Customer Reviews
Management Development - conversational conflict 
2008-04-20
As with many of these management development books, there are many pages just making up pages!
However the content is excellent and will be very helpful to those who regularly work in challenging environments, or even in their homelife where conversations just seem to run away or not get results.
If you find this book useful - consider books on Question Thinking also.
Ready to walk out the door and never return? Read this book before you do 
2008-04-03
This book quickly became a priceless asset in my toolkit.
You'll want to know that the writing style in this book makes the author's ideas very easy to understand. Their concepts are made very solid with thorough description and multiple examples. Every tip and technique is almost immediately applicable at some level or another in your everyday life, whether at home, business or a party.
The ideas and techniques in this book will help you create opportunities to talk about even the most uncomfortable topics with the most challenging people under the least ideal circumstances, and still have a shot at a win-win experience.
The biggest compliment I can give to the authors is that their work offers a doorway to empowerment in communication. Understanding and using these concepts can mean the crucial difference in your success in environments where communication is challenging and failure can result in dangerous consequences.
One of the most amazing aspects is that the person you are talking with does NOT have to have the same skill set in order for your conversation to be successful. Your understanding and use of the ideas and techniques in Crucial Conversations will be what's needed to get both of you there.
I think that one of the most beneficial aspects of this book is that the information can be used to create amazing relationships with other people using verbal communication.
I offer consultation services to both individuals and organizations and I've found the tips priceless at every level. Emotions often run very high when it comes to animals and it's imperative on so many levels to ensure that what you need to say, does get said and the audience remains receptive to it. When people come to you for help, you not only need to really understand the subject and technical aspects, but you need to get the ideas to your client in a manner that allows them to be part of a conversation with you, not just a student. You can create an environment where that is possible after you've read Crucial Conversations.
Just knowing what you want out of the conversation is often helpful enough, but being able to identify whether it is content, a pattern or a relationship issue also proves valuable.
My recommendation would be to practice the skills, in addition to reading the book. Truly practice. The act of engaging and experiencing the concepts brings you to a completely higher level of understanding and just adds to your odds of a successful conversation when the stakes are high.
I wonder what widespread knowledge and use of Crucial Conversations would do to reduce our divorce rate, or the lawsuit happy activities of America?
When you are at the point where you want to walk out the door and never return, this crucial information could bring you back from the edge. You won't be disappointed that you bought this book, or invested the time to read it and practice what it teaches.
Its all about being able to talk. 2008-03-31
I read the book in three days. My favorite conversant idea had to do with adding to the "pool of knowlege". I think if people don't state what they think a good outcome can not be found.
An excellent treatment on dealing with others... 2008-03-11
This book will provide you with handy ideas and techniques to deal with difficult situations. We may not realize, but the first dialog starts within us, and often we operate in the auto-pilot mode. In today's complex world, not recognizing this is a recipe for troubled relations - regardless of whether you are dealing with heads of state, companies, or ordinary individuals. Missed opportunities to connect, and have meaningful dialog have led to "preventable" human catastrophies and wars.
The search however has to begin with you - because it is inside you that strife first begins. Super imposed on that is conditioning that has occurred for years - which leads to missed cues, and misunderstandings.
Be careful however; both parties have to be at least some what willing to connect. Dialog is never a one way street, and trust is at the root of building confidence in the opposite party. This is vital and the authors address it under "safety" - making conditions safe for honest and open dialog to occur. Cultural differences, belief systems, and upbringing lie sub-surface in all such interactions. These manifest in the form of personality and behavior of individuals. The book is light in this area; I wish the authors had done more on these topics - since they are often the gateway to get started.
I suggest you also read People Styles at Work, and What Type Am I to get a more comprehensive understanding. It will take your ability to hold crucial conversations to the next level!
Crucial Listening 2008-03-05
The female narrator has a crisp clear tone in her delivery. Very good for a hard of hearing listener like myself. The material is first rate, I have listened to many such books over the years, and this one boils down the essential elements to a three tape book. Quite nice.
Maybe it is just burn out on my case, but the self promoting forward by stephen covey almost made me turn the tape off as I drove Interstate 80. This guy is like Dr Phil, he's everywhere and he is so...ah...perfect.
Good Book But Leaves Something Out 2008-07-03
This is an excellent book which deserves to be a best seller. Many people are using for business but it helps for personal relationships too. However, the book doesn't address the issue of why it is important to have real, live conversations. Just getting people to talk in person is a huge issue in all arenas in life. If your staff or family are hiding behind text messaging and e-mail then you need to read Talk Ain't Cheap...It's Priceless! Connecting in a Disconnected World
Nothing new in this book 
2008-06-18
Nothing new in this book, it copies things from other books and audio cd's. It is a ok read, but not sure if I would recommend anyone to read it. One thing I totally didn't like was the chapter telling you that sometimes it's ok to go to bed angry. I was thought never go to bed angry and I do not think that is a rule to break.
Good Tools for Tough Conversations 2008-06-09
A very good book with lots of specific, helpful tools to help you navigate difficult, emotionally-charged, conversations. I was a little put off by all the cute acronyms summarizing various steps along the way - CRIB, STATE, AMPPP, etc. - but in total agreement with their main points that in order to get people to add to the pool of meaning, you have to help them feel safe.
People interested in this topic should also look at the Glaser's book "Be Quiet, Be Heard" which covers similar material and presents models that I found are more intuitive and therefore easier to remember.
Crucial Conversations A Must 2008-05-02
I feel this book can help with Crucial Conversations at home as well as in the workplace. If applied, it can improve basic interpersonal relationships and improve your life as well as those around you. Excellent, easy to read and understand, and gives the hows to put into practice.
Life changing book 2008-05-01
I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this book. I was simply reading it because a friend recommended it as a help for some of the team unity problems I was facing.
"Crucial Conversations" was a life-changer for me because it gave really practical ways on how to step up to the plate and resolve communication conflicts. I believe that it's already helped in the way I view everything that I spit out of my mouth - not to mention how I simply now observe dialog.
I would strongly recommend this book for people who are stepping into a leadership role for the first time - regardless if they consider themselves excellent at gritty dialog or not.
"Crucial Conversations" is also really useful for newlyweds who are learning the ropes to developing a solid foundation in their relationship.
This book was a lot of fun to read, as I laughed often realizing how the authors were describing me to a "T" (and I'm one who would consider themselves pretty stinkin' good at dialog). I'm sure I'll be going back to it time and time again in the near future.
