When most people think about public speaking a few narrow images come to mind - a guy in a suit giving a presentation to a boardroom or a video of someone giving a TED talk. But public speaking is more than that: it's going into a meeting with your boss to ask for a promotion, it's an author doing school or library visits, it's pitching to new clients, it's the speech at your best friend's wedding, it's describing a project to your colleagues, it's talking about issues you care about. Public speaking is any time you need to communicate to another person with purpose, to share your ideas, to influence and persuade.

Human connection starts with stories and being able to tell them. Being compelling, clear and impactful when you speak is a skill everyone needs to develop, to be relevant and effective in the workplace and beyond. It's something that many activists and people engaged in social change already know well: that you can have all the data and facts in the world, but it's stories that move the needle. Stories have the power to build empathy, help to shift mindsets and open up new possibilities.

How to Speak So Others Will Listen provides a toolkit for storytelling and getting your message across. This book will teach you to believe that what you have to say is worth saying, and how your unique voice can be powerful, so you can make positive change in your own life and the world around you.