The Jelly Effect – Andy Bounds

What is it about?

Andy Bounds is a brilliant presenter and communicator. His awards include “Britain’s Sales Trainer of the Year”.

The Jelly Effect is all about achieving effective communications, focused on the workplace but much of the learnings can be applied more broadly.

The context of the book is that so many of us have a tendency to go for quantity rather than quality when we are preparing our communications. Many people, when faced with the need to deliver a presentation or send a critical email get into a bit of a panic around how on earth can we find sufficient material. How much do I need to share to persuade people that I am really bright and expert in my chosen field.

This is not what presentations and emails should be about. Rather, they should be about

  • Decide what you want the audience to do as a result of your presentation or email – what Andy refers ot as AFTERs
    • Always context first
    • Frame of the other person
    • Thoroughness is key
    • Extra info
    • Required information only
  • Work out what the truly key points are that you need to make to persuade the audience to respond in the way you wish. Truly key points – not the long list of possible things
  • Work out what’s in it for the audience to act – think about this from the audience’s point of view. Make it absolutely clear how they will benefit from taking action

And, Andy provides loads of hints and tips about how to go about preparing for a presentation – both in terms of what slides you might need but also, more importantly what you need to do so that you are prepared fully for the session.

Who should read this book?

Anyone whose job includes sending emails that require recipients to take action or delivering presentations that require audience action. Everyone?

My key learnings

  • Look at it from the audience’s perspective – Work really hard on getting into the heads of the audience, how to frame the information that makes it easy for the audience to understand and makes it clear what’s in it for them to act
  • Preparation time – getting the right balance between preparing slides, preparing your key messages/ lines, rehearsing, rehearsing, rehearsing

Available formats

  • Softback
  • Kindle