Customer Reviews

Winning Without Intimidation : How to Master the Art of Positive Persuasion in Today's Real World in Order to Get What You Want, When You Want It

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If you're tired of hassling with uncooperative people in your life, READ THIS BOOK! Easy to read and practical, this book explains the lost art of "positive persuasion" and how it can make daily communication with service people, business associates, friends, enemies and even LOVED ONES more effective and more fun. Using amusing anecdotes you can relate to, the author shows how we can avoid the stress of negative no-win confrontations and get, as he puts it "what you want, when you want it, and from whom you want it." He believes we can create a win/win situation every time we face a brick wall of resistance or just a disagreeable human, if we learn and practice his simple tips. Instead of manipulation, the rules of pos. persuasion consider the egos and effects on all parties, giving the keys to a satisfying outcome for everybody. No argueing, no threats, no sweat! Burg combines good manners and good sense with a few neat tricks and tips to! remind us of our often-lost humanity, and the easy things we can do in our daily life to make it less stressful, more productive, and much more fun.

Bob Burg shows how to avoid the awkward and hostile confrontations that may seem to be a necessary part of life. When you need the help of someone who may not be inclined to give it, he shows how to disarm the person with thoughtfulness -- and get what you need.

The book presents dozens of techniques. From them, you should be able to find many that you need -- to help you in business, in selling your political or social ideas, or in your personal life.

I have read the book by Bob Burg and found it to be the most helpful tool for positive living. This is a must for dealing with people in today's world. It is easily read and explains why the techniques are necessary and gives clear examples of how they can be used in your everyday life. I attended a conference, where Bob Burg did an excellent presentation, at The Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids MI. He personifies his book.

Victor Hugo warned, "Every excess is its own undoing." In recent decades, we have learned that his prophecy was correct. Yes, we were free to create dot/com companies, but we started too many of them. Yes, we could expand TV networks from the original big three into many dozens, with most of the networks contributing little to our knowledge or culture, and with an entertainment level designed for easily satisfied viewers only.

Author Bob Burg wrote this book because of excesses he had encountered repeatedly in the professional world and in our interpersonal relations. For the last two decades at least, pop culture, and even management gurus, urged us to become more assertive and aggressive. Who were our new heroes? Corporate moguls like Jack Welch, Ted Turner, and Leona Helmsley-people who knew what they wanted, and got it, with little regard for what was happening to their employees.

Our language reflected the take-charge mantra: "Be your own person." "Don't take anything off of anybody." "Lead, follow, or get out of the way." "Nice guys finish last."

Burg's book, in my judgment, counters the "Me Generation," by offering a radical change in our attitudes and habits. The title reflects his theme-that, amazingly, we can win without intimidation, without one-upsmanship, without combat, without undermining others.

Bob Burg writes with the simple, clear style that made Hemingway so successful. Besides using commonplace language, he illustrates his points clearly and compellingly.

The book begins with Burg's definition of winning, in direct contrast to our time-honored definition. Then he takes us through a number of everyday scenarios, showing us how the softer and gentler approach accomplishes much more than our traditional "I'm gonna get that guy" strategy.

Everyone who reads this book will benefit. And those who don't read the book will be better off because someone else did.

During my twenty-three years in management, I would have been far more successful in my interactions had I read this book and incorporated its advice.

Dale Carnegie, I think your successor has arrived.

As a personal trainer and stress management coach, knowing how to communicate with others positively is a must for me! I first came across Bob Burg in early 2004, when I signed up to his free newsletter. I was highly impressed by the quality of his articles, and wanted to try his book. I wasn't disappointed.

In effect, "Winning without Intimidation" is an information-packed course in how to 'positively persuade' people. Positive persuasion is the art of communicating what you want from someone, in such a way that they're most likely to want to do it. It could be described as the art of interacting with other people so that you both win, and so that neither person feels manipulated, frustrated, or unable to get what they want from the situation.

Bob spends a short section at the beginning of the book quickly outlining the theory behind his practice - most of which can be summed up in the idea that 'people do things for their own reasons, not for yours, and that they're not always consciously aware of why they do it'. The key to persuading them to do something for you then becomes effectively communicating how helping you fulfils their needs.

The rest of the book is spent giving practical example after practical example of how you can put this into practice. Bob covers the complex reasons most of us have for doing the things we do, how we can communicate with others in ways that respect those reasons, and then offers a wealth of suggestions for handling specific situations that cause all of us stress when we have to deal with them.

This book won't *always* get you what you want. The techniques Bob outlines won't help in getting someone to do something that's genuinely against their own interests (of course, if that's your goal, you're not looking for positive persuasion techniques - you're looking for manipulation). And sometimes, people are so stuck in their perceptions that even though you can clearly see how they'd benefit from helping you, they can't see it as anything but losing to you. Bob has some helpful suggestions for times like these too, but in the real world, nothing is 100% foolproof.

For the vast majority of times, however, positive persuasion works. If you've ever felt stressed because of things other people did, if there are people you find yourself wanting to avoid because of the way you feel when you have to talk to them, or if you'd just like to pick up some practical pointers on communicating with people more effectively, "Winning without Intimidation" will be an invaluable tool for you.

Tanja Gardner, March 2005
http://optimumlife.co.nz

Bob Burg is a masterful coach in supporting people to be maximally effective with others. His wisdom is sound and based upon the win-win principles of the great masters. I have followed Bob's suggestions and have watched my charisma quotient skyrocket by speaking to folks in a way that they can hear my requests and want to act upon them to support me because they feel as though they like and trust me. Bob's philosophy is based on love and support and pressure-free. A great, life-changing book!

Dr. Joe Rubino Author, The Magic Lantern: A Fable About Leadership, Personal Excellence and Empowerment.

This is a great book to win and do it without stress. I've handed out several and recommended it many times. It's the type of book that you want your children and friends to read.

It gives so many tools not only to help in the work place, but throughout your life. Thanks Bob Burg for putting it all together.

A fantastic book! One of the keys to a successful life is working with people effectively. If you are going to read one book this year on people skills read Winning Without Intimidation by networking expert Bob Burg. It can change your life for the better, it has mine.

Mark Llewhellin (Long distance runner & Charity fundraiser)

Great ideas! If Dale Carnegie were still around I would think he'd be saying "I wish that `How to Win Friends and Influence People' was as comprehensive and useful as Bob Burg's ideas".
This book could be called "Human Relations 101". Filled with great, specific ideas on how to handle everything from tactfully turning down an invitation to politely getting off a call from a fund raiser to negotiating a better price.