Unlocking the Power of Communication: 3 Game-Changing Sales Books for Real-Life Success
Effective communication is an essential skill necessary for personal and professional success.
These following books share insights and perspectives that can help improve your communication skills. Whether you are trying to persuade someone to purchase a product, negotiate a deal, or simply make a new friend, the ability to communicate effectively is crucial. Fortunately for you, I’m here to provide several excellent books that can help you hone your relaying skills and become more successful in your career and everyday life (you’re welcome). Below, we will explore three of the most beneficial sales books (in my opinion): "What Every BODY is Saying," "How to Win Friends and Influence People," and "Never Split the Difference."
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
At first glance, the title may sound like you have no friends and/or currently entering your third life crisis at 26. Whether that’s true or not, this book establishes the importance of building strong relationships and becoming more influential, both in your career and personal life. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie was and quite possibly is, as my father would say, “The only book you’ll ever need to read”. Granted I didn’t know what to do with that information at the ripe pre-pubescent age of 12. I nodded and began reading. This book exemplifies the importance of the basic details of human interactions and relationships that the majority of us seem to discredit. Whether it be active listening, remembering someone’s name, or asking questions about others, the reader has a better understanding of getting to know who’s in front of us (which is just as important as getting to know yourself). With other chapters laying out the fundamentals to the art of persuasion, sincerity, and conflict resolution, the reader is able to unlock other aspects of human communication that often gets overlooked. Out the three books I recommend in this blog post, this is hands down the one I would start with (that is if you haven’t read it already).
What Every BODY is Saying by Joe Navarro
I stumbled upon this book through a reddit forum while I was on my quest to better understanding the human psych What Every BODY is Saying by Joe Navarro is a book about nonverbal communication and how to read body language. Navarro, a former FBI agent and expert in nonverbal communication, shares his insights on how to interpret body language, facial expressions, gestures, and postures, and use them to understand people's thoughts, emotions, and intentions. Bit of a dry read at times, but chalk full of information that can be applied immediately in the real world after every chapter. The best part about this book, is you can practice as you go! For the majority of us, we love to live in a social world and converse with others. Using the skills and knowledge that Navarro explains thoroughly, you can start to notice smaller details that you otherwise would’ve missed in someone else’s body language. As someone whose job is wrapped in sales, I tend to meet many people in person. Through the application of these skills, I am better able to gage how my conversations should go. No person is the same, but with the help of Navarro, you can adapt every interaction for the better!
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
Continuing the theme of former FBI operative turned author, Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss, an FBI hostage negotiator, is a profound book that discusses various tactics and approaches to negotiations. Granted, I don’t believe you’ll be in a similar situation as our friend Mr. Voss here (i.e. negotiating for your friend’s life), but I do believe that many of the tactics mentioned are applicable to your professional career and everyday life. One of the key takeaways from the book is the importance of empathy in negotiations. Believe it or not, humanizing yourself and others in an intense situation can bring both parties to an agreed, calm equilibrium. One of the main parts I found most interesting in this book was the skill of understanding the other party’s perspective and using it to your advantage (in a non-manipulative way of course. Unless it’s dealing with car salesmen, then you should manipulate the living S*$t out of them). By putting yourself in someone else's shoes and understanding their perspective, you will build trust and rapport, which can be beneficial in all aspects of life. Another valuable lesson from Never Split the Difference is the power of framing. Voss portrays the importance of framing negotiations in a way that emphasizes the benefits of the other party (both great for sales negotiations or deciding who has to drive the majority of the 14 hours to Disney World with your spouse). By framing the negotiation as a way to meet the other party's needs, you can create a win-win situation and increase the chances of success. I like to look at this novel as a combination of the two books above, How to Make Friends and Influence People and What Every BODY is Saying. An FBI’s look on the human psyche. While a little more intense than Dale Carnegie, it still hits the nail right on the head. Direct and to the point, this book wastes no time jumping right into its teachings.
Effective communication is essential for success in both your career and everyday life. By reading books like How to Win Friends and Influence People, What Every BODY is Saying, and Never Split the Difference, you can learn valuable lessons on how to communicate more effectively. Developing the skills of understanding body language, actively listening, showing empathy, and framing negotiations are all skills that can be beneficial in all areas of life. Whether you are in sales, negotiating for a new car, or just trying to make new connections, these books can help you become a more effective communicator and achieve greater success in your life goals, whatever they may be.
What did you think of my list? Do you agree/disagree? Either or, please let me know by reaching out!
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