Get to the Point! Second Edition: Simplify, Sharpen, and Sell Your Message

Deliver razor-sharp points in all of your work communications! This updated classic enables you to captivate any audience, create meaningful impact, and make your words matter.

Every time you communicate, you're trying to move someone to feel, think, and act. You're trying to make a point. But very few communicators--regardless of their purpose or position--know their points, have true points, or even understand what a point is, rendering themselves pointless.

In this expanded second edition of the bestselling Get to the Point!, Joel Schwartzberg draws on his decades of experience as a strategic communications executive and public speaking coach to deliver a masterclass in high-impact communications for the digital age.

The new edition features a substantial amount of new content, including surprising research, real-world insight, and actionable tips that meet the modern needs of professionals up and down the organizational chart.

Using his trademark encouraging and often humorous voice, Schwartzberg helps you:

• Understand the Power of Points: Learn how points outperform topics, themes, and observations.
• Identify and Elevate Your Key Points: Create impactful speeches and slide presentations, emails and work chats, and Zoom and in-person meeting communications
• Distill Complex Ideas: Transform complicated concepts into crystal-clear messages.
• Boost Leadership Perceptions: Enhance impressions of competence and confidence.
• Hook Audiences: Start and finish with compelling openings and closings.
• Tell Impactful Stories: Use stories, examples, and data in a way that highlights your points, not distract from them.
• Conquer Public Speaking Jitters: Use proven techniques to stay calm and in control
• Leverage AI Tools: Use artificial intelligence to support--not replace--effective communication
• Avoid Common Pitfalls: Sidestep the landmines that derail most communicators.

Whether you're a C-suite executive, salesperson, scientist, or student, Get to the Point! is a blueprint for evolving your written and spoken communications from informing to inspiring and pointless to powerful.

Don't just share ideas and make an impression. Champion your points and make a difference!

Author: Joel Schwartzberg
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Published: 06/17/2025
Pages: 144
Binding Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9798890571052

About the Author
Joel Schwartzberg is a presenter, communications trainer, and writer who works across a wide range of industries. He was most recently Senior Director of Strategic and Executive Communications for the ASPCA and previously held senior roles at Nickelodeon and PBS. Joel's articles appear frequently in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, CNBC, and Inc.com. He is a frequent keynote speaker and can be found at joelschwartzberg.net. Joel is the author of The Language of Leadership and the award-winning first edition of Get to the Point.