Nickname: Bill

Review: I've seen Chambers speak in large settings and directly in small groups to customers. You would think he wouldn't talk about the Human Network when dealing with a large customer that is having an issue, but he does! He always sells the solution and the idea, never the technology. You won't catch him throwing out jargon or usually even product names when he goes out on sales calls. He's really always discussing the high level stuff. And it works, fantastically.

Date reviewed: Oct 12, 2006 10:44 PM

Nickname: etops

Review: I would also agree with the author of this article. I had the opportunity to listen to Chambers a number of times. He is really a magician in front of an audience. Everyone feels that he is talking to them personally.

Date reviewed: Oct 12, 2006 10:09 PM

Nickname: Listen

Review: Sigh....I'd rather listen to someone like Lou Gerstner where the emphasis is on content and not presentation skills. Guys like Chambers are too slick for me.

Date reviewed: Oct 12, 2006 7:10 PM

Nickname: Josh

Review: I agree--the story and vision is excellent, although the human network is not appropriate. A human network is communications between humans, and the emotional element that drives these communications. It's not a machine driven element. I understand the Internet has changed everything, but Human Network?

Date reviewed: Oct 12, 2006 4:39 PM

Nickname: Joe

Review: Chambers is an excellent speaker, but at times he comes off more as an actor. This is really been coming out lately and I do beleive it is his rehersals of the preso's and his own self confidence that he deserves to have. It does seem to go over the top at times though. Yes I have heard him speak many times. This is just my opinion though, and I do find him to be one of the best speakers, along with the likes of Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan.

Date reviewed: Oct 12, 2006 3:11 PM

Nickname: Paul

Review: I have heard John Chambers speak several times and agree that he is the most charismatic speaker that I have ever heard. His presence on a stage is incredible and his ability to hold the audience's attention is amazing. The comparison to a Baptist minister is right on, perhaps his slight southern accent helps. I have also met with Chambers alone or in small groups and he is no different. You just want to believe everything he says. I have often felt that much of Cisco's success is due to Chambers' charisma as much as their products and have wondered what will happen when he is no longer there. Finding someone who can come anywhere close to Chambers in generating enthusiasm about Cisco will be very difficult. CEO's should take a major lesson from Chambers when it comes their public facing responsibilities.

Date reviewed: Oct 12, 2006 2:16 PM

Nickname: Abe

Review: I take the point that Chambers is an excellent speaker, and that is always an important skill. However, I assume in their communications to potential customers he / they still have to speak about what they sell rather than about nice human stories. After all they sell routers and switches, not a cure for a disease or so.

Date reviewed: Oct 12, 2006 11:26 AM