How to Speak Human A Practical Guide to Getting the Best from the Humans You Work With

'An instant classic—this book is so utterly relevant and needed. And it is hellishly refreshing to boot. I fucking love it, and heartily recommend it to all.' —Dr Jason Fox, best-selling author of How to Lead a Quest

Take a practical approach to the communication challenges in your workplace. Through 11 strategies, 23 tactics and 15 stories this handy how-to will help curious humans:

• use the science of connection to create compelling communication
• translate mind-numbing complexity into captivating simplicity
• hijack attention, engage and influence others.

Whether you're a leader looking to connect with your workforce; a member of a small team, hungry to make a difference; or at the helm of a global organisation, with an eye on the horizon – this is a how-to for forward thinkers like you.

Dougal and Jen Jackson are founders of award-winning employee experience company Jaxzyn. With a diverse team of thinkers, communicators, creators and doers, they work with organisations globally to discover and implement ways to make our workplaces more human.

About the authors ix

Hoisting the banner for human xiii

How to speak human xxiii

How to speak whaaat? xxix

Curiosity The insatiable hunger of a curious mind 1

Anticipation The exquisite agony of anticipation 17

Surprise! The unanticipated delight of the unexpected 27

Visual The sensory superiority of visual 41

Beware … The insidious fog of habituation 57

Narratives The titillations of a well-told tale 65

Emotions The paradoxical logic of getting emotional 77

Humour The serious business of being funny 87

Caution … The complication of complexity 95

Words The power of using and choosing words wisely 107

Names The undeniable sweetness of a well-chosen name 117

Language The power of language to shift perception 127

Modes The perks of matching the mode to the message 149

Beware … The excuses for mediocrity 167

Time, tide and the inevitability of change 177

So… 181

Acknowledgements 183

Index 185

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