Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently By John C. Maxwell

Most of us probably believe we communicate well with others. Some would say they excel in one-on-one interactions. Others exude confidence expressing themselves in group settings. And a few, such as pastors, are used to regular public speaking and likely feel they’ve mastered the ability to communicate with a larger audience.

But what if we’re wrong? What if, as leadership guru John C. Maxwell suggests in his new book, Everyone Communicates, Few Connect, our words are actually having the opposite effect? What if the words and actions we use to interact with others are actually building walls instead of bridges, without our even realizing it, and keeping us from being as successful as we could be in our personal, as well as professional, lives?

“People cannot succeed in life without communicating effectively,” writes Maxwell. “It’s not enough just to work hard. It’s not enough to do a great job. To be successful, you need to learn how to really communicate with others.”

The problem, the author notes, is that most of us really don’t know how to do this well—not even pastors. We think we do; but there are principles at play many of us are not even aware of when it comes to how to truly connect—not just communicate—with others. And what we don’t know is holding us back from our own potential and ability to effectively influence people and situations.

Maxwell admits that even he—a renowned speaker and leadership expert—wasn’t always a good communicator. He himself had to learn how to connect with others. In his new book, a well-written and enjoyable read, he shares these principles with us.

Outlining five “connecting principles” as well as five “connecting practices,” the author details, in practical terms, the precise steps one can take to improve his or her communication skills. His advice is clear, and each chapter ends with action steps readers can implement immediately—whether they are trying to improve one-on-one interactions, group communication dynamics or connecting with a large audience from a platform.

The book is packed with helpful anecdotes, and one aspect that sets it apart from other works on the subject is that Maxwell had posted each chapter online as he wrote them, asking his audience for feedback and to share their own ideas, suggestions and stories. More than 75 of these real-life accounts ended up in the book, along with other editorial changes based on the input received.

The result? An excellent book on communication—one of the best out there—that will help any reader improve his or her personal life and career potential.