Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Speak Like a CEO summary
Suzanne Bates
Secrets for Commanding Attention and Getting Results
16 mins
Brief summary
Speak Like a CEO offers actionable communication techniques to transform our presence and charisma. Suzanne Bates teaches us how to leverage influence and effectively articulate ideas, driving success in leadership and professional environments.
Table of Contents
Speak Like a CEO
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
Speak like a leader
American lawyer and author James Hulme famously said, "Every time you have to speak, you are auditioning for leadership." So, why not aim high and speak as if you’re auditioning for the top role: CEO?
What sets great leaders apart is their ability to communicate authentically. Effective CEOs don’t follow a rigid script; they lean into their own unique voice and style. Authentic communication helps build trust and credibility with teams, stakeholders, and the public. No wonder communication is often the biggest part of a CEOs job.
Take Mike Eskew, former CEO of UPS. A typical day for him involves constant communication: informal chats with drivers in the morning, focus groups with managers, one-on-one meetings with customers, speaking with the press, and hosting town hall meetings. His schedule revolves around listening and speaking – highlighting just how essential communication is at the leadership level.
A study by Bates Communication found that to be perceived as an authentic and powerful leader, you need to project integrity, vision, emotional intelligence, clarity, and follow-through. To do this effectively, leaders need to be open and share a bit of themselves, being vulnerable when necessary. This authenticity is what earns the trust and loyalty of their teams.
It’s also important to remember that no one is a natural-born speaker. Many CEOs will admit they initially disliked public speaking. Like any other skill, it takes practice. The key is to view your communication abilities as assets. Start by assessing your communication style – ask for feedback, listen carefully, and look for opportunities to improve. Every chance to speak, whether it’s a weekly meeting or a high-stakes presentation, is a chance to refine your skills and grow your influence.
Want to see all full key ideas from Speak Like a CEO?
Key ideas in Speak Like a CEO
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Speak Like a CEO about?
Speak Like a CEO (2005) offers practical advice for developing a commanding presence, handling various speaking situations, and creating effective self-improvement plans. It includes real-world examples and actionable strategies to help individuals at all levels become compelling communicators.
Who should read Speak Like a CEO?
- Newly-minted managers seeking to establish a communication style
- Seasoned CEOs ready to level up their communication skills
- Aspiring executives who want to speak their way into the top job
Categories with Speak Like a CEO
Book summaries like Speak Like a CEO
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
35 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth