Today, we’re going to explore Communicate to Influence by Ben and Kelly Decker, a book designed to change the way we think about connecting with people. So grab a comfy seat, and let's dive into this powerful guide that shows us how mastering communication can help us lead with influence.
Why Communication Matters More Than Ever
We all know the feeling of giving a speech or presentation that just didn’t quite hit the mark. Maybe people seemed disinterested, or your message didn’t land as you hoped.
This is where Ben and Kelly Decker’s Communicate to Influence comes in, guiding us on how to deliver messages that resonate, engage, and influence.
In a world where we are bombarded by information, the ability to stand out through effective communication has become a critical skill. The Deckers argue that it’s not just what you say but how you say it that makes the difference.
In a world where we are bombarded by information, the ability to stand out through effective communication has become a critical skill. The Deckers argue that it’s not just what you say but how you say it that makes the difference.
The book emphasizes that communication is an essential leadership skill—whether you’re addressing a team, pitching a project, or delivering a keynote.
From Good to Great - The Decker Methodology
The heart of Communicate to Influence revolves around the Decker Method, a systematic approach that teaches readers how to move from good communication to transformative influence. This method is rooted in two key areas: content and delivery.
Content
Ben and Kelly Decker insist that the content you deliver must be engaging, clear, and purposeful. It’s not enough to fill a speech or presentation with facts and figures—you need to build a narrative that connects emotionally with your audience.
From Good to Great - The Decker Methodology
The heart of Communicate to Influence revolves around the Decker Method, a systematic approach that teaches readers how to move from good communication to transformative influence. This method is rooted in two key areas: content and delivery.
Content
Ben and Kelly Decker insist that the content you deliver must be engaging, clear, and purposeful. It’s not enough to fill a speech or presentation with facts and figures—you need to build a narrative that connects emotionally with your audience.
Delivery
Delivery, according to the Deckers, is where most communicators fall short. From body language to vocal tone, they stress the importance of aligning your physical presence with the message you want to send.
Delivery, according to the Deckers, is where most communicators fall short. From body language to vocal tone, they stress the importance of aligning your physical presence with the message you want to send.
They delve into the science of non-verbal communication and explain how to leverage your voice, gestures, and even pauses to create an impactful delivery.
Key Themes in Communicate to Influence
1. The Communicator’s Roadmap
One of the most insightful tools in the book is the Communicator’s Roadmap, a framework that helps identify where you are as a communicator and where you need to go.
Key Themes in Communicate to Influence
1. The Communicator’s Roadmap
One of the most insightful tools in the book is the Communicator’s Roadmap, a framework that helps identify where you are as a communicator and where you need to go.
This roadmap breaks down communication into four quadrants: Inform, Entertain, Inspire, and Motivate. The goal? Move beyond simply informing or entertaining to inspiring and motivating your audience to action.
2. The Power of Stories
The Deckers emphasize the power of storytelling in communication. Stories engage people emotionally and make your message memorable. In the book, they give practical tips on how to craft stories that enhance your point, illustrating their advice with real-world examples from business and personal experiences.
3. Emotional Connection
It’s easy to overlook the emotional side of communication, but Ben and Kelly Decker remind us that emotion is a powerful tool. They highlight how great leaders—from Steve Jobs to Oprah Winfrey—connect emotionally with their audience, creating a lasting impact.
2. The Power of Stories
The Deckers emphasize the power of storytelling in communication. Stories engage people emotionally and make your message memorable. In the book, they give practical tips on how to craft stories that enhance your point, illustrating their advice with real-world examples from business and personal experiences.
3. Emotional Connection
It’s easy to overlook the emotional side of communication, but Ben and Kelly Decker remind us that emotion is a powerful tool. They highlight how great leaders—from Steve Jobs to Oprah Winfrey—connect emotionally with their audience, creating a lasting impact.
The book provides exercises to help you tap into your own emotional resonance to communicate with authenticity and confidence.
Real-World Applications
Let’s imagine this - you’re in a meeting, trying to convince your team to adopt a new strategy. You have all the data to back it up, but your delivery falls flat. Instead of an energized team, you’re met with nods and blank stares. What went wrong?
In this scenario, the Deckers would say you failed to communicate with influence. Maybe your message was bogged down with technical jargon, or your body language lacked confidence.
