Insights on Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking - Kindle Edition

More discussion needs to be had about the topic of this book. So many of us continue in dysfunctional relationships without addressing the core issues through crucial conversations. I absolutely agree that these conversations need to start with what is in your heart and with your motivations. We must start with the right motives and be prepared to own our part. Another takeaway I had was that we need to look for the why behind others’ reactions in order to understand them and seek mutual purpose and respect. I also realized that I often go silent when I don’t feel safe in conversation which is good to be aware of when I enter these conversations. One thing I had a hard time agreeing with was the statement that “emotions don’t just happen.” I don’t believe you can control which emotions you experience, but you can control how you respond and use the emotions you feel to either connect with or conflict with others. Either way I agree that we should not blame others for our emotions and should remain curious and invite everyone into the decision-making process as we seek reconciliation.

I read this book for a seminary class on intercultural communication. It is a great book on how to have hard conversations with people especially when you are in a leadership position. This book is a good read for leaders no matter what field they are in. Both church leadership and secular business leadership. It helped me both in my church ministry and my secular job as a supervisor.

About 30 pages were folded when received and when I unfolded them the pages were abnormally longer than the rest both vertically and horizontally.

I had to read this book as a “team building” exercise with work, the problems with that are for an entirely separate platform review. Not only is this book a total waste of paper the arrogance of the authors makes it intolerable. To follow their hullabaloo guidelines, “what will you learn” nothing more after the first chapter of, and this is said with all the respect I can muster, substance. The majority of the “lessons” are better learned from an episode of the PBS children’s show “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” or deciphering the underlying themes of “Bluey”. Another example of how children’s entertainment explains these topics better, “Feedback only hurts when we believe it threatens one or both of our most fundamental psychological needs; safety(perceived, physical, social, or material security) and worth (a sense of self-respect, self regard or self-confidence)”
No, sometime feedback hurts because the person giving it is an obnoxious dunce. Sven, the reindeer, from Frozen 2 got this one right, “ your feelings are real, and you feel what you feel”. Chapter 10 can quickly be summarized in one thought: communicate clearly on how you are going to make the decision. Honestly, I could continue but I feel as if my point had been clearly asserted.

The book ironically repeats its self over and over just in rearranged words, thrown away soap opera scripts for examples, and a superfluity of quotes taken out of context. It attempts to help you ensure that you “master my stories” when it actuality the book needs to master its own that it is mundane with very little value added to anyone’s life who reads it.

Very specific w details. Well organized plus summaries

Item arrived quickly and as described. Great seller!