10 Books guaranteed to improve your communication skills
While some are gifted with a natural flair for leaving an impression through their communication skills, there are others who struggle with it. However, several excellent books can equip you with the right tools to improve your communication and stand out from the crowd. Here’s a list of the top 10 books to help you do just that
Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone Written by Mark Goulston, this powerful book explores simple yet effective techniques for getting through to people by listening actively and with empathy. In turn, this helps forge deeper connections and foster understanding. This book is bound to improve your communication skills.
2/10
Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds This book by Carmine Gallo explores the secrets of TED Talk speakers, offering useful advice on how to capture the attention of audiences and deliver successful presentations that leave a lasting impact. It is particularly helpful for those who are unsure of their public speaking abilities, providing them with essential communication tools
3/10
How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships In this book, Leil Lowndes reveals techniques that can be used to make an impressive first impression and shares success stories of some of life’s biggest winners. There’s something for everyone in this little gem.
4/10
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High In this highly recommended book, Kerry Patterson provides tools to help people successfully engage in difficult and challenging conversations with clarity and focus. It includes a six-minute mastery technique, among several others, to do just that
How to Win Friends & Influence People Dale Carnegie’s classic is filled with timeless advice to help you achieve your full potential during complicated and challenging times. The book focuses on how to make yourself likeable, win people over with your thinking, and influence others without causing resentment.
6/10
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most Much needed in today’s world, the success of this book lies in its proven framework for having the most difficult conversations successfully and without stress. It helps readers approach conversations openly, without becoming defensive or feeling attacked, and much more
7/10
The Art of Public Speaking Written by Dale Carnegie, this book emphasises the importance of becoming a confident public speaker through practice and experience. It’s an excellent guide to public speaking, helping not only with overcoming stage fright but also with delivering powerful speeches
8/10
Words That Change Minds: The 14 Patterns for Mastering the Language of Influence This book by Shelle Rose Charvet focuses on the Language and Behaviour Profile, which helps in understanding, anticipating, and influencing behaviour by decoding the language people use. It supports improving relationships, making an impact, and avoiding conflict.
The Fine Art of Small Talk An outstanding book by Debra Fine, it discusses not only how to initiate conversations but also how to keep them going. This is especially useful for those who struggle to build a network, employing communication skills in a way that leaves an impression
10/10
The Definitive Book of Body Language This book by Allan Pease and Barbara Pease covers non-verbal cues that shape communication, offering the right tools to make a strong first impression or succeed in job interviews. The authors explain how to read body language and give readers a vocabulary to understand attitudes and behaviours.
Gursimran Kaur Banga is a Delhi-based content creator, editor and storyteller.
