Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Persuasive Language Techniques for Managers & All Influencers

Would you like to be more effective at convincing people to believe or do certain things? Are you a leader who struggles to get your team members on board? In Words That Change Minds, communication and influencing language expert Shelle Rose Charvet identifies eight Productivity Patterns. She says that these patterns explain how an individual does their best work after they’ve decided to solve a problem. Keep reading to learn several persuasive language techniques that take these Productivity Patterns into account.

How to Overcome a Lack of Commitment in a Team (Dysfunction #3)

Is your team unified? What role does communication play in getting people to buy into team decisions? In his business fable The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni identifies a lack of commitment as the third dysfunction. In his follow-up book, Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, he shares ways you can break through this challenge. Read more to learn Lencioni’s advice for getting each member of your team wholeheartedly on the same page.

How to Select Stocks for Long-Term Investment (Peter Lynch)

What should you consider when selecting stocks to invest in? How can you keep each investment from being a shot in the dark? Famed mutual fund manager Peter Lynch lauds the advantages of stocks over bonds. In his book Beating the Street, he shares suggestions for constructing a successful stock portfolio that’s more likely to perform well over the long haul. Continue reading for Lynch’s advice on how to select stocks for long-term investment.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X as Told to Alex Haley (Overview)

What do you know about Malcolm X? How did he rise to leadership? What legacy did he leave? The Autobiography of Malcolm X as Told to Alex Haley explains how Malcolm X rose from a life of poverty and crime to become a significant leader in the civil rights movement. It provides insights into his fascinating life and explores how his beliefs changed over time. Continue reading for an overview of The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Beating the Street by Peter Lynch: Book Overview & Takeaways

Do individual investors have a chance on Wall Street? What are the safest types of investments in the long term? In Beating the Street, Peter Lynch explores how ordinary investors can outperform the market—and the pricey Wall Street fund managers who assemble stock portfolios. He says that the key is hard work, diligence, and persistence in picking the right stocks to build a winning portfolio. Continue reading for an overview of Beating the Street by famed mutual fund manager Peter Lynch.

Malcolm X’s Mother: Lessons From the Life of Louise Little

Who was Malcolm X’s mother? What role did she play in his life? What can her life teach us today? Though she looked white, Louise Little was a multiracial woman who was married to a Black man in the first half of the 20th century. Malcolm X writes about how his mother endured the tragic death of her husband, struggled to find work during the Great Depression, and ultimately lost access to her children. Read more to learn about the life of Malcolm X’s mother and what it reveals about the era she lived in.

Examining Peter Lynch’s Investment Strategies & Principles

What are Peter Lynch’s investment strategies? Are they sound and effective? What are some alternative approaches to investing? In Beating the Street, famed mutual fund manager Peter Lynch presents principles and strategies by which non-professional, individual investors can beat the pros. We examine several of his recommendations and see how they stand the test of time. We also compare them with the advice of other investment gurus. Read more for an analytic look at Peter Lynch’s investment approach.

Malcolm X in Boston: Shorty, the Ghetto, & the Road to Prison

Why was Malcolm X drawn to Boston? What did he learn about society there? How did he end up in prison? In Malcolm X’s autobiography, he details his early life and why he chose to move to Boston when he was a teenager. While there, he got a firsthand view of both sides of the coin of Black culture—and one side in particular drew him in. Keep reading to learn about Malcolm X in Boston.

James Williams’s Communication Skills Training: Book Overview

Do you go into conversations with confidence? How often do people misunderstand you? When is it appropriate to ask someone specific personal questions? Communication Skills Training, a book by James Williams, explains that good communication skills don’t come naturally. Instead, they’re built up over time through intentional practice. Williams lays out the skills you need for interpersonal communication and provides a few tips on public speaking. Continue reading for an overview of this practical book that can help you hear and be heard more effectively.

Don’t Sacrifice Your #1 Business Priority on the Altar of Growth

What’s the core work of your business? Have you let important matters get in the way of the single most critical matter? Paul Jarvis warns business leaders about the pitfalls of growth. While growth can be an important aspect of business success, the most important priority is too often sacrificed on its altar. Growth creates many complications that you can and should deal with, but you mustn’t let it chip away at the core. Read more to understand how growth can make it difficult for you to tend to your top business priority in the way you should.