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Give Your Speech, Change The World

Give Your Speech, Change The World:
How to Move Your Audience To Action

By Nick Morgan

Published By Harvard Business School Press, 2005

Give Your Speech, Change The World takes public speaking to a higher level with a new audience-centered approach that combines aspects of ancient Greek rhetorical practice with proven modern-day communication techniques.

It fills a gap in this market with a more sophisticated treatment of public speaking. Most books in this genre are gimmicky, ‘tips and tricks’ books. Morgan offers both a more historical treatment of public speaking alongside practical guidelines. ‘Kinesthetic’ speaking involves actively ‘listening’ to your audience with your whole body, and is the element of public speaking that moves audiences to action.

This book teaches managers of all levels how to successfully use this type of public speaking to engage audiences of any size, intellectually, emotionally, as well as physically.

Working The Room

Give Your Speech, Change The World was previously published in hardcover as Working The Room: How to Move People to Action Through Audience-Centered Speaking

Published By Harvard Business School Press, 2003

Reader Reviews

Justin L. Harris (Anchorage, AK USA)

Wow! Nick Morgan hit the nail on the head with this book on “Audience-Centered Speaking.” The book came highly recommended by some very credible and talented public speakers and it delivered as promised. The author states that the only reason to give a speech is to change the world by moving the audience to take action. He starts off with the history of speech, going all the way back to Ancient Greece and brings us through time to modern communication mediums (radio and television), which have permanently and profoundly changed our expectations of public speakers.

He also brings to light several truths about public speaking: most people hate doing it and most don’t do it well. So, why then, do we give speeches? He says we do so because speeches are still the most powerful way of connecting with an audience. The author presents us with a process geared toward capturing the audience and engaging them: focusing on content development, rehearsal and delivery.

Whether a novice or season veteran, delivering a speech to 5 people or 500, anyone can learn how to put together a speech that will change the world.

Edward Durney (San Francisco)

Working the Room provides great guidance for speakers who want to improve their persuasiveness. In fact, it’s the best book on that subject I’ve ever read. (And I’ve read quite a few.)

Large groups or small, the principles discussed will help anyone who has to talk to others.

Two things make this book stand out—examples and suggestions. The examples, from some of history’s greatest speeches to more mundane stories, tell the tale very powerfully. And the suggestions, all drawn from Nick Morgan’s experience, have helped me in my speaking and persuading efforts.

Gerry Stern, Stern’s Management Review Online (Culver City, CA United States)

The author introduces the idea of developing a kinesthetic connection with the audience by using opportunities for making intellectual, emotional, and even physical contact. The book provides specific strategies to help presenters prepare, rehearse, and master the art of giving speeches that challenge thinking and spark action. STERN’S MANAGEMENT REVIEW finds this a stimulating, insightful and valuable work.

Finally, a truly great book concerning the art/craft of public speaking. If you heard advice like “picture the audience in their underwear”, then you owe it to yourself to read Working the Room. In this insightful and eminently useful text, Nick Morgan explodes the myths of bad speechmaking and crafts a better mousetrap.

Morgan’s central theme is that the only reason to give a speech is to “change the world”. According to the author, a speech is not a collection of information rather it is a forum to showcase the unique passion of the speaker to sway hearts and minds in the audience. Morgan takes the reader through a thorough process of crafting a speech, rehearsing it, and rendering it to an audience in an entirely new and effective way. I guarantee that you will never think of giving a presentation the same way again. Hint: It has nothing to do with the quality of your PowerPoint.

Morgan’s style is first rate. Filled with useful insights and stories, the book is lazer precise, witty, and absolutely right on time. No fuzzy thinking here. Just solid advice from a unique perspective. It’s also an excellent length. It isn’t too short and at the end, like many great reads, it leaves you wanting more!

If you are a person who presents on a regular basis or even if you are a neophyte looking to hone your speaking skills, there is only one book to buy and that’s Working the Room.

Karim Sahyoun (Wellesley, MA United States)

I tend to hate business related books. They are usually boring and trite. Someone whom I respect and who had hired Nick Morgan gave me this book. To my surprise, I found it insightful, easy to read and very thought provoking. I am about to buy it for two friends who need it and who I hope will find it as useful as I did.

Nick Morgan, in a book that’s direct and easy to read, provides tools for empowerment in public speaking. He is clearly an expert, and his book is truly fascinating and enlightening. When I began to read this book, I was unsure of where my weaknesses in communication existed. Beginning with the introduction, I quickly learned how to achieve the results I was looking for with confidence and ease, and my effectiveness in communication has improved beyond measure. I would recommend this book to anyone who feels even the slightest bit uncomfortable with presentations or professional interaction, and I feel lucky to have found it myself.

Nick Morgan has a way with words. His book takes the presentation process and breaks it down into understandable chunks. He takes one of the scariest things a person can do, speak in front of an audience, and holds your hand through each step. Afraid to speak? Dr. Morgan has a suggestion. Want to know how to read your audience? It’s in this book. Curious about how to boil down your message for the ‘elevator talk’? This is your source. This book is a must for anyone who has given, or plans to give, a presentation.

My favorite part is the way he describes the content structure of a speech using 5 classic stories. If you want to make a memorable, successful speech, you need to know what these story structures are... boy meets girl, quest, revenge, stranger, and rags to riches. How do you use them to prepare a great talk? well, I guess you’ll have to let Dr. Morgan tell you. I highly recommend this book.

Everyone who has ever given a speech, done a presentation, interviewed for a job, or tried to convince a recalcitrant boss to do something, will benefit from Working the Room. What I love about this book is that it offers tangible, useful advice—step-by-step guidance on how to prepare for your star turn. Working the Room is succinct and well organized so readers will find it an easy-to-use reference guide. By analyzing famous speeches and recounting funny stories from his 17-year career as a speech coach, Morgan makes his points admirably.

Nick Morgan nails it. No one working with people can achieve much of anything without the ability to communicate effectively. Working the Room is an artful blend of theory and story that shows how to develop a message and deliver it. Very useful are the analyses of speeches and speaking styles of great orators from the past as well as contemporary sources. These historical references give context to how the nature of the stand-up presentation has changed from podium oratory to up-close and personal relationships via the media. According to Morgan, speakers need to connect with their audiences ‘kinesthetically’ a blend of word, action and commitment. Working the Room contains solid advice on developing the speech, choreographing the speech, and rehearsing the presentation to get everything just right. And unlike many other books on this topic, Morgan addresses the need to listen to the audience and react accordingly in order to connect with impact and meaning. Morgan begins Working the Room with a quote from a speechwriter who postulated the only reason to give a speech was to ‘change the world.’ There is no better advice to give to any speaker in any environment. For anyone who cares about the power of the spoken word, either as speaker or writer, this book is a must-read and a must-have. I heartily recommend Working the Room.

Edward Durney(San Francisco)

Nick Morgan changed the title of Working The Room when it went from hardcover to paperback. I like the new title—Give Your Speech, Change the World. That reflects better the point of the book, that your goal in preparing for and giving a speech will reflect how you well you give it. And if you are going to give a speech, you might as well decide to change the world with it. Why not?

Nick Morgan has done a careful analysis of speechmaking. Many books on the subject are written by amateurs, who give some help, but often resort to tricks and gimmicks. Nick Morgan is a professional, which is probably why the Harvard Business School Press chose to publish the book.

This book should be read by those of us who want to improve our speeches. Can we all be more powerful in speaking, and in moving our audience to action? I think so. Read Give Your Speech, Change the World, and I think you will agree.

P. Johnson (United States)

This is an excellent book on public speaking. Nick Morgan does everything from give his philosophy behind why to give audience-centered speeches, to throwing in several of the detailed pitfalls and tips from his years of coaching real people.

Best of all, I find that I can incorporate his techniques into any speaking event, whether it is giving a stand-up speech to 50 people, or having a Monday morning staff meeting with 5.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who at all relies on public speaking in their profession or personal life.

G. E. Kugler (Big Arm, Montana United States)

Here was a pleasant surprise: a book that works for the pro or the novice. It outlines the mechanics of giving an outstanding speech in detail. In here you’ll find a step by step guide that is the best I’ve seen and I read a lot of books. I highly recommend this book.

Mario M. Vittone (Chesapeake, VA)

Nick Morgan does a good job at presenting why and when certain techniques in speech delivery and audience centered speaking work. His contention that all opportunities to speak should be life changing events (small or large) for your audience is one that I agree with and he may very well convince you of the same. The section on the importance of rehearsal helped change my approach.

I recommend the book as a must read for those who want to hone their skills, or develop new ones. Worth every penny, and more.

Buy it.

Mr. Morgan,

I just completed Working The Room (and by just I mean within the last 5 minutes). You sir, have conveyed the essence of public speaking clearly and concisely. I see the mistakes I have made in the past; more importantly, how to avoid them in the future. This book is part of my permanent traveling ‘must takes’.

It seems like every time I read something on presentation skills that really ‘clicks’ with my thinking, it has a Nick Morgan by-line. We are definitely on the same track when it comes to moving an audience. Thanks for your fresh ideas.

I do a lot of public speaking for audiences around the world and also teach presentation skills to professional trainers. Your writings have been very helpful to me when I need to take advanced speakers to another level.

Kudos to you on your latest book, Working the Room. I’m about two-thirds of the way through it, and find the content to be fresh, useful, and engaging. I’m excited to try some of these techniques in future speeches. I’ve followed your work for a while now, especially in the Harvard Management Communication Letter, and was glad you were persuaded to write the book.

Henrik Thorson (producer/actor, Helsinki, Finland)

I have had a great time reading your book GIVE YOUR SPEECH, CHANGE THE WORLD I am an actor and today I work as a TV and radio producer—especially occupied with training TV-hosts. I find your insight very accurate from the experience I have from the stage and also from dealing with rather un-experienced people becoming TV-hosts.

Karen Clarkson

I am reading your book, Working the Room, and your ideas are inspiring.

Jane Praeger

I’m a New York City-based media coach and an instructor at Columbia University where I teach writing and other courses in the Master’s Degree program in Strategic Communications.

Working the Room is quite literally the first book I’ve read that articulates exactly what I believe about public speaking, gives excellent instruction, and is beautifully written. Congratulations.

I will definitely be using it as my textbook in the fall. Thanks again for the book. I was beginning to doubt that anyone could ever write an interesting book on the topic of public speaking. You’ve actually gone and done it!

Martin Perelmuter (President, Speakers’ Spotlight)

I recently read Working the Room, and I wanted to let you know that it’s the best book on public speaking I've ever read—I am recommending it to anyone interested in improving their presentation skills. Our company’s mission is “To Change the World by helping put the right speaker in front of the right audience at the right time.” We are referencing your book every chance we get—I just wanted to let you know—hopefully it will generate some additional book sales for you, and help get your message to more people.

Tony Beckett

Really appreciate the book and recommended it highly to my staff and many of my friends. I am incorporating the principles in both my speaking and teaching.

Bryan Clark

Thanks for your book Working the Room. I speak to approximately 3,000 people per week and found your book very helpful. The sections related to PowerPoint are greatly needed today. I also found the discussion related to public space, social space, personal space and intimate space very interesting.

Charles G. Read (Stockbridge, GA United States)

“This should be a ‘must’ reading, studying, practicing, emulating, in short—the bible for those who do presentations.

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