Do conversations ever catch you off-guard? Do you ever feel unprepared for conversations that pop up spontaneously yet seem to matter a lot and to affect dramatically the course of our lives? These situations often occur in families and in businesses, and this book attempts to prepare us better for handling those weighty situations.
This book came recommended to me as a part of a book club at my workplace. I can see why. It takes the topic (crucial conversations) and parses it from just about every angle. Readers will not only gain self-knowledge and self-awareness; they will benefit from developing skills in handling difficult situations. This mastery will allow its adherents to handle even everyday situations and relationships with greater ease and skill.
It focuses on our ability to “dialogue” openly and honestly – with a free and thorough exchange of information. To some, this skill might seem obvious. For me, however, this skill is tangential to my main work at a computer screen. Relationships still are very important to my work, but I am not able to give prolonged thought to developing these over time. Conversations sort of pop up to me. The skills and concepts in this book empower me to handle those situations better – and with less anxiety.
One concept I find particularly illuminating is that we all have a tendency to either silence (passive) or violence (controlling) in the way that we react. In truth, both of these are enemies of good dialogue because they do not extend the conversation.
As the authors acknowledge, conversation for conversation’s sake seems to be not a great aim, but conversation for the sake of getting things done contains a higher aim. By learning how to work with others better, we learn how to become more effective and have greater influence.
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes are High
by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
Copyright (c) 2002
ISBN13 9780071401944
eBook
Genre: Management, Communications
www.amazon.com