A Master Communicator Influenced This New Book 33 years later
Brent Jones
Listening to a Master Communicator Influenced My New Book 33 Years Later. The article was originally posted on Brent Jones’s LinkedIn Newsletter.
Brent M. Jones is a Published Author, Writer, Speaker, Career Development Advisor, Consultant, and Experienced Business Executive
It has been 33 years since the day I sat by Stephen Covey, preparing to speak ahead of him. I just completed a new book, Mastering the Art of Communication: The Power of Precision in Language, and that experience and some thoughts about it served as chapter one.
Seeing how Covey’s The 7 Habits book is still doing now impresses me as an author. Back in 1990, it had just come out. I had read it several times, and my path had crossed Mr. Covey before, but look at his Amazon Book Stats.
Mastering the Art of Communication: The Power of Precision in Language - Chapter 1: Listening to a Master Communicator
I learned some valuable lessons about effective communication firsthand from a master communicator. One Sunday in 1990, I had the privilege of speaking at the same event as Stephen R. Covey and sitting next to him in the speaker area. He was a guest speaker at a church meeting, where I was also assigned to speak.
Stephen Covey was in every way a master communicator and a renowned author. He was named one of Time magazine's 25 most influential Americans in 1996, and his book, which had just come out, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," has so far sold over 40 million copies worldwide since its first publication in April 1989
The experience taught me how a speaker can capture an audience's attention and what makes communication more powerful through the speaker's skills.
Covey was different in front of an audience than privately. We visited before the meeting started and while sitting together. I knew several people who worked with him who had said that the speaker and the everyday man were very different men. It seemed to me visiting with him that he was exciting and indeed a good man, but besides his relaxed presence and bald head, he didn't stand out. Our conversation was low-key and casual.
When he stood up to speak, everything changed. He was charismatic and purposeful, and every eye was on him. His messages demonstrated his deep understanding of people and an incredible memory of recalling relevant details often sparked by his surroundings. He spoke without notes and found powerful words to deliver his message and, when needed, instant recall from long past events. The day I spoke with him, he didn't use a slide deck (a collection of slides used as visual aids during a pitch or presentation). He did many business presentations and often had hundreds of slides he could have brought to a screen. He seemed to know each by number, calling the needed slides up by number. As I recall, he was also well-known for that skill.
Over the years, I have asked others who knew him what made him so charismatic. Some felt that his bald head made him stand out, drawing attention to him, while others believed that his use of power-packed words, incorporating data into his speech, and speaking spontaneously without notes were unique. Many have commented on how well-dressed he always was when speaking. The audience didn't take their eyes off him when he said or was in the room. He seemed to be
Covey's message to the young adults in the audience that day was inspiring. He knew his audience, spoke their language using powerful words, and delivered his message using familiar church-based terms. Covey understood their goals and talked to them, not just at them. His body language was fascinating, and he stood in a calm, relaxed, and respectful manner while moving his head and arms like a symphony conductor, bringing relevance to his words. He spoke without notes, maintaining eye contact with his audience. His credibility made Covey stand out, which is evident from his effort to learn and understand what he presented to young adults. It was indeed a masterful message.
As a skilled master communicator, Covey could adapt his style to different audiences. He spoke using the terms of this audience's faith and the setting they were in. In his book, he said, "Becoming a good communicator requires behaving and thinking in a certain way." He demonstrated this thought that day, clearly showing that he could adapt to find what the audience was listening for.
For my book, just released in ebook and paperback, the product description is:
This book will equip readers with the essential toolkit for becoming a Wordsmith. With the right words, readers can communicate effectively and express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas with clarity and precision. Inside, readers will find a comprehensive guide to understanding communication, effective communication, and how to improve communication skills.
The benefits of reading this book include:
- Unlocking the power of influential communication to establish meaningful connections
- Discovering the right words to make a lasting impression
- Transforming your life with the correct language
- Step-by-step instructions on how to become a Wordsmith