Easy to read yet powerful strategies – highly recommend!
If you want a proven method to improve your communication, this book provides a clear overview of how to do it and each chapter is full of concrete ways to put the ideas to use immediately. Great for speakers, presenters, coaches, leaders, and, yes, parents!
Before you say anything…
Having a hard time getting your voice heard in meetings? Does the idea of public speaking make you want to hide under the table? Do you dread difficult conversations or feeling put on the spot?
Learn the secret to unlocking confident and effective communication, whether you’re talking to one person or one thousand!
We have all had those moments that haunt us in the wee hours of the night: the times we could have spoken up and didn’t, and the times we spoke up and it went badly. It can feel like those experiences are inevitable, but communication coach Angie Flynn-McIver is here to share the time-tested three-part process she uses with her clients.
The communication scenarios we find ourselves in vary widely, but the process Flynn-McIver shares will apply no matter where you are: presenting a report to the C-suite, giving tough feedback to a colleague, or even negotiating a curfew with your teenager. Flynn-McIver and her team of coaches have honed this method over more than fifteen years of coaching thousands of clients in fields as varied as accounting, consulting, the ministry, education, politics, and the arts.
Before You Say Anything describes a new and innovative approach to connecting, creating results, and feeling confident about how you communicate. You’ll understand why you’re speaking, how to support your message with your body language and voice, and how to practice so that you’re ready for the big speech and the off-the-cuff opportunity.
This entertaining book gives you a speaking coach right in your pocket. Flynn-McIver’s light, warm style feels like she’s there cheering you on, offering timely advice on when, how, and why to speak up. The book is packed with stories, case studies, client examples, and direct suggestions on exactly how to improve your communication skills. No need to wait: you can test out each element of the process with specific exercises at the end of each chapter.
Buy Before You Say Anything today and get results from easier, more effective, more confident communication!
“The smartest person in the room with the best ideas will make no impact if the audience is not engaged. With stories and practical advice, Angie Flynn-McIver shows us how to engage the audience through our mind, body, voice and words. Her specific chapter tips and recommendations meet us where we are and take us further than perhaps we thought we could go. Before you say anything, read Before You Say Anything.”
– Donna Peters, Founder of The Me-Suite, Former Senior Consulting Partner at Accenture, Award-Winning Podcast Host
“This book describes the power of intentional communication—and powerful it is! Angie’s method can be put into practice in a way that improves all aspects of communication, from broad audience presentations to team meetings and one-on-ones. Angie brings to life exactly how we can clearly articulate our intent prior to crafting our message, allowing a clear, clean landing, and avoiding the pitfalls that so often distract us in how we communicate. Putting this into practice has elevated my ability to lead and mentor my team, and to communicate to small groups as well as audiences of hundreds.”
—Christina Mack, VP, Epidemiology and Clinical Evidence, IQVIA
“Before You Say Anything is one of the most valuable resources I’ve read to truly support effective communication. As someone who studied communication at the graduate level, this book has been the most helpful in providing rich insight and practical advice that I was able to immediately implement. With humor, wit, and deep expertise, Flynn-McIver offers a fresh perspective on communication that isn’t simply theory and philosophy. She offers real examples of how these communication skills and principles have worked in her practice with clients. It feels like you are sitting with Flynn-McIver at the kitchen table having a conversation with an old friend–a conversation that is so good, you don’t want it to end! This book will be a staple in my professional practice and personal life. It offers a wealth of information and is a field book for those who are committed to growing in their communication competency.”
– Sharma S. Graham, PCC, Co-Founder | M.A.D.E. To Lead, Leadership & Executive Coach
“Simply superb. Distilled from years of experience coaching and training, Flynn-McIver’s techniques and principles have been honed to a fine point as she answers all the questions about how to nail your next presentation—so you don’t have to. Infused with her warm coaching style—which I am fortunate to have experienced firsthand—Flynn-McIver’s lessons will stick with you whether you’re presenting in the boardroom, engaging with new friends at a party, or talking to your kids. Exceedingly readable. Highly recommended.”
—Denise Kiernan, New York Times Bestselling author of We Gather Together, The Last Castle and The Girls of Atomic City
“In Before You Say Anything, Angie Flynn-McIver simplifies a medium that has plagued masses of people for years. Many of us have heard, or perhaps even repeated a litany of life-threatening tasks considered more desirable than speaking in public. Angie shares tools accumulated throughout her extensive career as a communication expert and coach. Armed with insights from this book, paralyzing fear won’t have to be your public speaking reality. At its core, communication is understanding and expressing intentions. Effective communication requires self-awareness, alignment and deliberate practice. Angie Flynn-McIver walks you through how to leverage all three to your advantage. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to increase their impact or make a lasting difference.”
—Galen Bingham, MBA; CEO at Kiln Global Coaching and Consulting; and author of IMPACT: Your Power to Make a Lasting Difference
The ability to speak is fundamental to building a personal brand. Before You Say Anything gave me a solid framework as well as a set of powerful tactics for my speeches. It’s a must-read for anyone serious about personal branding.
– Songy Knox, Personal Brand Coach & Author of How Do You Want to BE SEEN
“The majority of workplace challenges boil down to one thing: poor communication. If every leader put the strategies in Flynn-McIver’s book into daily practice, their organizations would be transformed. I love Before You Say Anything! It’s full of actionable ideas and really fun to read. Whether you’re on the keynote stage or leading team meetings, this may be the most beneficial book you’ve read all year.”
– Donna Cutting, author of Employees First! Inspire, Engage, and Focus on the Heart of Your Organization
About the Author
Angie Flynn-McIver is a leadership coach and theater director. The common thread is what she calls “being a detective of human behavior.” In both professions, you have to know what makes people tick. Angie’s coaching specialty is communication skills: how do we create communication that leads to the desired outcome? When communication goes wrong, how can we fix it?
In 2007, Angie founded Ignite CSP: Coaching/Speaking/Presenting. Ignite CSP coaches leaders to get great results through their ability to inspire followership, ensure people feel heard and valued, and effectively communicate their vision.
Ignite CSP coaches individuals and leads workshops all over the United States and internationally. Clients include Big Four accounting firms, consulting companies, banks, nonprofits, and healthcare systems. Angie’s individual clients include scientists, doctors, innovators, politicians, clergy, C-suite executives, professional public speakers, authors, musicians, and more.
Angie holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development and Leadership from Fielding Graduate University and a BA in Theatre with Honors from Smith College. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
Now Available
“Before You Say Anything…”
Having a hard time getting your voice heard in meetings?
Does the idea of public speaking make you want to hide under the table?
Do you dread difficult conversations or feeling put on the spot?
Learn the secret to unlocking confident and effective communication, whether you’re talking to one person or one thousand!
What Readers Are Saying
Actionable advice on improving communication skills
Angie is a smart and talented communicator. If you are seeking to improve your communication skills, her book is a wonderful place to start. She offers actionable tips and advice.
Learn From Someone Who Has Spent a Lifetime on this Craft
I do “some” public speaking from time to time and am not terrible. But it’s a whole other thing to get tips (and lots of great examples) from someone who does it for a living. And who teaches it for a living. This is an affordable way to get training from a pro. Highly recommend!!
Witty, wise, wonderful!
Angie is witty, wise and wonderful at her work.
Expert advice, highly recommended!
Angie Flynn-McIver is an expert in her field. Her advice is clear, insightful and easy to implement. Whether you’re afraid of public speaking, or a seasoned communicator ready to up your game, this is a great book!