Best of
Communication

2021

The Qualified Sales Leader: Proven Lessons from a Five Time CRO


John McMahon - 2021
    As an executive, board member, advisor, and investor, John has not only coached a generation of companies on selling, but he has also influenced a generation of executives and leaders in technology, Mike Speiser-Managing Director-Sutter Hill VenturesThe learnings in The Qualified Sales Leader will help you and your sales team sell more, make more money and grow your career in enterprise sales. Luca Lazzaron-CRO SprinklrMost sales books are boring, clinical "textbooks" that "cookie-cutter" a few generic ideas into a monotonous, dull read, that puts you to sleep. The Qualified Sales Leader is an easy read, dripping with the fundamentals of enterprise sales. Real world advice that you'll put to use the next day. Chris Degnan-CRO-SnowflakeThe Qualified Sales Leader is an easy to read book that will absolutely resonate through any enterprise software sales team. Realistic, usable advice for any sales leader or sales rep. If you're in enterprise sales, you'd be crazy not to read this book Cedric Pech-CRO-MongoDBMonthly someone asks:, "When are you going to write a book". When I ask, "Why?", I'm told, "Because no one has written a sales leadership book with practical, solutions to real life issues in enterprise SaaS sales forces", Why:6 of 10 sales reps fail, not because they couldn't sell but because they were assigned the wrong accounts. Sales leaders don't align skillsets to account complexity.Rep attrition at most SaaS companies is over 20%Sales leaders can't recruit A playersSales Leaders don't coach their reps on deal advancement issuesMost sales leaders are "glorified scorekeepers"Most sales leader don't motivate their sales teamThey're focused on deals, not rep competencySales forecasts are inaccurate because most reps game the CRM system.Sales team leaders lack qualification of sales stage exit criteriaMany salesforces only win 50% of their proof of conceptsThey're unable to frame a winning POC Criteria because they skip steps 8 of 10 executive buyers say the sales meetings they take are a waste of time.Sales reps lack the ability to sell business value aligned to specific personas and use cases. 4 of 10 reps in enterprise sales say one of the top 3 biggest challenges is to establish urgency. Reps don't quantify critical business pain to create a buying influence.Reps can't find high-level business champions, only low-level coachesLeaders don't teach them to find pain above the noise.Reps find pain but can't attract a championManagers have them selfishly focused on closing a sale instead of earning trust.40% of reps say they feel out of control during the sales process.Leaders don't teach them how to control the process.Reps can't get high in the tree to drive large deals.They don't speak the language of the Economic Buyer.50% of reps say they can't overcome price objections while sales leaders struggle to increase the average deal size. Managers are pushing their sales reps into vending, not selling. Reps can't answer the simple "3 Whys" for forecasted dealsWhy do they have to buy? Why do they have to buy from us? and Why do they have to buy now?Top sales leaders will find the answers to these issues and more in The Qualified Sales LeaderFrom the PublisherJohn is widely recognized as the only person having been the CRO (Chief Revenue Officer) at five public, enterprise software companies, PTC, Geo-Tel, Ariba, BladeLogic and BMC.John's expertise was formulated as a pre-IPO member of 4 of the 5 companies listed above.Today, John is a board member at public software companies Snowflake, MongoDB and private, pre-IPO companies Lacework, Sigma, Cybereason and Observe. In the past, John has been a board member or executive consultant to: Hubspot, Glass Door AppDynamics and Sprinklr.

Fuse


Hollay Ghadery - 2021
    Fuse has elements of memoir, but does not follow a traditional linear narrative. Rather, the book is a series of 13 meditations that probe different parts of Hollay’s fractured biracial experience, including eating and anxiety disorders, self-mutilation, sex, motherhood, and the simultaneous allure and rejection of aesthetic beauty. In Fuse, Hollay speaks to the struggle to construct a fluid identity in a world that wants to peg you down: what you are, and are not. While Hollay’s experiences are personal, the issues surrounding the bi-racial identity are wide-spread; the number of interracial marriages is increasing every year. A dialogue on the tensions surrounding the female bi-racial mind and body is long overdue.

Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues


David Bradford - 2021
    Yet many of us find ourselves struggling to build solid personal and professional connections or unable to handle challenges that inevitably arise when we grow closer to others. When we find ourselves in an exceptional relationship--the kind of relationship in which we feel fully understood and supported for who we are--it can seem like magic. But the truth is that the process of building and sustaining these relationships can be described, learned, and applied.David Bradford and Carole Robin taught interpersonal skills to MBA candidates for a combined seventy-five years in their legendary Stanford Graduate School of Business course Interpersonal Dynamics (affectionately known to generations of students as "Touchy-Feely") and have coached and consulted hundreds of executives for decades. In Connect, they show readers how to take their relationships from shallow to exceptional by cultivating authenticity, vulnerability, and honesty, while being willing to ask for and offer help, share a commitment to growth, and deal productively with conflict.Filled with relatable scenarios and research-backed insights, Connect is an important resource for anyone hoping to improve existing relationships and build new ones at any stage of life.

Conflicted: How Productive Disagreements Lead to Better Outcomes


Ian Leslie - 2021
    Disagreeing productively is a hard skill for which neither evolution or society has equipped us. It’s a skill we urgently need to acquire; otherwise, our increasingly vociferous disagreements are destined to tear us apart. Productive disagreement is a way of thinking, perhaps the best one we have. It makes us smarter and more creative, and it can even bring us closer together. It’s critical to the success of any shared enterprise, from a marriage, to a business, to a democracy. Isn’t it time we gave more thought to how to do it well?In an increasingly polarized world, our only chance for coming together and moving forward is to learn from those who have mastered the art and science of disagreement. In this book, we’ll learn from experts who are highly skilled at getting the most out of highly charged encounters: interrogators, cops, divorce mediators, therapists, diplomats, psychologists. These professionals know how to get something valuable – information, insight, ideas—from the toughest, most antagonistic conversations. They are brilliant communicators: masters at shaping the conversation beneath the conversation. They know how to turn the heat of conflict into the light of creativity, connection, and insight. In this much-needed book, Ian Leslie explores what happens to us when we argue, why disagreement makes us stressed, and why we get angry. He explains why we urgently need to transform the way we think about conflict and how having better disagreements can make us more successful. By drawing together the lessons he learns from different experts, he proposes a series of clear principles that we can all use to make our most difficult dialogues more productive—and our increasingly acrimonious world a better place.

The Introvert’s Edge to Networking: Work the Room. Leverage Social Media. Develop Powerful Connections


Matthew Owen Pollard - 2021
    You don’t have to be outgoing to be successful at networking. You don’t have to become a relentless self-promoter. In fact, you don’t have to act like an extrovert at all.The truth is, introverts make the best networkers...when armed with a plan that lets them be their authentic selves.Matthew Pollard, an introvert himself, draws on over a decade of research and real-world examples to provide an actionable blueprint for introverted networking.In this paradigm-shifting book, you’ll discover how to:● Overcome your fear and discomfort when networking● Turn networking into a repeatable system● Leverage your innate introverted strengths● Target and connect with top influencers● Leverage the power of virtual and social networkingWhether you’re a small business owner struggling to make a living or a professional who’s hit a career plateau, The Introvert’s Edge to Networking is your path to a higher income and a rolodex of powerful connections.

Why Do You Look at Me and See a Girl?


Anvi Hoàng - 2021
    Selling liquid soap. Shopping at a glittering shoe mecca. She’s done them all living half her life in deprived-post-war-communist-Vietnam-turned-free-market. It’s life in a vacuum when strange types of brainwashing happened. Part memoir and part social criticism, Why Do You Look at Me and See a Girl? is a provocative read about a full-fledged bilingual who fights to get free from the dead past and her ancestors’ sins.The story starts with her grandmother’s prison visit and moves to a journey through the jungle carried out for family reunion. Drawing strength from her, Hoàng completes her transformation in America from an international student to a free naturalized being. As she sheds her adoration for the impeccable American logic, oscillates between languages, and crosses oceans, she confronts the power play and biases, cultural inhibitors and prejudices that condition human behaviors, be it in Vietnam, America or Thailand. All along, she claims justice for her under-appreciated grandma, straightens male and white patronization, tears down tradition and brainwashing, uncovers the Asian submission to western iconography, and resists the attraction of a white guy. In lucid prose and with a hint of quiet humor, Why Do You Look at Me and See a Girl? is an unflinching pursuit of questions about family, finding one’s voice, home, and freedom.

