|
This is one of those books that makes me want to read it over again just so that I can remember the details. I took it slow and read through and thought through how I could incorporate the ideas suggested in this book into my business and personal life. If you like to tailor your conversations, want them to be more fulfilling and want to have more fruitful and powerful conversations, this book is for you. The post-read introspection and revelations are delightful.
The CEOs were horrible leaders, but the rest of the employees simply followed like sheep and punched a clock so they could have their wide screen TVs and vacations to wherever. I suspect this book (and it's sister book, Fierce Leadership) is so popular because it goes over many things most of us already KNOW, but are often too chicken to actually DO or even try. Other reviewers have said "If only employees of Enron and WorldCom had read this book.". convinced they needed to "play the game" or ok with letting their co-workers have a conscience and take the heat instead of sticking together. Get your backup plan in place before you try anything you read here. Upper management was aware.
Problem is, telling the truth has consequences. It's like we're living our secret honesty fantasies through this book. To sum up, this book doesn't say anything most people don't already know. That is why they were tried in court. Too many employees simply exchanged their integrity for a paycheck. So does not telling the truth.
Few people are going to give you a big hug and thank you for caring enough to square with them.
I own literally several hundered business /management/life books and have read everyone of them. This has helped me change realtionships business/ personal to more meaningful realities. Fierce conversations was recommended from a medical conference I attended. The first two pages were so profound that I reread them at least fifty times before I read the book. The information in this book can be life changing, as it has mine. Thank you Susan
and I hate books like that. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R36X1YLTISJXRS Many long books are boring. They read like some PhD is speaking to other academics. This book is NOT boring. It gives good examples of how to tackle tough conversations and will make you think about all the relationships in your life.
If you follow the steps, you will not only talk through the tough issues, you will build better relationships. The appendix has some wonderful worksheets and questions and there is a User's Guide at the end.The book is well written, easy to read with lots of helpful examples. But an underlying theme of the book is that most conversations are with your self. We talk about things that are safe rather than the things that really need to be talked about.Susan Scott has written a wonderful book that address the importance of having real conversations and then tells you how to make sure you can pull them off.For starters, she says the purpose of a fierce conversation is to interrogate reality, provoke learning, tackle tough challenges and enrich relationships." The last point is so important. After all, most people I know do not like confrontation.
But a fierce conversation is not about who can shout the loudest.The book is based on the fundamental truth that most of the time we have polite conversations rather than real ones. What are you pretending not to know. The title is probably a little misleading and perhaps intimidating. This is true for work relationships as well as personal relationships.Scott addresses five different types of conversations.
On occasions, other people are involved. The big lesson is to interrogate reality in all your conversations. Lots of people have tough conversations but often these cause the relationship to deteriorate. They are: team conversations, coaching conversations, delegation conversations and confrontational conversations. A polite conversation is a failed conversation because you did not talk about the issues that are crying to be addressed.
If your relationships at home or work could use improvement, then this is a must read book. If you want to truly master fierce conversations, you must master them with your self first.It is not a book to just read and file away. This is a book you need to keep handy, refer to often. If you implement just a portion of the wisdom in this book, it will change your life. They are: Master the courage to interrogate reality, Come out from behind yourself and make the conversation real, Be here, prepared to be nowhere else, Tackle your toughest challenge today, Obey your instincts, Take responsibility for your own wake and Let silence do the heavy lifting.I do not know anyone who uses silence as they should. Truly a life changing book. And the title sounds like you will be having toe to toe, screaming matches.
Susan has written a companion book that I also highly recommend - Fierce Leadership - check it out. And she gives the model and example for each.Susan gives seven principles to guide a person in their fierce conversations. Most people are too eager to tell their story, show how much they know, they forget to let silence into the conversation.The book does a marvelous job of discussing how to truly have fierce conversations. What are you afraid to discuss with your boss/ co-worker or spouse.
|
