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Summary: This book is helping me to change my life.
Review: A couple months ago I purchased Crucial Conversations for all my employees. Every two weeks we sit down and review what we've learned and what we need to do next. We are still learning, but we all have seen improvements in our ability to get things done. Additionally, the final results are improving.I've used these tools in difficult conversations with investors and others and have found that I'm more disciplined in my approach to dialogue and persistent in getting it. I even use it with my family and together we are learning some of the key principles in the book. Not every argument goes away, but we at least love and respect each other at the end of the discussion. The principles and tools taught in this book are helping me to change me. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone and I promise you'll see long lasting, positive results!
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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.
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Summary: Loved it!
Review: As a business owner I am always looking for ways to improve, on a short time budget. This book was a delight to read. Very informitive, lots of new and useful information. I was able to put what I learned to use immediately. I would recommend it to anyone for both personal and business relationships. Sales people will definitley benefit. You wont want to put it down. I will look forward to the sequil(s) What a bargain!
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Summary: Outstanding tool that gets results!
Review: As a coach to both individuals and groups, I see more costly problems in the workplace that revolve around the conversations that are not being had. Executives and high perofmance teams have been derailed by the dead elephants in the room. Crucial Conversations is absolutely the best book on the subject of difficult and critical communication. The book is very well organized, presenting clear steps to create an environment in which the hard conversation can be had. There are so many tools in this book that if it were not well organized and presented in stages, the reader would be overwhelmed. Why I and others are so excited about the book is its immediate results. You can start using the concepts and skills before you have finished the book! The foundations of making the environment safe - even for someone you may not like or respect is particulalry effective. I have been very pleased with the results I have experienced - as well as my clients. Every leader should have this book on their bookshelf!
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Summary: Outstanding tool that gets results!
Review: As a coach to both individuals and groups, I see the very costly problems in the workplace that result from the important conversations that are not occurring because they are too hard or scary. The cost includes harm to relationships, careers and the bottom line. Both executives and high performance teams have been derailed by not addressing the dead elephants in the room. Crucial Conversations is absolutely the best book on the subject of difficult and critical communication. The book is very well organized, presenting clear steps to create an environment in which the hard conversation can happen. There are so many tools in this book that if it were not so well organized and presented in stages, the reader would be overwhelmed. The authors handle this very well - you can tell there was experience and expertise in adult learning informing the structure of the book. Why my clients and I become so excited about the book is its immediate results. You can start using the concepts and skills before you have finished the book! The foundations of making the environment safe - even for someone you may not like or respect is particularly effective. I have been very pleased with the results I have experienced - as well as my clients. Every leader should have this book on their bookshelf! A bonus to readers is the continued support from the authors on their website described in the book. There is a wealth of additional information, interactive reviews, assessments and even video vignettes that illustrate the learning points with relevance and humor. For those truly smitten, there are training courses available to assist in obtaining personal mastery or even to teach the material if desired. I recommend this book and Primal Leadership to top-level executives in the federal government and private sector. I, and they, have never been disappointed at the difference it has made. Enjoy!
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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.
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Summary: Fundamental Truths
Review: As the program manager of a cross-functional product development team, I daily arbitrate or engage in emotionally charged crucial conversations. The principles in this book enable me to identify these crucial situations, diffuse tension, draw out meaning from each of the parties, and ultimately reach the best action plan possible. Most importantly, since I started using the principles in this book, mutual respect and unity on my team has increased dramatically--positional debate and argument is almost non-existent. Reading this book also helped me change my perspective of crucial conversations. Instead of fearing and avoiding them, I now recognize them as incredible opportunities for me to lead. My recurring thought as I read this book was that these are "fundamental truths". The authors use accessible writing with minimal jargon and no word invention. Additionally, they reinforce their theories with an abundance of applicable technique. These are not trendy gimmicks that manipulate people into agreeing with you. Rather, the authors teach fundamentally sound communication skills that enable the reader to fully understand others and then to explain their own perspective in a respectful, non-confrontational way. The principles taught in this book are universally applicable. Not only have I used them in business, but they also help me strengthen my communication with family. Likewise, I know I will use these skills in the team oriented Stanford MBA program that I will begin this fall.
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Summary: Powerful & Actionable Way to Produce Results When It Matters
Review: Communication problems are everywhere ... and so are potential solutions! I've seen a lot of books and training programs that purport to teach people to be more effective communicators. Most teach tried-and-true, but old-and-generic, understandings and skills that help people become somewhat more effective. They do not, however, teach people to be really effective in those few important communication challenges that really matter. That is the contribution of Crucial Conversations. In my consulting practice, I've noticed repeatedly that many managers and executives don't take on the tough issues or don't handle them well or, even worse, handle them in a way that creates positive harm in their relationship with others. When I talk to them about their situations, I find that they know they can be better communicators on tough issues; they just don't know how! That's where Crucial Conversations adds real value. In my experience, the conceptual model and skill set captured in this book are, at the same time, both powerful and actionable! And, you will like the way this book is written...a series of good examples (from work and non-work settings) to exemplify each point and help readers relate to the principles and skills. I find myself regularly sending this book to people who are "stuck" and who need a new way to think about how they can take a more active, and more powerful, role in producing the results they want.
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Summary: A solid formula for safe productive conversations
Review: Crucial Conversations emphasizes SAFETY in difficult conversations -- and I enjoyed every page. My ex was volatile and I was often stymied when he started yelling over the slightest thing. Had I attended to safety rather than slogging at getting my point across, our conversations could have been more productive. I recommend this book highly and another book which totally enhanced my life called Optimal Thinking--How to Be Your Best Self. Optimal Thinking gave me the tool to be my BEST no matter what I face and to make the most of every situation. Both of these books are ground breaking classics.
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Summary: Practical Wisdom
Review: Crucial Conversations is one of those rare books that deals with an extremely important topic, provides new insights and combines that with actionable advice. The book is interestingly written with examples from all aspects of people's lives. It is chock-full of wisdom, but most importantly, the author's give you excellent ways to apply it. Crucial Conversations is a "crucial" read for leaders. Jack Zenger
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