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Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work & in Life, One Conversation at a Time (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Life is curly..." (more)
Key Phrases: paying fierce attention, fierce conversations, integrity outage, Mineral Rights, Susan Scott, Decision Tree (more...)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)

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  Paperback, January 5, 2004 $9.36 $4.80 $3.77
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Susan Scott believes that interpersonal difficulties--at work and at home--are a direct result of our inability to communicate well. Fierce Conversations is based on principles from her international consulting practice, in which she teaches executives how to conduct such exchanges more dynamically and ultimately more effectively, thereby improving the relationships they enjoy with their various dialogue partners "one conversation at a time." Using identifiable anecdotes from her experience to inspire and inform, along with a series of practical exercises designed to impart the requisite skills, Scott walks readers through the individual steps she's developed to build better associations through more robust and honest discourses. Addressing all aspects of the process, from several methods for listening more attentively to specific ways she's fashioned to confront and resolve issues "that stand between you and success," Scott offers the type of concrete advice and confidence-building counsel that should help even the most reticent improve their communication skills dramatically. --Howard Rothman


From Publishers Weekly

An offshoot of Scott's international consulting firm, Fierce Conversations Inc., this book lasts as long as a Monday morning shuttle. Yet its thesis, that relationships both professional and personal hinge on how conversations go, and that the best conversations require determinedly gentle honesty and a willingness to listen, lingers long enough to make an impact. "It takes a certain fearlessness to make your private thoughts public. But if what you're thinking makes you squirm and wish to wriggle away, you are probably onto something," she says. On the book's Web site, a streaming-video talk feels fake and rehearsed. But Scott's written words contain substance and, as an author, she's levelheaded and funny. She quotes a wide variety of writers, from Ernest Hemingway to Maya Angelou to Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and clearly explains her key concepts, including "obey your instincts" and "let silence do the heavy lifting." Careerist marketing ploy it may be, but this cleanly written, if cliche-laden, book boasts enough psychological sensitivity to merit success. Those whose conversations with co-workers or family members aren't producing the results they want will find plenty of helpful tools and assignments in this succinct guide.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Group / Viking Studio (September 12, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0670031240
  • ISBN-13: 978-0670031245
  • Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #106,132 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #48 in  Books > Reference > Etiquette > Conversation

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More About the Author

Susan Scott
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:
Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Life is curly. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
paying fierce attention, fierce conversations, integrity outage, emotional wake, integrity scan, interrogate reality, interrogating reality, provoke learning, potent step, vessel personnel, enrich relationships, secret rule, official truth
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mineral Rights, Susan Scott, Decision Tree, Pat Murray, John Tompkins, Green Lake, James Newton
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Citations (learn more)
This book cites 16 books:
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29 books cite this book:
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Customer Reviews

42 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (42 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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71 of 73 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars How to get to the heart of the matter through conversation, August 9, 2004
This review is from: Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time (Paperback)
Susan Scott has written an outstanding book on how to use everyday conversation to cut through the politics of work relationships and start talking about what we are all "pretending not to know". I was consistently impacted while reading it, not so much that the material is brand new, but that it is presented in such a way that the opportunities and misses of my own interactions were obvious.

One of the topics discussed is called "Mineral Rights", a type of conversation designed to get deep, past the surface and into the truth of what is going on. The approach accomplishes four purposes: Interrogate reality, provoke learning, tackle tough challenges, and enrich relationships. It has been my experience that this rarely happens in corporate America, and is rarer still where I work now. The book uses examples from various companies that have identified their core values and been honest enough with themselves and others to start acting on them. The many questions posed throughout the book, and the sections at the end of each chapter are a great way to start interrogating reality in your workplace. The answers usually are "in the room" if we can really get honest and start looking for them.

In addition to some great business council, much of the book focuses on how we get honest with ourselves. Often we are the problem, and our own inability to truly understand where our own issues lie, is an essential journey to better facilitate the kind of change we want in our business or relationships. Another great approach used is the "Decision Tree" to help build empowerment in others. Communicate clearly what decisions can be made and what must be communicated to others. (Page 252). Her insights into how silence is an effective communication tool, both internally and in interactions with others, were right on.

While this was all excellent, and perhaps the most well written summary of engaging communication approaches, what was the most powerful for me were the sections on our "emotional wake". We all leave an emotional wake behind us as we engage in conversations with people. The question is, what kind of wake do we want to leave? How do we want people to feel? This served as a great wake up call for me while reading.

