How To Talk To Absolutely Anyone: Confident Communication in Every Situation

Table of contents

1. Cover
2. Endorsements
3. Title page
4. Copyright page
5. Epigraph
6. Dedication
7. About the Author
8. Foreword by Armand Beasley
9. Introduction: Why You Should Want to Speak to Absolutely Anyone
   1. Communication Is All about Understanding
   2. We notice different things
10. PART ONE: Common Fears and Barriers about Speaking to Absolutely Anyone
    1. 1: Fear – Does It Hold You Back?
       1. What Exactly Is Fear?
       2. Your Mindset – The Biggest Potential Barrier
       3. Conclusion
    2. 2: “I don't want to experience rejection”
    3. 3: “I worry about what other people might think”
       1. What Others Might Think of Your Interaction
       2. Conclusion
    4. 4: “I hate talking to strangers – why would I want to?”
       1. Why Bother Talking to Strangers Anyway?
       2. You Already Speak to More Strangers Than You Think
       3. Conclusion
11. PART TWO: The Four Stages of an Interaction
    1. The Dynamics of an Interaction
    2. 5: Stage 1 – Your Outcome and Starting a Conversation
       1. Know the Outcome You Want!
       2. Being Clear about Your Reasons for the Interaction
       3. When/Where – Based on the Environment
       4. Other Environments
       5. Who – Who Do We Talk to Based on Who Looks Approachable?
       6. The curse of getting started
    3. 6: How – How Do You Mentally and Physically Approach?
       1. Own Your Environment
       2. Mental: Visualize
       3. Mental: The Other Person's Emotional State
       4. Mental: Frames
       5. Physical: How to Physically Approach Someone
       6. Physical: Getting Their Attention
       7. Physical: Opening Styles
       8. One More Thing
    4. 7: What – What Do You Say?
       1. Types of Opening Statements
       2. Pace Their Reality or Meet Them Where They Are!
       3. Spot the Start of Their Engagement
       4. Keep It Simple with People You've Never Met Before
       5. Topic Hints and Conversation Hijacking
       6. Avoid Classic Chitchat for too Long
    5. 8: Stage 2 – Creating Curiosity and Interest
       1. Leading Their Imagination
       2. The Power of Stories
    6. 9: Stage 3 – Making a Connection and Being Understood
       1. Being Understood – An Example
       2. “What's Important to You?”
       3. Making it Easier for People to Understand What You're Saying
       4. What Words Are They Using?
       5. Decision Strategies
       6. Dealing with Questions
       7. How Much Detail?
       8. The Balance of Consistency and Variety
       9. A Little Recognition and Appreciation Goes a Long Way
       10. Are You Really Listening?
    7. 10: Stage 4 – Get Them to Take Action
       1. Motivation
       2. Talk as if It's Going to Happen
       3. Capture Their Imagination
       4. Have the Expectation of a Good Outcome
       5. Go for It!
       6. Narrow Choices Are Best!
       7. Objections
       8. Conclusion
       9. Summary of the Stages of an Interaction
12. PART THREE: Making Your Communication Even Better
    1. 11: Making Your Voice Work for You
       1. Tonality
       2. Speed of Talking
       3. Pauses
       4. Intonation
    2. 12: Common Pitfalls
       1. I Got a Bad Response and Didn't Know How to Handle the Situation
       2. Avoid Explaining too Much
       3. Use “But” with Caution
       4. Respond, Rather Than React
    3. 13: Difficult Work and Business Conversations
       1. A Difficult Meeting
       2. Broken Promises, Missed Deadlines and Similar Situations
       3. The Price Has Gone Up
       4. The Art of Delegating
       5. Work Done Badly
       6. Tricky Appraisals
       7. Resistance
       8. Dealing with Critical Comments
       9. “I'd rather not discuss that”
    4. 14: Final Thoughts
13. Your “Zero to Hero Talk to Anyone” Development Plan
14. Index