Real-World Applications
Let’s imagine this - you’re in a meeting, trying to convince your team to adopt a new strategy. You have all the data to back it up, but your delivery falls flat. Instead of an energized team, you’re met with nods and blank stares. What went wrong?
In this scenario, the Deckers would say you failed to communicate with influence. Maybe your message was bogged down with technical jargon, or your body language lacked confidence.
By applying the lessons from Communicate to Influence, you could have crafted a compelling narrative that not only informed your team but inspired them to embrace the new strategy.
Through the book, the Deckers provide tools to help you turn dry facts into meaningful messages that stick with your audience. Whether you’re a manager, entrepreneur, or public speaker, the ability to weave storytelling, emotional connection, and strong delivery will elevate your communication to a new level.
What Makes the Book Stand Out
You might be wondering—what sets Communicate to Influence apart from other communication books out there?
1. Actionable Steps
The Deckers don’t just offer theories—they provide practical, actionable steps you can take to improve your communication right away. Each chapter ends with exercises designed to help you apply what you’ve learned, from practicing vocal variety to refining your storytelling technique.
2. Focus on Leadership
While the book is valuable for anyone, its specific focus on leadership communication makes it stand out. The Deckers show how great leaders inspire action through their communication, not just by sharing information but by delivering it with clarity, conviction, and emotion.
3. Real-Life Examples
What makes the lessons stick is the use of relatable examples. The Deckers draw from a range of industries—tech, politics, media—to demonstrate how leaders use communication to influence.
What Makes the Book Stand Out
You might be wondering—what sets Communicate to Influence apart from other communication books out there?
1. Actionable Steps
The Deckers don’t just offer theories—they provide practical, actionable steps you can take to improve your communication right away. Each chapter ends with exercises designed to help you apply what you’ve learned, from practicing vocal variety to refining your storytelling technique.
2. Focus on Leadership
While the book is valuable for anyone, its specific focus on leadership communication makes it stand out. The Deckers show how great leaders inspire action through their communication, not just by sharing information but by delivering it with clarity, conviction, and emotion.
3. Real-Life Examples
What makes the lessons stick is the use of relatable examples. The Deckers draw from a range of industries—tech, politics, media—to demonstrate how leaders use communication to influence.
Whether it’s Steve Jobs launching a product or Martin Luther King Jr. giving a speech, the stories provide context that makes the concepts easy to grasp and inspiring to implement.
Areas Where the Book Could Improve
While Communicate to Influence is filled with valuable insights, no book is perfect. Some readers might find that certain sections repeat advice found in other communication guides.
Areas Where the Book Could Improve
While Communicate to Influence is filled with valuable insights, no book is perfect. Some readers might find that certain sections repeat advice found in other communication guides.
For example, the emphasis on storytelling and body language is covered extensively in many books on the subject. However, the Deckers’ unique take on these concepts through their own experiences and the exercises they provide set their approach apart.
Additionally, readers looking for deep dives into digital communication or modern-day virtual platforms might find the book somewhat lacking.
Additionally, readers looking for deep dives into digital communication or modern-day virtual platforms might find the book somewhat lacking.
The book was first published in 2015, so while its core principles remain timeless, it doesn’t touch heavily on remote communication strategies that have become critical in today’s digital-first world.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for joining me on this journey through Communicate to Influence. Ben and Kelly Decker have crafted a practical, insightful guide that is a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their communication game, especially in leadership roles.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for joining me on this journey through Communicate to Influence. Ben and Kelly Decker have crafted a practical, insightful guide that is a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their communication game, especially in leadership roles.
Through the Decker Method and their emphasis on storytelling, emotional connection, and delivery, they provide a roadmap for becoming a more influential communicator.
Whether you’re presenting to your team, speaking at a conference, or pitching to clients, the skills taught in this book can help you connect, inspire, and motivate like never before. So if you’re ready to transform your communication from good to great, Communicate to Influence is the book you need.
Whether you’re presenting to your team, speaking at a conference, or pitching to clients, the skills taught in this book can help you connect, inspire, and motivate like never before. So if you’re ready to transform your communication from good to great, Communicate to Influence is the book you need.
Edited by Shivam Sharma
This article has been authored exclusively by the writer and is being presented on Eat My News, which serves as a platform for the community to voice their perspectives. As an entity, Eat My News cannot be held liable for the content or its accuracy. The views expressed in this article solely pertain to the author or writer. For further queries about the article or its content you can contact on this email address - shivamsharma658448@gmail.com
0 Comments