Failure to Communicate

In this summary you will learn

• How conversations go wrong
• How to avoid the three most common pitfalls
• How to handle difficult discussions and reach your preferred outcome

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Why you should read Failure to Communicate

You’re leading a routine department meeting when all of a sudden you are under attack. Your first instinct is either to negotiate a withdrawal or to fight back with every weapon in your verbal arsenal. Destructive, winner-take-all word wars happen daily in conference rooms around the world, wiping out reputations, relationships and self-esteem. Communication expert Holly Weeks analyzes what goes wrong in these confrontational conversations and provides strategies you can use to converse productively without engaging in vocal warfare. Her generous use of real-life examples clearly illustrates where conversations turn injurious and how using her proactive tactics can help. If you’ve ever felt the sting of a poisonous barb or the slash of a cutting remark, getAbstract recommends this book as the perfect salve.

About the Author

Holly Weeks founded Holly Weeks Communications. She contributes to The Harvard Business Review, O: The Oprah Magazine and ESPN radio. She is an adjunct lecturer at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.