The Verbal Judo Way of Leadership: Empowering the Thin Blue Line from the Inside Up (Paperback)

~ George J. Thompson; George Thompson; Gregory A. Walker (Author)
Key Phrases: verbal judo, ethical appeal, rhetorical problem, Contact Professional, The Ingredients of Leadership, Personality Styles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

From the founder of the renowned Verbal Judo Institute! What you say and how you say it critically impacts the outcome of your contact with people...be it subjects on the street or officers in your agency. - Discover the linguistic structures and strategies that made Verbal Judo so popular! - Learn to apply both the art and science of using words & phrases to lead, persuade, clarify, diffuse...and generally navigate nearly any situation. - Become a solid, respected and highly effective leader! Effective Communication Makes Effective Leaders Learn... - 3 key leadership ingredients - Behavior correction skills - Real lessons from the field - How to avoid ego errors - Communication profiling - The true power of listening

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Looseleaf Law Publications (April 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932777415
• ISBN-13: 978-1932777413
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #207,351 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unvarnished, But Necessary Counsel, July 31, 2007

By	Thomas E. Engells (Houston) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dr. Thompson, the founder of the Verbal Judo program, has teamed up with Gregory Walker, to comment on the dysfunctional problems found in organizations and they propose some interesting solutions, unique problem solving tactics and effective success strategies. This is a somewhat idiosyncratic commentary on organizational politics, communications and leadership in today's world.


A short book, 180 pages, it is divided into 15 topical chapters that range from the Tao of Leadership to the Art and Gift of Persuasion. The unifying theme is the need for improved leadership built upon honest and effective communication. The book addresses what went wrong, communication styles, principles for supervisory success and approaches to analytical thinking and effectiveness.


With such a broad range of topics in a small book, there is a real risk of skimming the topics and leaving the reader confused. However; the authors skillfully handle the task often referencing their collective experience in the form of brief stories. Their overall approach is certainly less than diplomatic, for example at their discussion of the four levels of expertise, they write:


To allow incompetence a berth in your organization is in itself a sign of incompetence at the highest level of responsibility. It is also a sign of a moral and ethical coward.


While their approach may offend, it does cause the reader to actively engage in the discussion and consider both their primary points and supporting arguments carefully.


Thompson and Walker are skilled teachers and seasoned practitioners, the time you invest reading this book will be enriching. Buy the book, read this book and more importantly put these principles into action.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kudos to this Verbal Judo addition, March 24, 2008

By	A. L. Conway (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Understanding what leadership is all about, the authors shed light on what it takes to develop an excellent workforce -- it takes non-egotistical, steadfast leaders, people who'll put themselves in the background to achieve the greater good! I'm hooked and have read this book twice and am implementing it daily in both my professional and personal life! A perfect supplement to the Verbal Judo way!

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid Communication Skills, April 11, 2009

By	Grants ghost "Dano" (Iraq) - See all my reviews

A great guide for dealing with difficult people! Although the book is directed at the Law Enforcement Community it has applications for anyone who regularly supervises subordinates, particularly in a chain of command type setting. Good read.