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Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High

List Price: $16.95
Your Price: $11.02
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Shall Be Useful For Average Conversationalists
Review: The book contains some commonly known ideas. The authors conceptualized them and organized them systematically. It may be too "easy" for skilled and mature conversationalists.

A strength: it was more than outward skills to "manipulate" other people. It encouraged people to develop genuine relationship, e.g. self reflection, empathy, win-win achievement.

Other strengths of the book:
· The whole chained process: get ready to dialogue Þ dialogue Þ decision making Þ assignments.
· Not only about handling yourself, but also our counterpart in a conversation.
· There were advices on specific circumstances.
· Simple language, useful examples. Easy to understand and not boring to read.

Readers usually doubt how much of the skills can they really pick up. This is always a concern to me, but I think at least weakness/problem awareness can help. The last chapter actually talked about how to absorb and to use the skills learnt.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: The book presents a wonderful - detailed, substantiated, exemplified, and backed by common sense - guide on how to make your point in a persuasive yet non-confrontational way. A powerful set of tools!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Somewhat eye opening
Review: The book's thesis is simple: master the few critical conversations that either make or break your career and personal relationships and you can greatly enhance your satisfaction. Unfortunately, we often bungle these crucial conversations precisely because these conversations are important and emotionally charged. Our own bodily functions and emotions block our own ability to rationally and calmly analyze the situation and speak in the language and tone required to resolve delicate and complex situations.

The main problem with the book is its explaination on how to master these crucial conversations. The author writes 150 pages worth of conversational techniques. From my experience, communication is not a technique, but a blend of one's experience, emotion, intellect, physicality (body language and voice), and genetic disposition. Although everyone can improve their communication skills, I believe reading about few steps in a book is hardly effective or worthwhile.

Instead, I think the author should have focused on the crux of his methdology. That is, mastering crucial conversations involves controlling one's emotions (emotional intelligence) in a way that one does not lose emotional equilibrium despite one's almost irresisitble desire to do so in critical situations.

But I have a feeling the book would have been less than 100 pages if the author had chosen such route. And such a short, albeit more effective, book does not make for best sellers.


Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "Crucial" Hits a Home Run
Review: The last thing the world needs is another book on communication, yet "Crucial Conversations" cuts through the maze of pscho babble and provides practical insights in a creative format. The case studies alone were worth the time.

Well worth the read for those who lead change, work with or in teams, or see authentic communication as an important competency worth developing.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: I Am Disappointed
Review: The reviews here led me to believe the book could be a valuable asset to me in my career and overall life. Unfortunately the authors have such a loose grasp of their own message they cannot convey it in any manner except contrived scenarios that are reminiscent of a high school sociology class.

I am not saying this to insult the authors or those who find the book useful. I simply expected a higher level of information presented, well, differently. I will keep looking, in the meantime my copy will return to Amazon.com for sale.

Rating: 5 stars
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.

Rating: 5 stars
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: 5 stars
Summary: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are Hig
Review: This book provides practical tools to use in highly emotional and very important conversations at home, work, or in other situations.

This book will be a staple for anyone who works in a job that requires conversation. Using these tools will change your life. Everyone should read this book.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Cheap Knock-Off of "Difficult Conversations"
Review: This book tries to put itself on a par with "Difficult Conversations", but it's not even in the same league. Where "Difficult Conversations" was rigorous and based on years of research, discussion and application, this shoddy knock-off was just written off the top of the authors' heads. Don't waste your time or your money. Go straight to the source: Difficult Conversations.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Start now and change your life!
Review: Too many of us never say what is really on our mind, that is until we let the pressure build and it escapes in a way we regret. This book will change your life. It provides the tools you need to commit to meaningful dialogue with those who matter most: family, co-workers and friends. You can have candor and respect at the same time.
The book is a delightful read, adding humor along the way. It is powerful in the examples taken from real life. It is meant to be read time and again. You will want to practice and perfect these skills, using the time-tested principles until they become a part of you.


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