isbn-13: 9780062869715
Audible
I didn’t hold high hopes for this book. I bought it on a whim during one of Audible’s $5 sales and was afraid it would just be another regurgitation of bland common sense marketed as a new self-improvement breakthrough.
However, I was pleasantly surprised that there was actually some useful takeaways from this book. The author, Steve Herz, has been an agent and coach for sports, media and entertainment leaders and brings a slightly different perspective to self-improvement.
The basic message of the books boils down to the acronym AWE - standing for Authority, Warmth and Energy.
The author argues that your non-technical skills and Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is what sets succesful people apart. To build that EQ you need AWE:
- A stands for Authority — it’s your voice, your body language, your ability to make eye contact with people. Do you come across as a competent person who knows how to do this job?
- W is for Warmth — it’s the ability to engender trust and make a connection with another person.
- E is for Energy — how are you making other people feel? Are you making people feel good about you and about themselves, or are you deflating them?
Publisher’s Description: “One of the nation’s premier talent agents and career advisors shows you how to catapult your career and your life forward with three key communication strategies–Authority, Warmth, and Energy. A self-empowerment guide to achieving your fullest professional and personal potential, Don’t Take YES for An Answer explains why positive feedback limits personal and professional growth and then teaches you how to embrace hard truths and critical feedback to escape mediocrity and break away from the pack. To stand out, to attract the attention of those who can raise your profile, to protect yourself during lean times, or to gain the interest of future employers, you must harness three critical communication traits that human beings respond to most: AWE: A–Authority. W–Warmth. E–Energy. When all else is equal–education, work ethic, intelligence, experience, ambition– the single biggest factor in winning business, promotions, friendships, or followers hinges on our ability to communicate and connect. Mastering AWE gives you an unparalleled advantage over the competition, no matter your field. Herz, who has represented and coached dozens of sports, media, and entertainment leaders over the course of nearly three decades, delivers a step-by-step program that helps you understand and hone your AWE skills. Packed with inspiring success stories, grounded in the latest social psychology and scientific research, and featuring”insider” anecdotes from some of the most popular entrepreneurs and professionals in broadcasting, sports, and the corporate world–many personally coached by Herz–Don’t Take YES for An Answer provides invaluable suggestions and practical techniques for “upping” your AWE in every aspect of your life.”