How to Say It: Words That Make a Difference

By: Allison Friederichs Atkison, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Allison Friederichs Atkison

Words. We use them all the time, every day, mostly without giving them much thought at all. We take for granted that they’re here at our disposal whenever we need them.

But if you’ve ever wished you could communicate more effectively, words are the place to start. It’s incumbent upon you to choose the best words to accomplish your goals, because how you choose to communicate influences—well, everything! The power of communication shapes our professional goals, our relationships, and our lives—so the words we choose to use carry a great deal of power.

Join Dr. Allison Friederichs to discover how every single interaction we have is an opportunity to use clear and compelling communication tactics. However daunting or unpredictable the situation, we have the power to strategically choose how we communicate. Every single time. And how we communicate can change everything.

Over the course of 10 lessons, you will have fun exploring words—what they offer us, where they come from, what influences their meaning and vice versa, and how to expand your vocabulary. You’ll learn how to choose the right words for every scenario, and you’ll learn how those words can revolutionize your personal and professional life.

©2022 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2022 Audible Originals, LLC

Middle school content

Middle school content that occasionally touched on first year high school. The performance style was also geared to middle school. And almost ironic considering the topic content that some very old, out of date cliches were used.
edit: Once I finished it I changed my review. While I can't say there was new material for me there were lots of good reminders and good examples. It would be an awesome course for high school.

Outstanding course

Pro; The lady author/speaker has a fantastically pleasant, upbeat and encouraging voice. Very informative and keeps on point. Good topical references and personal stories/anecdotes.
Con; too short, would have loved to listen to more of the authors work!

Great tips on communication.

I didn’t agree with everything she said but I did with most of it. Practical tips I can use right away

Worth A Listen

The subject matter was very interesting. Who wouldn't want a few tips on making a difference in even texting as well as dealing with neighbors. I am not always the most tactful person.
This course deserves a second listen.
The narrator was also excellent. She actually seemed to be thoroughly engaged in the reading which is refreshing when so many narrate with absolutely no feeling. It's as though they are bored and can't wait to finish and get paid!

Introductory, Easy-to-follow, Surface-level

Why (I Listened)
I want to become an effective communicator since I hire and work with a lot of freelancers of different backgrounds and nationalities.

How (it Executed)
The majority of the lessons taught here are introductory to the world of interpersonal communication. They're easy to digest, but lack depth. The ground covered here is explained in considerable more depth in "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (if you want something based on anecdotes applicable to many different circumstances) and "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion" (if you want something based on social experiments applicable to marketing circumstances).

What (I'll Remember)
The final lecture describes how to use inclusive language, and while Atkison tells you to use it because of the obvious reason that there's a chance whoever you're speaking with may be offended if you don't, she also insists on it because you don't want them to notice your lack of inclusive language and form a more negative opinion of your character from it. Teaching people to be ethical because it benefits them I feel is a clever and effective way to teach.

Cleaver

I liked how she gave so many examples of how to use the words. It was a very good book and great points. I’ll use words a lot better because of her teachings.

Language importance

This gave me a broad view on how important it is to pay attention to our language to one another. It all depends on the type of individual, situation & time of conversation. Very interesting read.

Helpful

At the end of the book, I went to The Great Courses and bought her "Written Communication."

Use words carefully

I learned many new principles snd strategies. Looking at awareness and patience to put into daily practice.

Not Finished Yet

I’m 2 1/2 hrs in and so far we’ve covered why it’s important to choose/use the right words, evidence that others interpret words differently and the origin of words. Haven’t gotten to the part where we learn how to construct words more effectively, so if that happens in the last 1/3 of the book, I’ll come back and update my review. So far, the author is endlessly trying to prove to the listener that words have meaning, which is such an obvious fact, that the amount of time spent on it is excessive. I’m really hoping she dives into more applicable content.