3 Vital Questions: Transforming Workplace Drama

by David Emerald

Distinguished Favorite, 2020 NYC Big Book Award
Distinguished Favorite, 2020 Independent Press Award
Finalist, 2019 Indie Book Awards, Careers Category

Transform Workplace Drama into Workforce Empowerment!
 
If you have ever experienced infighting, such as a team or a department pitting itself against another team or department; if you have ever worked for a micromanaging and overbearing boss; if you have ever navigated the changes that come with a merger or other significant restructuring process, then you have had a front-row seat for organizational drama.
 
3 Vital Questions is a teaching story about transforming workplace drama and its heavy costs to organizations. 

Working late at night, Lucas, a middle manager in a large organization, meets a custodian named Ted. The two strike up a friendship as Ted teaches Lucas three vital questions with the power to transform the disillusionment he is experiencing at work. Readers follow Lucas as he learns how to shift from feeling like a Victim to acting as a Creator in his career. With the wise guidance of Ted and Kasey, a senior manager, Lucas applies the three vital questions and begins transforming his workplace relationships, with exciting results. At home, Lucas and his wife Sarah discover how the questions can spark creative collaboration with each other and their two young children.

This long-awaited and highly enjoyable read by the author of the bestselling self-leadership title,  The Power of TED* (*The Empowerment Dynamic)  ushers in a new era of possibility for the world of work. This book teaches David Emerald’s groundbreaking 3 Vital Questions® approach for empowering leaders and teams to become collaborative, engaged, and resilient in the face of the rapid changes that mark today’s increasingly complex competitive environment.

Genres: Business

226 pages, Paperback

Published March 26, 2019

Reviews

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as the next very worthy read after I'd found David's The Power of TED book so helpful in understanding that there is an alternative to the drama triangle. I wished I'd had this book and the framework David shares ten years ago when I was CEO of a large healthcare organisation.
The way the book is written allows you to envisage the same conversations, scenarios and solutions the characters play out, as if they were your own to work through. It's a quick read and I highly recommend it to any business leader or manager to bring to the workplace as a way of operating and communicating more effectively with the key stakeholders of your business.
3 Vital Questions: Transforming Workplace Drama

[Deborah K. Hulbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone deals with drama, at home, at work, while commuting. How you deal with that drama is the key to how much energy and vitality you can bring into your day and to the quality of your relationships. If you find yourself sucked into or drained by drama, then READ THIS BOOK! 3 Vital Questions asks you (obviously) 3 questions that are embedded in a framework that is deceptively simple. If you read the book, really deeply read it, you will find the tools literally life changing. Learn how to identify and transform drama from something that disempowers and drains you to something that helps you identify what it is you truly care about and empowers you to step forward toward and into that outcome. FIVE STARS - A MUST READ!

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The practical uses of The Power of TED escaped me in Emerald's first book. However, The 3 Vital Questions used the principles introduced in the first book and applies them to real-world use cases. The narrative/fable format is still present, but much less cringey and I found myself actually inspired by the story that was told.

This book is definitely worth the read if you feel like you struggle with difficult people and situations in your job or family life or if you feel overwhelmed by problems at every turn. This book will challenge you to reframe how you view a situation but the foundational principles give you the grace to make mistakes which I think is important.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have worked in very different environments and I can see how this book highlights how each environment functioned! So powerful to want to be part of a Dynamic team. A few parts of the fable had details that didn’t add to the story (like the order for food or text message) but the way it was written made it easy and fast to read. For anyone who works with more than one person, I highly recommended this book.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd stick to The Power of TED

Honestly, this was just okay. I find myself surprised to say this, as I LOVED the author's previous book "The Power of TED". That book covers much of the same material in a more succinct and engaging manner. If you read that, you can probably skip this one.

[Kristen David · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest books I read in 2019. I have recommended this book to dozens of business owners and administrators to help them learn how to better handle workplace drama. This should be a must read for anyone in a management position.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent followup to The Power of TED. And, if you are a Leadership Circle Profile practitioner, then you will find the ties drawn to it especially relevant. However, even if you are not, this is an excellent book for leaders of all kinds, coaches, and managers.

[Victoria Poon · Rating 5 out of 5]

life changing

More than a practice, this book offers a change in mindset which can affect everything. My approach to “problems” and managing a team is changed based on a simple shift in how I relate through this framework. Highly recommend this easy to read book.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

While some of the fictional tale is a bit contrived, the models used to transform the mindset to a creator mentality is explained well. I would recommend this book to those looking for leadership guidance.

[John Zenir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you.

Filled with creative ideas and specific process goals for creating outcomes we can all participate in all aspects of life.

[Hossein Khadjehali · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most effective self-improvement frameworks explained in a simple, yet relatable story. I recommend the audiobook as well. Well narrated.

[Chris Cavalieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read, re-read, repeat!

[Joel Bordewyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a helpful followup to the TED dynamic, outlining the steps to move from DDT to TED.

[Gregor Prosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

gamechanger!

Required read for EVERYONE, not just management.
Excellent upgrade on original TEDbook from same author- with additional points of view and practical examples

[Lola Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information and leadership problem solving approaches