ABSTRACT
Tom Bower, founder of Mindset Consulting, is a powerful communicator. During his workshops, he'll line up a series of tennis balls at the front table—one for each participant. Turning to each person, he'll toss a tennis ball, encouraging them to be sure to catch it. Moving through the group, he delivers a seemingly simple commentary. “The secret … the secret to successful communication is that … you've got to pitch it so they can catch it … so that they want to catch it … so they understand what it means … and so they want to do something with it.” In many ways, this chapter is about helping you pitch your message so the folks you work with can catch it and do something with it. In the process, you will build connection, understanding, trust, and influence. Arguably, there is no more powerful tool or skill a leader can possess.
