Say It with Confidence : Overcome the Mental Blocks that Keep You from Making Great Presentations and Speeches

Rating:
Summary: Anyone who speaks needs this book
Review: I have found this book extremely helpful in planning and giving presentations - much more than most of the other books out there on public speaking. I make a lot of speeches every year, and I often go back to the presentation analysis form the author suggests to make sure I'm going to connect with the audience.

The very best thing about this book is the underlying message in every chapter: it's not about you the speaker. It's about your relationship with the listeners. When you are thinking about them and helping them understand your ideas, you lose the self-consciousness about yourself.

This is a useful book for both experienced speakers (the exercises are terrific!) and people new to speaking who need a boost in confidence.

Rating:
Summary: With "Say It With Confidence" You Find Your OWN Confidence
Review: I read this book because I found, after many years out of the workforce, I was less confident in my ability to present to any size audience. It was hard to use my voice effectively and relax. "Say It With Confidence" showed me better than any other book that the internal process of finding a personal style, using what feels natural and feeling the success of doing all of that really well produces a solid level of self confidence that stays with you for a longer time than any program with the same list of steps to follow for everybody. The whole idea of approaching yourself, not with a formula, but with a real self analysis makes so much more sense.
Say It With Confidence uses personal experiences of the author to show you that she really knows how to help people overcome mental blocks because she personally overcame her own and understands what it takes. Her anecdotes tell the story of what works and what doesn't work more so than any lecture or 'how to' approach ever could. The author's experience helping people with this subject/skill with advice tailored to each unique person in their own unique set of circumstances shows great insight into the individual and that we all can't expect ourselves to turn ourselves into 'someone else' in order to succeed. I loved the book. I'd recommend it to anyone trying to overcome fear of presenting, to anyone interviewing for jobs, for anyone who wants to learn how to communicate to customers, management or even subordinates.

Rating:
Summary: Changed my life as a presenter!
Review: I used to shake- literally tremble -at thought of presenting. My heart would pound, my palms would sweat - I felt completely out of control. "Say it with Confidence" helped me take control, relax and conquer my anxieties. I now do public speaking on a regular basis and each time it gets easier. This book is entertaining and a fun read...but more importantly it is the antidote to presentation fears!