Book of the Week: How to Wow

Published by Smart Office


Author(s): Frances Cole Jones
Publisher: Ballantine Books, 2009
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Author Frances Cole Jones refuses to allow herself to be boxed in. Rather than limiting herself to her own wisdom and experience, How to Wow draws wisdom from across the professional and political spectrum. Her approach is witty, pithy, and approachable.

How to Wow draws from the wisdom of past and contemporary leaders, quoting Benjamin Disraili (“The secret of success is to be ready when your opportunity comes”) or Aristotle (“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit”) while also drawing on Cole’s own philosophy of success (“Do you want to be right, or do you want to be friends?”). The author offers straightforward, actionable advice that can be applied to almost any career or vocation.

This book’s target audience are those people who need help making a great first impression in sales and networking. Her advice on putting your best self forward in life and business will be indispensable to anyone whose role includes presentations, public speaking, marketing, networking, or public relations. Whether you are just starting to create your business proposal, scripting your pitch deck, or meeting with investors and stakeholders, How to Wow has tips to help you effectively connect with your audience and get your point across.

“Consider writing your last sentence first, so you can be certain where you are headed. Make sure you leave enough energy to get there. ” – Frances Cole Jones

“Make sure each word in a list is given a distinct personality by varying your tonal quality.” – Frances Cole Jones

Every encounter with your colleagues, clients, employers—even your competitors—is an opportunity to make a positive impression. Your words, your tone of voice, and your body language all speak volumes. But the question is: What are they saying about you?

As a corporate coach, Frances Cole Jones has helped countless CEOs, celebrities, and public figures present their best selves in the boardroom and in-person, on-camera and onstage. Now she shares the skills that are essential to professional and personal success. In How to Wow, you’ll learn how to

  • Make a lasting impression with a simple introduction
  • Effectively employ the twelve most persuasive words in the English language
  • Read nonverbal responses accurately—and shift negative ones immediately
  • Motivate your team under deadline
  • Interview fearlessly and flawlessly
  • Persuade investors to buy in to your product or idea—and help you sell it to others
  • Write the perfect pitch, résumé, cover letter, or email
  • Deliver speeches that bring people to their feet
  • Transform a PowerPoint presentation into a power move

Featuring tips and tricks you can employ right away, How to Wow will teach you how to ask the right questions, respond with confidence, and wow anyone, anywhere, anytime.