A guide offers a blueprint for improving communication in all areas of work and life.

“Communication is at the root of who we are,” writes Gerber at the start of her book. “It’s the glue that holds any relationship together.” And yet, she immediately notes, most people are terrible at it. In response to this, the author introduces the concept of four “Emotional Magnets” and lays out insights for how readers can identify and analyze their own Magnets. Relationships, both at home and work, tend to stand or fail on the index of communication, Gerber points out. Emotional Magnetism is all about concentrating on what people need by using the four Magnets: “Safety, Achievement, Value, and Experience.” The author examines each of these, reminding readers that “no one is 100 percent driven by one Emotional Magnet.” The emphasis will change depending on the person and the circumstance, but the importance of the Magnets remains constant. Gerber draws on her own experiences working with people and training them in order to flesh out some of the ways individuals tend to be lazy, inefficient, or simply clueless in their communications with others. The author makes liberal use of bullets in order to clarify her points, and her advice is sound throughout. “As a good communicator, I don’t force people into things; I communicate in such a way that they see the value of what I’m saying,” Gerber writes. “I entice them to do things by being honest about what they’ll get out of it.” This sentiment clearly guides the whole book; at every turn, she’s empathetic without excusing faults, provides encouragements without downplaying difficulties, and focuses on her concept of Emotional Magnets without being doctrinaire on any subject. Readers who feel their own communication skills are lacking will find a great deal of useful counsel in these pages.

An engaging and thoughtful four-point plan to help clarify the goals of communication.