Find Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible


Tamsen Webster - 2021
    

Let's Talk: Make Effective Feedback Your Superpower


Therese Huston - 2021
    Yet many see it as an awkward chore: Recent studies have revealed 37% of managers dread giving feedback, and 65% of employees wish their managers gave more feedback.This trail-blazing new model eliminates the guesswork. Dr. Therese Huston, the founding director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Seattle University, discovered that the key to being listened to is to listen. First, find out what kind of feedback an employee wants most: appreciation, coaching, or evaluation. If they crave one, they'll be more receptive once their need has been satisfied. Then Huston lays out counterintuitive strategies for delivering each type of feedback successfully, including:- Start by saying your good intentions out loud: it may feel unnecessary, but it makes all the difference. - Side with the person, not the problem: a bad habit or behavior probably is probably less entrenched than you think. - Give reports a chance to correct inaccurate feedback: they want an opportunity to talk more than they want you to be a good talker.This handbook will make a once-stressful ordeal feel natural, and, by greasing the wheels of regular feedback conversations, help managers improve performance, trust, and mutual understanding.

Don't Drop the Mic: The Power of Your Words Can Change the World


T.D. Jakes - 2021
    Jakes!In Don't Drop the Mic, Bishop Jakes speaks to readers about communication and how the ways we speak and interact with others can be part of our everyday ministries. He helps readers understand:Why the way we speak and the words we use matterHow speaking well, no matter your topic or audience, improves your chances of getting the result you wantHow to craft your message, whether it's a simple email or a speech under the spotlights, to connect with listenersWhy good communication is important for building connection and communityHow sharing God's Word produces abundant fruitDrawing lessons from Scripture and his own life, Jakes gives career advice for those who have or want to grow into a speaking career, but he also provides clear direction and insight for everyone who gives presentations, writes emails, or talks to other people in their job or home life.There will be practical advice about how to craft insightful and meaningful communications, but the heart of this book is really about how we can communicate more clearly to build community and share the hope of Christ in our everyday lives. The more adept we become at using all available resources to convey our message, the greater our impact. From lovers to litigators, entrepreneurs to entertainers, and bloggers to board members, we all want to communicate more effectively, intimately, and efficiently. Whether you're interviewing for a new position, proposing a new business plan, auditioning for a performance, delivering a report for your committee, teaching Sunday school, or sharing your heart with a loved one, this book will help.

Friendship--It's Complicated: Avoid the Drama, Create Authentic Connection, and Fulfill Your Purpose Together


Andi Andrew - 2021
    As women, we can cause one another deep pain, creating wounds in need of healing. But we were made for connection and healthy friendships with other women to cheer each other on and fulfill our God-breathed purpose--together.Through vulnerable personal stories laden with joy, heartache, mistakes, and lessons learned, Andi invites you on a journey of navigating the complications that can come in friendships with other women. With practical and biblical applications throughout, this book will empower you to do the work by first facing yourself and untangling the mess, then seeking reconciliation for genuine connection, and building authentic friendships, even when it's been painful or complicated in the past.

The Miracle Moment: How Tough Conversations Can Actually Transform Your Most Important Relationships


Nicole Unice - 2021
    A moment when you can either move toward the other person or away from them. Choose to break a negative cycle or continue it. Understand and be understood or remain confused and frustrated.It's the "miracle moment." And once you learn how to recognize and respond to it, it holds the power to help transform the relationships you have--at home, in love, and at work--into the ones you really want.In The Miracle Moment, Nicole Unice helps you discover the practical tools toLearn to respect and respond to your emotions without letting them control youSpeak words that help--rather than hurt--the likelihood of your getting what you needIdentify and keep yourself safe from toxic peopleBecome comfortable setting and holding boundariesBe your best self even when you're tempted to shut up, blow up, or give upStep into the space where miracles happen. Your miracle moments are waiting for you: moments of honesty; moments of healing; moments of renewal and lasting change.(Don't miss the companion Miracle Moment DVD Experience and Miracle Moment Participant's Guide, perfect for small groups or individuals wanting to go deeper!)

