Communicate to Influence: How to Inspire Your Audience to Action - Hardcover

by Ben Decker (Author), Kelly Decker (Author)

"The gold standard for communication training programs."
--USA Today

Business communication sucks. At each meeting and presentation, we are inundated with information, leaving us thirsting for inspiration. Sure, we will check off an action item because we have to . . . but what if we were actually inspired to do something? What if we were so moved that we wanted to do it?

Leaders must earn the license to lead. Not by expertise, authority, or title alone, but by influence. In Communicate to Influence, you will learn the secrets of the Decker Method--a framework that has been perfected over the past 36 years. Ben and Kelly Decker add fresh insights to these proven principles so that you can ignite change and inspire action. Discover:

• The Five White Lies of Communicating: learn which barriers prevent you from getting better
• The Communicator's Roadmap: use a tool to visually chart what type of communication experience you create
• The Behaviors of Trust: align what you say with how you say it to better connect with your audience
• The Decker Grid: shift your message from self-centered, all about me content to relevant, audience-centered content that drives action

You are called to communicate well. Not only on the main stage, under bright lights, but every time you speak with your colleagues, your clients, and other stakeholders. It's time to learn how. Stop informing. Start inspiring.

BEN DECKER & KELLY DECKER are the leading experts in the field of business communication. They consult on messaging, cultivate executive presence among the leadership of Fortune 500companies and startups alike, and regularly deliver keynotes to large audiences. Together, they run Decker Communications, a global firm that trains and coaches tens of thousands of executives a year. Ben and Kelly live in the San Francisco Bay Area, where they constantly test and refine communication techniques with their most demanding audience, their three boys.

Back Jacket

Praise for Communicate to Influence

"Getting presentation tips from the Deckers is like getting basketball tips from Phil Jackson. They've seen it all and worked with the best."
--Chip Heath and Dan Heath, coauthors of the New York Times bestseller Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

"Maybe the most undervalued, but critically important, aspect of leadership is the ability to connect with others. The Decker approach to communication offers the framework for becoming far more than a first-class communicator; it offers the framework to become a first-class connector. If you want to grow your leadership skills in a manner that is authentic and lasting, there is no better place to start than with Decker Communications."
--Walt Bettinger, President and CEO of The Charles Schwab Company

"A breakthrough book for those who have to persuade--and that's all of us. The Communicator's Roadmap will move you from influence to inspire."
--Chip Conley, Founder of Joie de Vivre Hotels and bestselling author of Emotional Equations

"Effective communication is the #1 skill needed in business today, and the Deckers have unlocked the key ingredient: communicating to inspire an audience. I sent my entire leadership team through their course, and we have achieved incredible results in a very short time. Inspirational communication--and the culture it helped create--led my team to achieve what many thought impossible. What an invaluable skill set! This book is a must-read."
--Jennifer Van Buskirk, President of Cricket Wireless

"The Deckers' practical approach will help every businessperson build the critical skill of communicating in a way that influences action. I've been using and loving their method for years--it's great to see their powerful ideas in this must-read that really hits the mark!"
--Jim Lecinski, VP of Americas Customer Solutions at Google

"Communicating with and inspiring people is at the core of all we do. First I, and then our company, learned how to truly communicate and inspire clients and customers by following the methodologies in this book. Ben and Kelly have not only developed a proven roadmap to successful communication, they have taken the journey with us. Great communication is critical in all roles, and when you get it right, it is beautiful to watch. This book will help you get it right."
--John Esposito, President of Stoli Group USA and former President and CEO of Bacardi and Moët Hennessey

"Ben and Kelly's approach gives people the courage to change, tapping into intrinsic motivators, which ultimately drive behavior."
--John Thiel, Head of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

"Leaders at every business big and small can be more effective once they learn to Communicate to Influence. I've seen the results myself, professionally and personally."
--Robert Kyncl, Head of Content and Business Operations at YouTube

"Applying the Decker Method changed not only how I give presentations and speeches, it transformed the communication strategy for our entire organization. Communicate to Influence is a must-read for leaders who truly want to make a difference both on the stage and off."
--Ernie Sadau, CEO of Christus Health

"Learning how to Communicate to Influence helped me loosen up, connect with my team, and actually create the change I wanted. When I prepare using the Decker Method, I confidently communicate critical messages to key business influencers."
--Janet Risi, CEO of IPC, SUBWAY(R) Purchasing Cooperative

"My favorite part of this book is that the Deckers drill some famous people: Obama, Mayer, Zuckerberg. Nothing is more amusing or informative than learning how the emperors have no clothes. I hope they never write about me."
--Guy Kawasaki, Chief Evangeslist of Canva and bestselling author of The Art of the Start, version 2.0

"The most powerful aspect of using the Decker Method is that it allows you to organize your thoughts and present them in a way that connects you with your audience. Since taking the Decker course 11 years ago, I have never spoken publicly without using it--and never plan to. The method teaches you how to personalize even the most difficult message. What I enjoy about it the most is that it allows me to be myself, whether I'm in front of 12 or 200 people."
--Michael Carter, VP and GM of Stryker Medical

"If you are interested in taking your leadership to the next level, this is the book to read. Thought-provoking, yet a fun and easy read, it delivers actionable new ideas in every chapter. You'll want everyone you know in a position of influence to read and apply its lessons."
--John Clendening, EVP of Investor Services at Charles Schwab

"We spend endless hours growing our skills as leaders but underinvest in communication. This isn't about main stage flash; it's about motivating, inspiring, and influencing others to take action. Communicate to Influence isn't about presentation skills; it's about raising the game on how you show up as a leader."
--Katy Keim, Chief Marketing Officer of Lithium

"Proven ideas to make you a better speaker in all settings . . . a great book and a fast and fun read! I particularly like the Communicator's Roadmap, which helps you position yourself and your audience so you can ultimately inspire people."
--Paul Hoffman, Retired Software Executive at Informatica, Oracle, and Documentum

"Any leader who wants to create change needs to learn how to Communicate to Influence. Leaders in my organization have benefited from these principles."
--Gunjan Aggarwall, Head of HR and Talent Acquisition at Ericsson

"A roadmap for immediate action! Communicate to Influence shows us how to step up and inspire. This is a must-read for leaders everywhere."
--John McGee, SVP of Worldwide Sales at FireEye

"The lessons in this book can convert an awkward speaker into a compelling communicator. I know because I have seen it happen. Using a handful of key principles, the Decker team transforms stilted, cluttered presentations into dynamic interactive conversations. If you need help with your communications skills, this is the place to start."
--Duncan Simester, NTU Professor of Marketing at MIT Sloan School of Management

"The Deckers nail it. This book gives the latest success principles of the two key elements of speaking: behavior and content. I love the Decker Grid! I use it all the time."
--Lyne Brown, Vice President of eCommerce at The Clorox Company

"This book explains the art and science of modern communication--how to win people's attention away from time pressures, social media, e-mails, and continuous news feeds. Up-to-date examples and new tools explain ideas that are easy to grasp. It's valuable reading for those of us who need to influence others. I plan to use the Decker Method the next time I deliver a conference keynote."
--Mike Faith, CEO of Headsets.com, Inc.

Author Biography

Ben Decker is CEO of Decker Communications, Inc., and regularly keynotes on the importance of developing executive presence and effective communication for leaders.
Kelly Decker is president of Decker Communications and is a keynote speaker, messaging expert and executive communication coach.