Description

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In this collection of compelling and practical essays, Emmy Award–winning broadcaster, newspaper columnist, and motivational speaker Steve Adubato shares concrete tips and tools that will help you connect more effectively at work, at home, under pressure, in leadership roles, and in high-tech environments. From avoiding unnecessary arguments with your spouse to coaching a valuable, yet difficult employee, Adubato’s essays delve into the key factors that motivate people to act and respond the way that they do.

You will find answers to some of the most common questions about public speaking as well as advice on overcoming its anxieties. Whether the forum is a PTA meeting or a large professional function, essays explore topics such as:

• Why even practiced speakers sometimes experience stage fright
• How to keep your audience awake and  interested in what you are saying

 You will learn essential skills for interacting in the workplace, including:

• How to negotiate a good deal and still be honest and straight
• How to keep team projects from falling apart
• How to conduct yourself in confrontational situations, such as receiving a public insult

Drawing on examples set by public figures, including Bill Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, Mario Cuomo, Martha Stewart, Jack Welch, Joe Torre, and many others, Adubato addresses the unique communication challenges that those in leadership positions face. Essays examine:

·         What ordinary people can learn from leaders in high-profile positions

·         Why so many leaders have difficulty taking responsibility and apologizing for their actions

As technology continues to provide opportunities for quicker and more visual communication, Adubato also lets you know when hi-tech bells and whistles get in the way of making a more personal and human connection. For instance, 

·         Why do we hide behind e-mail messages when we have something very difficult to say?

·         How does communication deteriorate when cell phones and e-mail are competing for our attention?

Finally, Adubato reminds us that communicating at home is no less important or any less difficult than communicating in public or at work. From contemporary challenges to age-old questions, essays explore:

·         How you can more effectively talk with your kids about war and terrorism

·         What forms of persuasion are more effective than nagging

Filled with timely examples and practical suggestions, Make the Connection is a must-read for everyone looking to improve their professional and personal relationships.

About the Author

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STEVE ADUBATO, Ph.D., is a prolific writer. His books include What Were They Thinking?, Make the Connection, and You Are the Brand (all Rutgers University Press). He is an Emmy–Award winning anchor for PBS affiliates Thirteen/WNET and NJTV, who has served as a distinguished visiting professor at New York University, Rutgers University, Seton Hall University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Adubato has appeared as a political and media analyst on CNN, NBC’s Today Show, Fox News, NPR, and AM970. His company, Stand & Deliver, offers leadership workshops and executive coaching for professionals in a variety of arenas.

Praise For…

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"Steve Adubato's engaging style makes his book a cut above most communications-skills guides."
— Publishers Weekly

"Steve is an excellent executive coach and workshop facilitator. He is simply the best at what he does."
— Lucia DiNapoli Gibbons

"Effective communication is vital to success at work, at play, or in between. Make the Connection is a cornucopia of good ideas that will help you do it better.
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— Mario M. Cuomo

"Columnist, TV anchor, and motivational speaker Adubato (Speak from the Heart: Be Yourself and Get Results) offers tips and strategies for maximizing communication at home and at work. Topics include keeping an audience engaged during presentations, saying no, and talking to children about scary world events. Loosely categorized under such topics as 'At Work' and 'Communication 101,' the essays lead off with illustrative anecdotes (many about high-profile leaders), followed by bulleted pointers for improving communication. The chapter titled 'Dean's Scream Ended His Dream' highlights the importance of maintaining self-control and being aware of the impact of one's message. It illustrates how presidential candidate Howard Dean's attempt to rally his supporters in the face of his disappointing finish in the Iowa caucuses was interpreted not as a rallying cry but as an out-of-control rant capped by a primal scream. The message here is that a speaker must know his audience and understand how his message is being perceived. Unlike Loretta Malandro's Say It Right the First Time, which is more instructional in tone, this work takes a more informal approach to communication improvement. Recommended for public and academic libraries."
— Library Journal

"Make the Connection tells you how to 'connect' not only in your professional life but also in your personal life. Few people could break it down as simply and succinctly as Steve does. And anyone that watches Steve on FOX News knows he 'makes the connection' every time he's on TV!"
— Brian Kilmeade

"Public speaking is always one of the best things I hate. But Steve always tells it right; he can make any talk easier than it sounds."
— Yogi Berra