Samaritans: How to Listen: A practical and valuable guide to becoming a better listener


Katie Colombus - 2021
    Samaritans believe that every one of us can be a better listener in our everyday life, strengthening relationships and offering support to those around us.In this friendly and approachable book, readers will discover:How to open up a conversation with someone who might be strugglingHow to listen fullyHow to empathise and reflect rather than problem solveHow to use gentle encouragement to help others share their storiesThe power of listening without judgementWith helpful tips from real Samaritans, and advice on how these techniques can be adapted for different situations, this important book can help to make each of us a better partner, friend, parent and colleague.

Marriage Ain't for Punks: A No-Nonsense Guide to Building a Lasting Relationship


Calvin Roberson - 2021
    In fact, marriage is not the thing that is supposed to work. People are supposed to work! Beloved star of Lifetime's "Married at First Sight," Pastor Cal Roberson captivates millions of viewers with his eccentric personality and unabashed yet effective marriage advice--and Marriage Ain't for Punks is no different. This book is a relationship gamechanger. It's a straightforward and unapologetic dive into why people fail or struggle at one of the most popular and sought-after unions in society. But this is more than a book about marriage--it's a book about how to manage life with another person. The principles and methods Roberson provides are not theoretical or hearsay but tested and proven. The book will methodically probe into the hearts of readers and force them to confront themselves and be accountable for their own emotions and actions. Even though some marriages look like a hot mess, transparency, honesty, and downright fearlessness are the traits that make a great marriage. A great marriage is about refusing to allow pettiness to destroy the loving connection they share. These people are not weaklings. They are not quitters. They know that Marriage Ain't for Punks!

The Art of Receiving and Giving: The Wheel of Consent


Betty Martin - 2021
    

What to Say Next: Successful Communication in Work, Life, and Love—with Autism Spectrum Disorder


Sarah Nannery - 2021
    When Sarah Nannery got her first job at a small nonprofit, she thought she knew exactly what it would take to advance. But soon she realized that even with hard work and conscientiousness, she was missing key meanings and messages embedded in her colleagues’ everyday requests, feedback, and praise. She had long realized her brain operated differently than others, but now she knew for sure: she had Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). With help from her neurotypical partner—now husband—Larry, mostly in frantic IM chats, Sarah rose to Director of Development at one of the world’s largest nonprofits. Together they have tackled challenges in how Sarah navigates personal and professional relationships, how they navigate marriage and parenthood, all of which are differently challenging for someone with ASD. But she wonders, at times, how life would be different if she’d had to figure it all out herself. So, in What to Say Next, she offers advice, empathy, and straightforward strategies from her own tool-kit—not only for others who see the world differently, but for their families, partners and colleagues. In What to Say Next, Sarah breaks down everyday situations—the chat in the break room, the last-minute meeting, the unexpected run-in—in granular detail, explaining not only how to understand the goals of others, but also how to frame your own. Larry adds his thoughts from a neurotypical perspective, sharing what was going on in his brain and how he learned to listen and enlighten, while supporting and maintaining Sarah’s voice. At a time when more and more people are being diagnosed with ASD—especially women and girls—this book tells important truths about what it takes to make it in a neurotypical world, and still be true to yourself.

