Communication coach Tony Jeary estimates that we make one hundred presentations every day. He tells readers, "Whether you are talking to a soccer coach or potential client, the way you present your thoughts and ideas to people have a profound effect on the shape of your life." Jeary paves the road to friendly persuasion with theory and practice in Life is a Series of Presentations.

Drawing upon established research in the psychology of influence and neuro-linguistic programming, he guides readers to define their "presentation universe" by using a "3 Dimension" (what-why-how) outline. Although Jeary introduces eight general practices of successful presenters, he shines in describing the practical nuances of presentations including how to: do homework to understand an audience, cut tensions that interfere with rapport, give an audience breathing space, handle hecklers, wrestle stage fright to the ground, and build a presentation arsenal of anecdotes.

A call to self-awareness adds depth to his strategies. For example, one insightful chapter lists eight inhibitors (such as perfectionism, desire to please, aloofness, and good student syndrome) that sabotage presentations. Another section focuses on the anatomy of how to say "thank-you"--and what it communicates about a speaker’s self regard. At times, the chapters suffer from too many theories backing up Jeary’s smart suggestions. But this is an insightful book on how to change someone’s mind. --Barbara Mackoff


From Publishers Weekly
The title might be a bit of an overstatement, but the basic idea is solid: executive coach Jeary (with the help of media coach Dower and former Doubleday editor Fishman) convincingly points out that presidential elections, careers, fortunes and even lives can hang in the balance between a good presentation and a bad one. This remarkably thorough book extends the art of presentation beyond mere delivery skills to the work of anticipating (and preparing for) the mind of an audience, predicting typical personalities in a crowd (not just hecklers, but also "snipers," "cheerleaders," "vacationers" and "convicts"), and promoting audience involvement. (Jeary himself, aka the trademarked Mr. Presentation, carries a stack of one-dollar bills that he peels off and hands to audience members when they contribute to his talks.) Cognizant that public speaking ranks alongside death and flying as common fears, Jeary stresses rigorous practice and preparation in order to eliminate problems and banish nervousness. Another useful chapter draws upon the work of Dr. Robert Cialdini to outline the six "most successful techniques for influencing people": reciprocation, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority and scarcity. Jeary's book also manages to avoid the stodginess of most Toastmaster guides and public speaking manuals, making this volume a helpful and readable guide to presenting in public. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Library Journal
"Jeary... adapts his formula for the general public ... Illustrated with well-placed and practical examples. ... well written, and heartily recommended..."


Review
Richard Carlson author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and It's All Small Stuff A life changing book for anyone who's ever sweated the small stuff before and during a presentation.


Book Description
Presentation Mastery Is the Key to Professional and Personal Success. As presentation coach to America's top CEOs, Tony Jeary has become known as Mr. Presentation™. In his work with more than 500 world-class organizations in 35 countries, he has found a common denominator in every situation: Your success in life depends upon how you approach the millions of opportunities before you. And in this insightful and compelling book, Jeary reveals the eight simple secrets that you can put to work immediately to achieve dramatic results both at work and at home -- and everywhere else! Unless you're a hermit living on a mountaintop, your life largely consists of your interactions with the people around you. Whether you call them presentation skills or people skills, these eight essential practices will allow you to master any interaction, whether it involves a roomful of colleagues, a small group, or just one other person. You will learn to understand both why the eight essentials work as well as how they work, including: the single word that will convince 93 percent of your listeners every time the big question presenters consistently forget to ask themselves the 10 personality types you must be able to recognize and handle the firepower of your own Presentation Arsenal the magic behind the mnemonic I P R E S E N T. Engaging, informative, and loaded with useful anecdotes, this book will teach you easy-to-use skills that change the way you approach every situation and that will have an immediate impact on you, both professionally and personally. Because your life is a series of presentations.


Download Description
" Presentation Mastery Is the Key to Professional and Personal Success. As presentation coach to America's top CEOs, Tony Jeary has become known as Mr. PresentationT. In his work with more than 500 world-class organizations in 35 countries, he has found a common denominator in every situation: Your success in life depends upon how you approach the millions of opportunities before you. And in this insightful and compelling book, Jeary reveals the eight simple secrets that you can put to work immediately to achieve dramatic results both at work and at home -- and everywhere else! Unless you're a hermit living on a mountaintop, your life largely consists of your interactions with the people around you. Whether you call them presentation skills or people skills, these eight essential practices will allow you to master any interaction, whether it involves a roomful of colleagues, a small group, or just one other person. You will learn to understand both why the eight essentials work as well as how they work, including: the single word that will convince 93 percent of your listeners every time the big question presenters consistently forget to ask themselves the 10 personality types you must be able to recognize and handle the firepower of your own Presentation Arsenal the magic behind the mnemonic I P R E S E N T. Engaging, informative, and loaded with useful anecdotes, this book will teach you easy-to-use skills that change the way you approach every situation and that will have an immediate impact on you, both professionally and personally. Because your life is a series of presentations."


About the Author
Tony Jeary, Mr. Presentation™, has personally taught the world's top CEOs how to be more effective communicators. His company, Tony Jeary High Performance Resources, has worked for more than 500 organizations in 35 countries. Their clients include the topmost executives of Ford, Wal-Mart, New York Life, EDS, Cingular Wireless, Qualcomm, and many other Fortune 100 companies. He lives with his family near Dallas.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

As presentation coach to America's top CEOs, Tony Jeary has become known as Mr. Presentation™. In his work with more than 500 world-class organizations in 35 countries, he has found a common denominator in every situation: Your success in life depends upon how you approach the millions of opportunities before you. And in this insightful and compelling book, Jeary reveals the eight simple secrets that you can put to work immediately to achieve dramatic results both at work and at home -- and everywhere else!

Unless you're a hermit living on a mountaintop, your life largely consists of your interactions with the people around you. Whether you call them presentation skills or people skills, these eight essential practices will allow you to master any interaction, whether it involves a roomful of colleagues, a small group, or just one other person. You will learn to understand both why the eight essentials work as well as how they work, including: the single word that will convince 93 percent of your listeners every time the big question presenters consistently forget to ask themselves the 10 personality types you must be able to recognize and handle the firepower of your own Presentation Arsenal the magic behind the mnemonic I P R E S E N T.

Engaging, informative, and loaded with useful anecdotes, this book will teach you easy-to-use skills that change the way you approach every situation and that will have an immediate impact on you, both professionally and personally. Because your life is a series of presentations.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

Jeary, a speaking coach to big-business CEOs, adapts his formula for the general public, persuasively showing that life is, indeed, a series of presentations by which we work "to change the contents of another person's mind at a particular time and place." More a skill than a talent, speaking, he says, requires techniques (e.g., reciprocation, authority, scarcity) and tactics (e.g., know your audience, overcome anxiety), which are illustrated with well-placed and practical examples. Instead of dominating or manipulating others, presenters should simply pursue desired outcomes with confidence. Novel, well written, and heartily recommended, this belongs next to public speaking primers like Caryl Rae Krannich's 101 Secrets of Highly Effective Speakers: Controlling Fear, Commanding Attention. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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