Fierce Conversations

Extremely mixed feelings. Great content, hard to follow writing style. Everyone related to people management or leadership should read it.

While filled with amazing ideas, they are often hidden between long passages of so distantly related topics, that having a title for the section seems obscure. The author sometimes ditches what she's explaining in a very controlled way, and starts a loong journal of stories, personal or of one of their clients. They lead to more and more topics. By the time you should get back to the initial idea, your brain is stormed with so much stories and other ideas it's almost impossible to do so (and 30 pages have passed).

The end is weak. She kinda added some common sense practices just so they're in the book (like how overwhelmed with info we are and how should we strive to give us head space).

Even though the writing is strange, the book is bloated, and the end is weak, I'd say the first 2/3rds are filled with great knowledge. There are many situations to consider in your own life, personal or professional. Keep in mind the book is mostly towards professional experience and conversations, not sure why he tried giving personal life examples. It should've been either better balanced, or a completely new book. Also, it's written from a leader perspective - there isn't much guidance on how to apply the main concept in bottom up scenario.

Anyways, I believe people should read it. They just need to be prepared it's not an easy and enthralling read. Or at least most of it isn't.

I'd give it 3.5 if possible.

My coach for CTI certification recommended this to me and I'm glad she did. Scott lays out seven basic rules for having effective, real, authentic conversations with the people you work and live with. Her examples and strategies helped me give a name and new awareness to a couple of my weak spots and the phrase “what is at stake here” has already gotten me through several difficult conversations with groups I'm a member of.