Rating: 
Summary: highly recommended
Review: I read Crucial Conversations a few weeks ago, and just finished with Difficult Conversations by Stone, et al. Both seem to present many of the same concepts, elaborating, in a sense, on the theme 'Seek first to understand, then to be understood' from Covey's Seven Habits book. All in all, I much prefer Crucial Conversations. To my mind, it is much more concise and readable, and the concepts are therefore easier to grasp and to implement. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: The title is too modest
Review: This book is not just about how to get better at really risky conversations. It it were it would still be worth the money. It's about how to turn around your life, your team and even your organization. It has done all three for me. Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Crucial Conversations - a welcome advisor
Review: Some months ago, I was given a copy of this book to read.
I thought my sons might like to read it and gave them each a copy of it.The younger one, Stephen, is commuting weekly between Georgia and the silicon valley, and travels to Europe twice a month.
On his short flights throughout Western Europe to meet with various company executives, he says, he always has "Crucial conversations" in his bag, and frequently refers to it 'in-flight'. He says the book is a valuable companion, and has been helping him in numerous situations.
Rating:
Summary: Crucial Conversations - a welcome advisor
Review: Some months ago, I was given a copy of this book to read.
I thought my sons might like to read it and gave them each a copy. The younger one, Stephen, is commuting weekly between Georgia and the silicon valley, and travels to Europe twice a month.
On his short flights throughout Western Europe to meet with various company executives, he says, he always has "Crucial Conversations" in his bag, and frequently refers to it 'in-flight'. He says the book is a valuable companion, and has been helping him in numerous situations.
Rating:
Summary: Crucial Conversations
Review: As an executive coach working in merger integration activity for many years I have found that the wisdom found in Crucial Conversations can be worth millions and even hundreds of millions of dollars to the clients I work with. Far too many mergers fail because executives avoid having crucial conversations. Finding an authentic path to work through tough issues and critical moments of truth while building long term relationships is a real art. Crucial conversations is filled with practical wisdom from individuals who have discovered "simplicity on the far side of complexity" as it relates to this most difficult and important subject. In my business and personal life, I have found the ideas in this book are invaluable in helping get to the root of difficult issues while maintaining and even enhancing relationships. Very insightful and brilliantly practical.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for any enviroment
Review: A few years ago when I worked for a giant communications company we would always say "We are in the communications business but we just don't know how to communicate with each other". The company would spend millions in employee development to improve their skills. Today things have not changed that much except that training budgets are much smaller. The need to understand and be understood is greater than ever in the enviroment that we live. This book,in the hands of every employee, will pay big dividends to all that will read it. Its a great tool for the 21st Century.
Rating:
Summary: Find out what others are really thinking!
Review: Every chapter in this book had great meaning to me and provided significant ideas. A part that had a special effect on me was "Explore Others' Paths. In the International business that I am in, I am privileged to work with people of various cultures I find that some cultures allow for the expression of emotions. Other cultures tend to hide them. I have a real challenge in getting these people to really express what they feel. I find that the "Ask, Mirror, Paraphrase and Prime" technique works well in these situations. Another area that is close to home is the chapter on "Master My Stories." If we know that we are making up stories about critical situations then for sure the person across the table has lots of stories in his or her mind. Reading and following the principles in this book is just a great way to improve any relationship where there is something on the line whether it be love, concern, money, trust, or any other type of connection. It was a real eye opener.
Rating:
Summary: Crucial Conversations - Crucial Results
Review: I have read Crucial Conversations cover to cover 4 times now. The results in my business and my marriage have been amazing. The book is well written and easy to understand. It teaches step by step skills to help you master the content. Before reading this book, I thought influential people possessed a natural ability to effectively handle conflict. After reading the book, I now realize that there are specific skill sets that anyone can learn (and master) to effectively deal with these "High Stake," "Strong Emotions," and "Opposing Opinion" conversations. My confidence and productivity has increased in every area of my life (My business has increased by 30%-50% since I read the book the first time) and I am now effectively handling conversations with my wife that once caused constant upset. I would recommend this book for anyone 1) wanting increased results and 2) willing to have a profound breakthrough in how they communicate. It has made a profound difference for me.
Rating:
Summary: Crucial Conversations: Helping You To Be All You Can Be
Review: Most books deliver well on the "what." Crucial Conversations delivers on the "how." Those "how to skills" are helping my direct reports and me change the culture of our division. More importantly, it is helping me to generate useful techniques that I can use at work, at home, and during my volunteer work with community service organizations. It has assisted me in identifying what I really want as I dialog with others and lays out the necessary steps to achieve my outcome(s) while maintaining good and positive human relationships. This book is a "must read" for organizational personnel and individuals who have become casual communicators in high stakes conversations, thus missing out on valuable and collaborative resolutions to problems, assisting in negatively labeling others, and settling on mediocre business and personal relationships.
Rating:
Summary: The little difference that makes all the difference
Review: This book can change the way you work and the way you live. Someone has said that there is really very little difference between people---but that little difference makes a great deal of difference. This book has made that difference in my life and also in the lives of my students. When I first read it I was impacted by the logical and practical truth it contained and so decided to use it in a college class that I teach. The response has been significant. At the end of the semester many students wrote me a note saying how this had positively impacted their relationships at home and at work and thanked me for giving them a tool to change the direction of their life. This is not a quick fix to improving relationships. It is hard work to apply, especially since it is work that begins with me first. But if you are willing to take the journey, the view on the other side is worth the effort.
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