My fav quotes (not a review):
-Page 23 |"Nearly everyone has trouble listening openly. You don’t want to hear your sacred cows reduced to hamburger."
-Page 58 |"People scratch their heads in puzzlement, touch their noses in doubt, rub their necks in anger or frustration, tug on their ears when they want to interrupt, wring their hands in grief, and rub their hands in anticipation. They will put their hands on their knees to indicate readiness or on their lips to indicate impatience; lock their hands behind their back as a signal of self-control or behind their head as a statement of superiority; stick their hands into their pockets to hide their meaning; and clench their fists as a sign of anger or tension."
-Page 69 |"Begin by yawning—widely and loudly. Open your mouth as wide as you can and empty your lungs of air. Then inhale deeply. As you yawn, let your voice travel up and down the tonal scale. After a few minutes, try speaking while yawning."
-Page 139 "The broken record is a useful technique to use when you want to say no or otherwise set limits with someone who is having difficulty getting your message. You can use it to say no to your five-year-old, to tell a phone solicitor that you’re not interested in contributing to his charity, or to inform your enthusiastic hostess that you really don’t want a drink. The broken record is most handy in situations where an explanation would provide the other person with an opportunity to drag out a pointless argument. It has five steps: Clarify in your own mind exactly what you want or don’t want. Be aware of your feelings, your thoughts about the situation, and your rights. Formulate a short, specific, easy-to-understand statement about what you want. Keep it to one sentence if you can. Offer no excuses, no explanations. Avoid saying, “I can’t.” This is an excuse of the worst kind. The other person will probably return with “Of course you can,” and then proceed to tell you how. It’s much simpler, more direct, and more honest to say, “I don’t want to.” Review your statement in your mind. Try to get rid of any loopholes that the other person could use to further his or her own argument. Use body language to support your statement. Stand or sit erect, look the other person in the eye, and keep your hands quietly at your sides. Calmly and firmly repeat your statement as many times as necessary for the person to get your message and to realize that you won’t change your mind. The other person will probably come up with several reasons for not going along with your wishes. But most people run out of nos and excuses eventually. Don’t change your broken record unless the other person finds a serious loophole in it. You may choose to briefly acknowledge the other person’s ideas, feelings, or wishes before returning to your broken record: “I understand you’re upset, but I don’t want to work any more overtime.” “I hear what you want, but I don’t want to do any more overtime.” Don’t allow yourself to become sidetracked by the other person’s statements.
Here’s a dialogue that exemplifies the broken record: Customer: I bought this blouse here a couple of weeks ago, and I want to return it and get my money back. Salesperson: Do you have a receipt? Customer: Yes. (Shows it to the salesperson.) Salesperson: It says you bought the blouse over a month ago. That’s too long. How can you expect us to take back something you bought so long ago? Customer: I understand I bought it a month ago, and I want to return it and get my money back. Salesperson: This is highly irregular. Our store policy is that all returns must be made within one week. Customer: I understand that, and I want to return this blouse and get my money back. Salesperson: Given the policy, I would feel uncomfortable authorizing your return. Customer: I can appreciate your feeling uncomfortable about accepting it, but I want to return this blouse and get my money back. Salesperson: I could lose my job for doing such a thing. Customer: I hear your worry about losing your job, and I still want to return this blouse and get my money back. Salesperson: Look, I don’t want to take any chances. Why don’t you return it tomorrow when the manager is here? Customer: I hear you would rather have me come back tomorrow, but I want to return this blouse and get my money back now. Salesperson: You sound like a broken record. You’re unreal. Customer: I know I sound that way, but I want to return this blouse and get my money back now. Salesperson: Okay, okay, okay. Gimme the blouse.
A good rule of thumb is to try the broken record at least four times. You will feel awkward practicing this technique at first, especially if people respond by telling you that you sound like a broken record. But the results you get from this simple but powerful skill will convince you that it’s worth the initial discomfort."
-Page 142 "Content-to-process shifts are especially helpful when voices are being raised and both people are angry: “I see we’re both getting upset. It’s a touchy issue.” “We’re talking a lot louder and seem squared off for combat.” The trick is to comment on what’s going on between you in a neutral, dispassionate way so that your statement won’t be experienced as an attack."
-Page 142 "Alternatively, you can use a content-to-process shift to provide positive feedback: “I feel great about getting this problem resolved. We’re really communicating! I feel very positive about you right now.
-Page 143 I must be getting tired. Let’s go over this again, only more slowly.
-Page 143 There may be something to what you are saying … Let me think about it for a little bit.
-Page 144 Time-out. I’m upset right now. I know that I will be able to deal with this issue much more effectively tomorrow.
-Page 158 I feel frustrated by the old paradox: you need experience to get good jobs, but only good jobs give the right kind of experience. I think I have what it takes in terms of judgment, energy, and dedication. All I need is a chance to show what I can do. How about a three-month trial assignment?
-Page 159 "You can help your opponent save face by reframing the compromise as generosity rather than giving in."
-Page 184 "If you suspect that someone is superimposing a parataxic distortion on you, try the following. Ask him or her, “Do I remind you of anyone else in your life? Perhaps someone in your past?” If the other person says yes, then explore the similarities and differences between you and the remembered person."
-Page 185 "If the other person denies that you remind him or her of someone else, but you have an idea of who it might be, cautiously suggest the specific person: “Perhaps I remind you of some young girl out of your past, maybe your little sister. You sometimes treat me as though I were an eight-year-old playmate.” Sometimes the origin of a parataxic distortion escapes conscious awareness, and no amount of exploration will cause it to surface. That can spell trouble for any ongoing relationship."
-Page 191 "Let’s suppose you invited someone at the office to lunch. The person smiles and says, “Not today, but please ask me again.”
-Page 195 "Employ a little humor: “Do you mind talking to a man who’s lost?” “You could get old waiting for a table in this restaurant.” “I was looking for the manager, but I’d rather talk to you.
-Page 195 I’m starting to like the idea of a moratorium on high-rises. This street is a wind tunnel.
-Page 220 "She’s a stick-in-the-mud, never wants to take any risks!"
-Page 250 "Restate with more force: “Hey, George, I really mean it! I’m real sad and mad about these flowers.
-Page 268 "Ask if there is more that needs to be said: “I notice your shoulders were kind of hunched and you were staring at the floor while we talked about the kitchen remodeling. Is there something more that you feel about that?
-Page 270 "A blamer’s weapon is the pejorative attack. He or she aims at people’s vulnerable self-esteem in the way a Doberman goes for the jugular."
-Page 270 "Certain blamers have refined their strategy to an art. Some attack with a needling sarcasm that ostensibly seems funny but cuts deeply."
-Page 274 "Anger says, “I’m in pain and I don’t like it.” Blame says, “I’m in pain and bad people did it to me.
-Page 284 "Your plan should have six parts: a direct request, praise, trading, building in rewards, verbal and nonverbal appreciation, and consequences."
-Page 324 "A less abrasive option to giving a “no comment” response when asked about your opinion on a sensitive subject is to come back with a limited statement or a cliché. When asked why your marriage broke up, you can say, “Bad things happen to good people” or “It wasn’t meant to be” or “She wanted to live in New York and I didn’t.” When asked why you haven’t had children, you can say, “I guess it’s just not in the cards.” Most interviewers will get the message that this is something you would prefer not to talk about and will go on to the next question."
-Page 324 "If you feel the interviewer needs a gentle reprimand for asking an inappropriate question, you might try something like pausing, looking a little shocked, and saying, “Did you really ask me that?