Mark Bowden (3) (1970–)

This is a powerful book with some very compelling techniques that can be useful for leading teams, or persuading individuals to adopt ideas. The book speaks on how various things we do can put people at ease, or make them tense and apprehensive. This in turn leads an individual to either being open to or closed off to ideas and concepts or give them the ability to believe or disbelieve what a person is saying. The author presents 8-12 relatively simply techniques expanding on the premise that words actually have no meaning, and that the real power comes from within and how you hold yourself. Many of the ideas presented are adapted from other disciplines such as the martial arts and acting primarily. There were a few that I think are misguided such as the principles behind handshaking or could have been presented differently. In my experience shaking with the right although the prefer method, is not in fact the best way to shake hands but by offering your left. As swords were typically held in the right, and shields in the left it was more influential. Shaking with the left represented putting down your shield, thereby making you vulnerable to the other person. I enjoyed reading the book, and will probably end up reading it again periodally as it was highly informative and easy to read. Some of the techniques will feel awkward, forced, and uncomfortable at first for sure and I cannot say there is little to no benefit of trying even at least one of the techniques such as the YesState.… (mehr)