Customer Reviews
A primer on practical clarity 
2008-08-16
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. I became the beneficiary...happily, I might add. And that's because this book so succinctly and smartly puts forth what a life of quality looks like. For instance, Scott says, "Each of us must first answer the question 'Where am I going?' before we can address the question 'Who is going with me?' It is essential not to get those out of order." She then goes on to say, "You will bring into your life whatever it is that you have the most clarity about."
While I did find this to resonate as true, the book goes beyond being a mere motivational speech. It is a handbook for those who are charged with responsibility or compelled to align the movements of masses so that some higher-order ideal is realized. How that is done practically is "one conversation at a time." Scott shows how to, as Shakespeare would say, "screw your courage to the sticking place" so that this clarity can consistently see the light of day. She has some interesting processes, guidelines and touchstones. My favorite take-away is to ask yourself, when analyzing a situation, "what are your pretending not to know?"
Tox 2008-05-27
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. Real world experience that is well written, humorous, effective, and easy to implement. I highly recommend this book for anyone that maintains a relationship of any kind with any other person.
Fierce Conversations - leads to quality relationships 2008-04-12
Fierce Conversations is a must read for anyone. Period!
Nothing else to say. It has fantastic information on communication and understanding. Two levels beyond talking ...and helps readers improve their level of interaction to reach win win results.
Change your conversations in a powerful way. 2008-02-03
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 your spouse then this book will teach you that the conversation IS the realationship. Fierce conversations are REAL. They are not mean are rude, they are robust, intense, strong, powerful, passionate, eager, and unbridled. they are meant for confronting reality, understanding why a problem exists, and discovering the solution. The book guides you with 7 principles:
#1 You must interrogate reality. Discover the truth first.
#2 Make the conversation real. Take off your mask and speak the truth with tact.
#3 Be here. Focus on the conversation at hand, focus on it. No fading away!
#4 Tackle your toughest challenge today. Stop procrastinating. What can you solve that will bring you the most value, today?
#5 Obey your instincts. You know in your heart what is right.
#6 Take responsibility for your emotional wake. You must understand how you in your position emotionally effects people.
#7 Let silence do the heavy lifting. Slow down your speaking, take time for quiet gaps and to think about what to say next.
This is a powerful book that can change your life, your family, or your organization.
Destructive to say the least 
2008-01-27
What a piece of destructive, corporate wanna-bees version of the world! This is an epic work worshiping the god /dess of mediocrity. "How dare you present things that shake the paradigm?" If you do, we need to have a "fierce conversation" regarding how you have upset our "etched in-stone" methods of business. You need to play the rules or out you go. I just suffered the humiliation of this as the background text to an "invigorating, uplifting" "retreat" in the field of education. I thought there was real progress moving forward with the "Appreciative Inquiry" movement, but I see that this trash, now the embraced holy text, is the backlash to that. Welcome to the cultural stage of fixed roles and top down directives where solutions are tromped into dust.
Text for Maximizing Team Performance 
2007-12-17
The
Wall Street Journal bestseller, now with new material.
The master teacher of positive change through powerful communication, Susan Scott wants her readers to succeed. To do that, she explains, one must transform everyday conversations employing effective ways to get the message across. In this guide, which includes exercises and tools to take you step by step through the Seven Principles of Fierce Conversations, Scott teaches readers how to:
€ Overcome barriers to meaningful communication
€ Expand and enrich conversations with colleagues, friends, and family
€ Increase clarity and improve understanding
€ Handle strong emotions-on both sides of the table
Writer has a unique voice, similar to a memoir 2007-12-13
I've read this book twice. Both times I was quite taken with the author's voice-- which crackles with life and spirit. THIS BOOK IS NOT DRY as one reviewer suggested. Her writing style is engaging and her personality leaps off of the page. I'd like to meet her!
I believe this and Difficult Conversations are good companion books, but I wouldn't select one over the either as they both have their place. Fierce Conversations has a singularity of message -- a big takeaway. Difficult conversations has multiple (good) messages and techniques.
How to talk to people 2007-11-18
Susan Scott hit a home run with this book. The title is misleading, in that people may think every conversation has to be fierce! This is an awesome book on how to talk with others! How to lead, how to follow and how to get out of the way. Asking questions to help others discover areas that need change is a time tested great way of helping! Let silence do the heavy lifting is my favorite line in this book. If you are looking to improve your verbal communication skills, this book is for you. If you are a leader and have to deal with others, this book is for you. If you are looking to help others in any area of life, this book is for you. This is a long book and needs to be read slowly and often and with a notebook handy! I equate it to a college class on communication! I am on my second read and figured out that I missed 90% of the material the first time!
Great book! Bravo Susan Scott!
Outstanding 2007-08-24
Extremely useful in both personal and professional life. I've attended many classes & seminars in the last 30 years but still learned a host of valuable info. Highly recommended.
Very Engaging 2007-08-14
I settled in for an average book with and interesting title about communication. What I recieved was an invitation to look in my life and my business for fierce conversations. As a trainer and a business coach communication is my my tool.Fierce Conversations gave me tools that work,ways to assess my progress and stories that assist me in seeing what would be possible in my business and in my life if I had authentic, direct conversations with people.If you have to pick one communication book this year, it's this one!
