Introduction On September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush faced the most difficult task of his presidency. As a public figure not known to be a compelling or charismatic speaker, he had to talk directly to the American people about the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon -- acts that were beyond words, beyond description, and beyond comprehension. What could he say to address our fears and bolster our spirits? After much soul searching, he chose to leave unspoken the political jargon and the facts and figures of central intelligence. Instead, he offered America a glimpse of his own feelings and emotions -- his own sense of patriotism. On that day, and for weeks and months after, President Bush was more than simply a politician. He was a compassionate and caring leader to the thousands of grieving families of those who had died. And his words continued to be a steady and calming presence in the midst of horror and devastation for all of us.

You can't do that without speaking from a highly personal and human perspective. You can't do that without speaking from the heart.This compelling example and my own experience as a state legislator, broadcaster, motivational speaker, and university professor have taught me invaluable lessons about the power of honest communication.Speak from the Heartshares these lessons and introduces a new way of communicating and connecting with others. You will learn that being a truly great communicator is not about simply being articulate. It is not about being a "good talker." It is not about fancy visuals and PowerPoint presentations that are nothing more than data dumps. It's about feelings, and human connection, and engagement, and empathy.

It's not about who has the most facts, figures, and technical wizardry. It's about who can make an audience care about the message and who can find the words that touch not only the intellect but also the heart.The title of this book perfectly expresses what these pages boil down to. My premise is that too many of us don't understand how to communicate in ways that reach others on a personal human level. I believe that the way we have been taught to view communication is convoluted and often counterproductive. From elementary school on, we have been told that the purpose of communication is largely "to transmit information." What a narrow view! The problem with simply givingoutinformation is that it is a one-way experience and not especially engaging. Effective communication means more than just sending out a message and hoping it is received.

It means touching people, moving people, and connecting with people, be it one or one hundred. From the U.S. secretary of state Colin Powell and former Dodger Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda to lesser known but no less dynamic communicators, this book explores the essence of being real with yourself and with your audience.This book is for all those who were taught to give book reports as little kids by reading verbatim from a piece of paper to make sure all the material was covered. It's for those of us who were forced to listen to unimaginative college professors who lectured from the same tired notes year after year without passion or enthusiasm, much less with eye contact. It is also for the PTA president, community activist, or toast giver who is deathly afraid to speak in public because he or she lacks the tools, and therefore the confidence, to do it well.Beyond public speaking, this book attempts to understand what it takes to engage in a meaningful conversation.

Small talk can pay big dividends. Together, we will explore the power of what wedon'tsay and also how body language and nonverbal cues can either support or contradict our words. We will delve into how to make a positive first impression while still being true to yourself and not being a "phony." We'll consider what it takes to be a truly great and caring listen.