21 Difficult Conversations: Tools To Navigate Your Most Important Talk And Master Exactly What to Say

by Latha Vijaybaskar

What conversations do you find difficult?
The answer might be different for each of us, but let’s face it. We've all experienced difficult conversations.
And what is a difficult conversation?

If the conversation is emotional, high stakes, or challenging for at least one of the
people involved, then it is difficult.

Some are planned, and we dread the path, while some are spontaneous and catch us by surprise. You might be the initiator of a difficult conversation or the receiver.

In her book, Dr. Latha Vijaybaskar helps you navigate 21 such difficult conversations. From saying a no, giving feedback, delivering bad news, turning debates to dialogues, to going back to an old, hurtful incidents and dealing with irrational and sometimes insensitive talk, this book is filled with life affirming primers. The most exciting part of the book is the “‘exactly what to say’” section, weaving together the conceptual and the anecdotal with the practical and commonsensical.

You’ll learn

1. Live fully and not skirt around the perimeter of relationships.
2. Talk your differences and not avoid relationships because of a few small errors.
3. Say no and not feel bad, say sorry and smile, speak from the heart and be
respected.
4. Connect with customers, colleagues, and friends at a far deeper level. Let’s change the conversation!

Genres: Communication, Nonfiction

185 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 26, 2018

Reviews

[Ruchira Khanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me of the days when I was a teenager. My mom had gifted me a similar book on ways to talk yourself out of a situation. Although it's not a prescription to get out of a solution, it sure can help build confidence in tackling one. I liked the different scenarios the author has portrayed. Very Apt. This book would be ideal for a teenager.

[Y T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reference for considering common difficult situations and what you need to say. However, I feel that things may not be that straightforward as the scenarios described in the book. The author's recommended methods still require us to practice them in real life to be able to navigate these difficult situations effectively.

[Liping Liang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know why my colleague recommends this book. It’s not that good especially when you have read Seven Habits of Highly effective people

… still thanks for the author’s contribution to the discussion

[Ramesh · Rating 1 out of 5]

God help anyone who thinks this book has anything worthwhile in it and was worth writing.

[Priyanka · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book, please stay away.

[Todd Cheng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard Read

The book was okay, but not the type of read that pulled me in and easily competed with other possible books. There was very little new. However, I did appreciate the authors many references to other materials. Several of those authors are from books I have read so I expect that what took some of the pull or new away.