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Truth at Work: The Science of Delivering Tough Messages
The truth matters! New York Times bestselling author Mark Murphy returns, with the latest science and techniques for delivering tough messages without causing anger or defensiveness. The greatest workplaces have one thing in common; they speak the truth! And they do it without causing anger, resentment, or defensiveness. Unfortunately, a whopping 80 to 90 percent of employees and managers are reluctant, or struggle, to speak the truth. New York Times bestselling author Mark Murphy provides the science and tools for calmly and rationally leading people to question their preconceptions, accept new information, and eventually change their beliefs. Truth at Work shows that by moving from confrontations to conversations, from feelings to facts, and from diatribe to dialogue, you can get everyone to hear and accept hard truths. You’ll • How psychological phenomena like cognitive dissonance, the Dunning-Kruger effect, and selective perception cause people to deny, resist or attack the truth
• How to delayer your conversations into 4 parts (Facts, Interpretations, Reactions, Ends) and which pieces you should and shouldn’t share
• How the 5-part I.D.E.A.S. Script can make someone a willing participant in a truthful dialogue
• How to assess if your current approach is too tough or too soft
• A checklist for diagnosing whether you need a one-time talk or multi-conversation process
• How Structured Listening helps you calmly and logically control volatile conversations
• The 7 phrases that make people defensive (and what you should say instead)
• And much more! Whether you’re trying to gain acceptance for a brilliant discovery, convince an employee to get to work on time, stop your coworker from being a jerk or urge your boss to tell you the truth about why they’re mad, Truth At Work makes even the toughest messages easy to hear.
• How to delayer your conversations into 4 parts (Facts, Interpretations, Reactions, Ends) and which pieces you should and shouldn’t share
• How the 5-part I.D.E.A.S. Script can make someone a willing participant in a truthful dialogue
• How to assess if your current approach is too tough or too soft
• A checklist for diagnosing whether you need a one-time talk or multi-conversation process
• How Structured Listening helps you calmly and logically control volatile conversations
• The 7 phrases that make people defensive (and what you should say instead)
• And much more! Whether you’re trying to gain acceptance for a brilliant discovery, convince an employee to get to work on time, stop your coworker from being a jerk or urge your boss to tell you the truth about why they’re mad, Truth At Work makes even the toughest messages easy to hear.
- GenresPsychologyLeadership
224 pages, Hardcover
Published May 23, 2017
21 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 20, 2017
A great book that aims to show a way of delivering tough, often unpleasant messages, without creating anger or defensiveness in the recipient. Nothing can be guaranteed, of course, but even reducing the negative impact whilst diluting the message is surely a good thing.
It seemed to be one of the better, more-helpful and more-useful “self-help” books out there. Authentic, powerful and considerate, the book is based on the author’s prior research and field experience. You can sense that it has the real potential to change some people for the better. By reading it you will get a better understanding of how to present messages to a recipient who may be similarly confused, defensive or shocked at what is being relayed. Leaving the message undelivered is not an option.
Of course, you don’t have to necessarily have bad news to get the most of this book, as it can help you strengthen your communications and presentational skills at the same time. The advice is equally relevant in one’s personal life too: it is not restricted just to the workplace.
Would it be fair to say that this is a book you don’t want to have a need to read, but it is good that you can take its advice just in case? Better to be forewarned and forearmed.
It seemed to be one of the better, more-helpful and more-useful “self-help” books out there. Authentic, powerful and considerate, the book is based on the author’s prior research and field experience. You can sense that it has the real potential to change some people for the better. By reading it you will get a better understanding of how to present messages to a recipient who may be similarly confused, defensive or shocked at what is being relayed. Leaving the message undelivered is not an option.
Of course, you don’t have to necessarily have bad news to get the most of this book, as it can help you strengthen your communications and presentational skills at the same time. The advice is equally relevant in one’s personal life too: it is not restricted just to the workplace.
Would it be fair to say that this is a book you don’t want to have a need to read, but it is good that you can take its advice just in case? Better to be forewarned and forearmed.
January 26, 2020
Pleasantly surprised
I am new to leadership and trying to improve my communication is high on my To-Do list. I've read a couple of other books that had good ideas, but were too convoluted or interpretive to really put into practice easily. With this book, everything is spelled out in an easy to understand style, backed up with studies that are presented in a related context, and examples of how to use the process are clear, interesting and entirely relevant no matter what industry/environment you're in.
I read this on my Kindle, and honestly felt like I needed to highlight almost the whole book. I then ordered a hardcover copy to lend to my co-workers for discussion in our leadership meetings.
I am new to leadership and trying to improve my communication is high on my To-Do list. I've read a couple of other books that had good ideas, but were too convoluted or interpretive to really put into practice easily. With this book, everything is spelled out in an easy to understand style, backed up with studies that are presented in a related context, and examples of how to use the process are clear, interesting and entirely relevant no matter what industry/environment you're in.
I read this on my Kindle, and honestly felt like I needed to highlight almost the whole book. I then ordered a hardcover copy to lend to my co-workers for discussion in our leadership meetings.
September 15, 2020
The examples given by the author in order to illustrate the Truth-At-Work principles he introduces on this book are pretty much what can happen in American-cultured organizations.
Nonetheless, as a reader who is not an American myself, I would say those principles are still helpful for me to create some mental models before I get to face some difficult conversations in my own workplace. How to choose my words in order to deliver my truth and how to listen well to the truth of others too.
Furthermore, though the book is meant to reach the office people, I think the principles are also implementable in daily life as well!
Written in a engaging and motivating way (and some examples sound humorous to me), I enjoyed reading this book! 5 stars!
Nonetheless, as a reader who is not an American myself, I would say those principles are still helpful for me to create some mental models before I get to face some difficult conversations in my own workplace. How to choose my words in order to deliver my truth and how to listen well to the truth of others too.
Furthermore, though the book is meant to reach the office people, I think the principles are also implementable in daily life as well!
Written in a engaging and motivating way (and some examples sound humorous to me), I enjoyed reading this book! 5 stars!
June 11, 2017
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I have really enjoyed this book. Mark has provided a method (FIRE method) to untangle important messages from possible misinterpretations, and deliver them in the best way possible to be understood by the audience. It is a way to ensure that your feedback has an impact and aids in changing the behavior you are addressing.
Not only the FIRE model helps you craft your message with as much clarity as possible, but it helps you avoid conflict by understanding the working factors behind someone's words and attitude.
This is a great tool to add to you communications toolbox, and it is a perspective to keep in mind when you are tackling tough conversations.
I have really enjoyed this book. Mark has provided a method (FIRE method) to untangle important messages from possible misinterpretations, and deliver them in the best way possible to be understood by the audience. It is a way to ensure that your feedback has an impact and aids in changing the behavior you are addressing.
Not only the FIRE model helps you craft your message with as much clarity as possible, but it helps you avoid conflict by understanding the working factors behind someone's words and attitude.
This is a great tool to add to you communications toolbox, and it is a perspective to keep in mind when you are tackling tough conversations.
June 22, 2022
A great book that explains why people are not listening and giving me ideas and methods how to deal with them; put us on the same page and move forward.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews