about his very first day in broadcasting is a great case in point. See Chapter 1, "Talk 101."
I rated How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere three stars. I gave a three-star rating because the book is dated; the content and quality are great. How to Talk To Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere was published in the 1994. Larry King is 85 at this writing. Many of his recollections and anecdotes hearken back to decades prior to the 90's. That's not bad, but younger readers may have a harder time connecting.
I have both the abridged audio book and the hardback. If communication is your livelihood, you owe it to yourself to read the complete book. It's Larry King! The man has interviewed presidents, heads of countries, star athletes, actors, actresses, entertainers, and legends of business. On the other hand, if you want some quick but helpful insight on how to be a more effective communicator in any setting, listen to the audio book.