Overall, this book is so full of great wisdom and insights I couldn't begin to do it justice here. From the opening examples to the very useful questions in the back and the study guides throughout, I believe this to be one of the best books on business and personal communication I have read. It is both deep and practical, both academically sound and real world tested, and is written in such a way that it felt like a conversation itself. Highly recommended!

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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars a practical, real world tool, December 27, 2002
Susan Scott was a corporate coach who realized that people are hungry for authentic communications. She takes the concept of authenticity and mixes it in with good leadership practice to produce a book that is filled with practical advice in one's professional and personal conversations.

I am generally put off by simple "formula" approaches to dealing with tough issues, but Scott mixes the importance of reflection and courage along with a simple structure. As a corporate consultant who was using this book as a resource, I was prepared to write it off as too "pop" or simplistic, and instead found solid reference to the importance of showing onesself, understanding the value in recognizing that each party to a conversation brings their own set of "truths," and grounding our conversations in a solid understanding of who we are and where we want to go. Furthermore, she makes a point of using listening as a key strategy for leaders -- one that is often talked about, but rarely reinforced as ably as it is here.

Some of Scott's examples are stilted and overly simplistic,she holds herself up as a model of perfection a little too often, and she ocassionally lapses into self-help verbiage that is annoying, and a distraction from a solid product. Nevertheless, for those of us who need to persuade others about the importance of authentic one-on-one communication, or for those of us who forget the magic of intense one-on-one communication with those we care about, this is worth reading and acting upon.

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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fierce as in True, September 20, 2002
By Frank (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
If we have ever needed a book like this, now is the time. Just think what could have happened at Enron, WorldCom, etc. if people had been willing to talk to each other about what was really going on? This is both a "think about this" and a "here's how to use it" book that can give people the courage and tools to tell others what they are seeing and believing. Don't be put off by the title, Fierce does not mean you get to beat everyone up - it really is an invitation to, as the author says - interrogate reality. Susan Scott does an effective job in weaving her three big ideas about conversations through the book. The ideas are simple yet powerful and can change the way we talk both to ourselves and to others. She captured me right away with the first concept; that our lives (and work) succeed or fail one conversation at a time, including those conversations we don't have. The book is an easy read. The concepts are clearly presented both in theory and with amusing stories and, best of all, there are practical tips on how to use the information. I enjoyed reading it and putting the principles into action. I'll be giving copies to friends and colleagues. This is one of those books that belongs both at home and the office.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Changing
If your relationships at home or work could use improvement, then this is a must read book. The title is probably a little misleading and perhaps intimidating. Read more
Published 21 days ago by John Chancellor

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Reading
As someone who finds difficult people hard to approach and handle, this book offers some really good strategies for dealing with people problems. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Nicole E. Taylor

4.0 out of 5 stars An imporant tool for every moment of life
The book gives a sort of "how to do" tool to solve a lot of everyday life problems that have to do with conversations (so almost everything..).
Published 4 months ago by Giuseppe

5.0 out of 5 stars Come out from behind yourself
Fierce Conversations is a life-changing book. It brings to stark consciousness the weak, limp, lukewarm, and inhibited manner in which we converse with each other today. Read more
Published 14 months ago by T. Johnson

5.0 out of 5 stars A primer on practical clarity
I did not consciously choose this book. A friend regards this book highly, couldn't find it in her library, ordered another and then found her original. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Carolyn Thornlow

5.0 out of 5 stars Tox
I have read many business books, and this one is in a class all itself. It's contents apply to personal and business relationships of all types. Read more
Published 18 months ago by S. Franssen

5.0 out of 5 stars Fierce Conversations - leads to quality relationships
Fierce Conversations is a must read for anyone. Period!
Nothing else to say. It has fantastic information on communication and understanding. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Randall L. Henion

5.0 out of 5 stars Change your conversations in a powerful way.
I had to read this book through work, and I have to say it made a powerful change in my company. If you are tired of having the same conversations over and over with employees or... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Steve Burns

1.0 out of 5 stars Destructive to say the least
What a piece of destructive, corporate wanna-bees version of the world! This is an epic work worshiping the god /dess of mediocrity. Read more
Published 22 months ago by James F. Rickley

4.0 out of 5 stars Text for Maximizing Team Performance
I bought this book because it was used as a text in my MBA class for Maximizing Team Performance. Decent book, fairly easy to read.
Published 23 months ago by Jen

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