Customer Reviews

They Just Don't Get It! Changing Resistance into Understanding

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a short, fun to read book (with great illustrations!) that gives practical and thought provoking advise on how to deal with conflict and resistance. Not only useful in a business environment, this can easily be applied to personal relationships. Highly recommended!

Leslie Yerkes, author of my favorite book about fun at work, Fun Works, branches out in her new book written with Randy Martin to consider the everyday problem of a manager's having their initiative, (i.e. explanation, etc.) resisted and misunderstood by co-workers. She smartly unpacks this to reveal that the largest part of the solution is discovered via the manager's insight into his or her own propensity to misunderstand and resist change.

In this brief and engaging book, Yerkes and Martin offer a breezy fictional narrative to exemplify the problem and next extract a sensible and practical method for transforming how one constructively approaches misunderstanding and resistance. Ms. Yerkes makes an excellent case for giving her commonsense approach and its five keys a test in the workplace.

They Just Don't Get It turned out to be thought provoking; (and, was especially so through a second reading). Even if this book only serves the purpose of reminding managers that employees are every bit as capable as managers are, its appearance will be timely in the current atmosphere of: obsession with productivity, workplace insecurity, and domineering supervisors. Recommended...

While on a plane reading They Just Don't Get It, the passenger next to me became quite interested in the title. She quickly launched into telling me that when she asks her husband to help her bring in the groceries, he ignores her or complains. She was frustrated because she does most of the housework and wants him to help her with just one home task -- but he doesn't get it. How often do we come across friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family members that seem to be on another planet? But they aren't...

While initially I felt this fable was quite simplistic, I realized later it had stuck with me in a strong and positive way. It came immediately to mind as I had a conversation with a prickly staff member who often sees things completely differently than the way I do. The wisdom of Leslie's book came to me as this staff member became annoyed with me. I felt myself tighten and getting annoyed in response. But I remembered the message of this book, and focused on staying relaxed and just listening. From then on the conversation shifted, flowing easily without me remaining tense or annoyed. I was more interested in what my employee said, able to compliment her on her positive areas and converse openly about the areas where we differed.

Teams and departments could use this book to foster improved communication, planning, and understanding. I've given it to a non-profit Director to read and share with her team. I applaud Leslie's efforts to make the workplace better. The skills she teaches and reminds us about also benefit our everyday relationships as well; what a gift.

Here's another one of those books with few words, large type, lots of illustrations, and a whole lot of white space. For those who read "serious" books with full page after full page of text, this may look like a throw-away. They said the same thing about "Who Moved My Cheese" and....best seller!

My forecast is that many people will buy this book like an expensive greeting card to send a message to people who don't get it. Even at a price of twenty bucks (remember inexpensive books?), this book will be purchased in bulk and distributed to all those employees who need to make some ever so subtle shifts in their behavior...if they want to survive in the corporate jungle.

The story, as easy to read as a fairy tale, begins with the main character being irritated because other people don't get it. Ever feel that way? Ever NOT feel that way? As the reader is lured through page after page, the tables turn and Main Character has been had by the moral. Sometimes other people don't get it because YOU don't get it! Zap! Right between the eyes when you weren't even looking. The book was well-constructed to set you up and then whack the message right at you.

After you get it, the authors share some normal text explanations of what it all means. They take the fable into management-speak or consultant-speak-your choice-to give the reader the explanation of what they just got. Again, however, the pages are barely filled with ink, so the book is anything but intimidating.

Sound bites. Object lessons. Small, non-threatening. Cute title. Recipe for success.

As a Certified Management Consultant striving to help clients get it, I gained some valuable lessons from this book. I'll think more about the messages of this book next time I interact with people who need to get it. I'd bet you will, too.

This is a deceptive little book. Beyond the light text and funny illustrations, it has a serious message that is difficult to convey and harder to practice-the importance of listening to and learning from others.
Managers and human resources personnel deserve to have a copy of their own. They Just Don't Get It will make a nice gift year round.

A must read for leaders at all levels. This book is deceptive with its large print and simple story. The message is far from simple, and a lesson most of us learn the hard way. When put in a leadership position it is natural to assume your ideas, plans, or programs are the correct ones, and your associates will follow. So wrong! A leader needs to motivate, engage and grow associates.

This book provides very clear guidelines to develop the skill of changing team resistance into team growth. The 5 Keys to "getting it" have stuck with me!! I highly recommend you buy it - read it - share it.

Simple is Good!!!

We've all encountered resistance to our good ideas at one time or another. This book is intended for anyone who frequently has difficulty selling their ideas to employees, peers or clients. It describes a manager's unsuccessful strategy for selling an idea to her team.
Unlike academic tomes with complex, often unworkable solutions, Yerkes and Martin then offer five simple "keys" anyone can apply to communicate their ideas to others more effectively. "They Just Don't Get It" is a quick read that provides invaluable advice to anyone whose job depends on selling their ideas to others.

Every time I share this book with a client the reaction is...."Wow I get it". However, the challenge come in when they say..."but they don't get it". This fun light parable requires people to slow down and understand a framework for changing resitance into understanding. When they get that the impact is transforamtional. It also reminds us that life is to short to take everything seriously. "They Just Don't Get It" outlines Keys that can create dramatic change in your personal and professional lives. These keys are simple yes but mastery can be a lifelong process. This story sends a message of positive change for all. If you recieve the message share it and live it.

A "simple" book or teaching requires really great wisdom! This is a "simple" book, easy and quick to read. One of my clients, who recieved the book as a gift, said "I knew all of this but I didn't remember that I knew". She also told me that the ideas of the book had brought her and her manager to a new level of conversation and planning.
Leslie Yerkes is a thoroughly wise consultant - her books - this and all of the others - give insights - even to realize that you already know. That helps to build self reliance!

This book is fun to read! More fun than you expect from a business book. Leslie Yerkes and Randy Martin present their theme in an appealing and original way. The book has a wonderful sense of humor, good flow, fresh characters, and is a completely enjoyable read cover to cover. How can you resist a book that includes an acknowledgement to Walt Kelly's Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us." Improving communication and changing resistance into understanding are critically important soft skills. The Get It! keys are right on target: taking responsibility, practicing humility, beginning with questions, remaining open, and believing they can. This smart and clever book should be read by all managers and team leaders.