The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships


Susan McPherson - 2021
    With social media platforms like Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at our disposal, reaching potential investors or employers is much easier. Yet, these connections often feel transactional, agenda-driven, and dehumanizing, leaving professionals feeling burnt out and stressed out.Instead, we should connect on a human level and build authentic relationships beyond securing a new job or a new investor for your next big idea. To build real and meaningful networking contacts, we need to go back to basics, remembering that technology is a tool and more than just a means to an end. We need to tap into our humanity and learn to be more intentional and authentic.As a "serial connector" and communications expert, Susan McPherson has a lifetime of experience building genuine connections in and out of work. Her methodology is broken down into three simple steps:Gather: Instead of waiting for the perfect networking opportunity to come to you, think outside the box and create your own opportunity. Host your own dinner party, join a local meet-up group, or volunteer at your neighborhood food pantry.Ask: Instead of leading with our own rehearsed elevator pitches asking for help, ask to help, opening the door to share resources, experience, contacts, and perspectives that add diversity to your own vision.Do: Turn new connections into meaningful relationships by taking these newly formed relationships deeper. Follow through on the promises you made and keep in touch.Woven together with helpful tips and useful advice on making the most out of every step, this book draws on McPherson's own experience as a renowned "serial connector," as well as the real life success stories of friends and clients. Filled with humor, humility, and wisdom, The Lost Art of Connecting is the handbook we all need to foster personal and professional relationships that blur the lines between work and play--and enrich our lives in every way.

Stop Asking Questions: How to Lead High-Impact Interviews and Learn Anything from Anyone


Andrew Warner - 2021
    

Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most


Bruce Patton - 2021
    

How to Listen, Hear, and Validate: Break Through Invisible Barriers and Transform Your Relationships (How to be More Likable and Charismatic Book 11)


Patrick King - 2021
    

Facilitating Breakthrough: How to Remove Obstacles, Bridge Differences, and Move Forward Together


Adam Kahane - 2021
    It is becoming less straightforward for people to move forward together. They face increasing complexity and decreasing control. They need to work with more people from across more divides. In such situations, the most common ways of advancing—some people telling others what to do, or everyone just doing what they think they need to—aren’t adequate.One better way is through facilitating. But the most common approaches to facilitating—bossy vertical directing from above or collegial horizontal accompanying from alongside—aren’t adequate. They often leave the participants frustrated and yearning for breakthrough.This book describes a new approach: transformative facilitation. It doesn’t choose either the bossy vertical or the collegial horizontal approach: it cycles back and forth between them. Rather than forcing or cajoling, the facilitator removes the obstacles that stand in the way of people contributing and connecting equitably. It enables people to bring their whole selves to the process. This book is for anyone who helps people work together to transform their situation, be it a professional facilitator, manager, consultant, coach, chairperson, organizer, mediator, stakeholder, or friend. It offers a broad and bold vision of the contribution that facilitation can make to helping people collaborate to make progress.

The March of the Ants


Ursula Dubosarsky - 2021
    What will they need to take with them? It's a wild journey! And in the end, it's the littlest ant who leads the others to discover the most important thing of all. A book about a very special book.

Gen Z vol 2: Caring for Young Souls and Cultivating Resilience


Barna Group - 2021
    Gen Z’s emotional lives Their relationship with technologyHow they feel about faith and practice it

The Art & Science of Facilitation: How to Lead Effective Collaboration with Agile Teams


Marsha Acker - 2021
    

The agile comms handbook


Giles Turnbull - 2021
    How to clearly, creatively work in the open.Agile comms is a set of techniques to help teams communicate clearly and creatively about work in progress.It helps you communicate faster and more flexibly, adjusting what you say to changing circumstances.It helps you use a human tone of voice, and a little creative flair, to get your point across to busy people.This book explains what agile comms means, and how to start using it.

Everyday Business Storytelling: Create, Simplify, and Adapt a Visual Narrative for Any Audience


Janine Kurnoff - 2021
    Whether you're building a presentation, crafting a high-stakes email, or need to influence decisions in your next meeting with an executive, Everyday Business Storytelling offers an insightful exploration of how to develop compelling business narratives.You'll discover how to use a simple, repeatable framework to choreograph your ideas, data, and insights into an authentic, persuasive story. Within this business book, you'll also find clever data visualization and visual display techniques to help humanize your stories and build an emotional connection with your audience, leading to improved presentation skills and effective data storytelling.Just a few of the things you'll learn from this business book include:The science behind why storytelling is the most effective way to trigger emotion in an audience and how to craft a business narrative that makes your ideas engaging The four signposts of storytelling and how to identify and weave in your BIG idea to capture attention How to craft expert headlines that guide your audience and advance your story Everyday Business Storytelling is an indispensable guide to making your communications stick in the minds of your audience and drive change. If you're a busy, talented businessperson responsible for executive presentations, one-pagers, emails, or virtual meetings, this communication book is for you.

Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection that Build Extraordinary Relationships


Riaz Meghji - 2021
    We all crave connection. We were never meant to live alone or communicate only in "likes" and retweets. In Every Conversation Counts, TV host and human connection keynote speaker Riaz Meghji digs deep into the dangers of isolation and loneliness, our social pandemic, that have been brought into sharp relief by the coronavirus crisis. He tackles a uniquely modern question: why are we so connected, and yet so alone--and how can we reconnect?Sharing personal insights from powerful interviews and years of on-air experience, Meghji offers 5 simple habits for building extraordinary relationships. He explains how to spark authentic conversations, win trust, create new business, and collaborate effectively. Meghji points a way forward to a better future--one in which we express genuine curiosity about others, listen with our whole hearts, show up as our authentic selves, and make every conversation count.

Outside the Box to Box: Experience the Joys of Connection by Creating a Rewarding Social Life


Tak Maeda - 2021
    Science has proven that the quality of your social connections is the strongest factor to lifelong happiness—over money, status, or fame. Despite this, we hardly put any effort into the people that ultimately bring us true happiness.Outside the Box to Box is a simple yet effective book on how to create a rewarding social life full of people you love, care about, and whose connections bring you endless joy.On top of showing you how to create fulfilling connections, the book will also lay out various skills and traits you need to develop in order to become capable of making your social life happen including:- Meeting new people- Becoming courageous and vulnerable- Feeling confident and comfortable- Becoming skilled socially- Enjoying who you are- And so much moreAfter experiencing the pain of loneliness then systematically learning how to overcome it through self-improvement, Tak Maeda shares his experiences to help readers conquer the box-to-box cycle.Outside the Box to Box will change the way you interact with the world and the people in it, and it will be one of the biggest contributors to your lifelong happiness.

The Argument Hangover: Empowering Couples to Fight Smarter and Overcome Communication Pitfalls


Aaron Freeman - 2021
    You regret what you said or how you said it, and you're hurt by their actions as well. Almost like a food or alcohol hangover, right? Aaron and Jocelyn Freeman, your new favorite relationship mentors, call this "the argument hangover." In this relatable, no b.s. book for couples, the Freemans explain what an argument hangover is, what causes it, and how to clearly communicate your needs to feel understood, without having to change each other. This modern guide includes step-by-step tools and exercises you can implement right away, so you can handle the challenges that so many couples face today. Topics include:Why conflict doesn’t have to be something you avoidHow to keep arguments from escalatingHow to resolve those nagging two or three disagreements that keep coming upEmbrace conflict and grow from it with the right communication skills―and say goodbye to argument hangovers once and for all.

Active Listening 2.0: Overcoming Stalls and Objections by Asking the Right Questions at the Right Time


Steve Trang - 2021
    

Soul Therapy: The Art and Craft of Caring Conversations


Thomas Moore - 2021
    In his previous acclaimed books, he explored the soul in important areas of our lives—work, sex, marriage, family, religion, and aging. In this wise guide, he now returns to his core vocation: teaching practitioners—therapists, psychiatrists, ministers, spiritual directors, and others—how to offer soul care to those they assist.A training manual infused with a lifetime’s worth of wisdom, Soul Therapy is divided into five sections: What therapy or “soul care” is and how it works;What soul work is required of the helper to be able to address the needs of others;How to access and move forward the spiritual dimension;How to apply this work to specific areas, such as work, marriage, parenting, or teaching;How to deal with other issues that arise, such as developing a therapeutic style, dealing with one’s shadow, and the need for self-care. Profound yet practical, enlightened yet grounded in real-world experience, Soul Therapy will become a definitive resource for caregivers and practitioners for years to come.

The Lost Art of Listening: How Learning to Listen Can Improve Relationships


Michael P. Nichols - 2021
    This perennial bestseller—now revised and updated for the digital age—analyzes how any conversation can go off the rails and provides essential skills for building mutual understanding. Thoughtful, witty, and empathic, the book is filled with vivid stories of couples, coworkers, friends, and family working through tough emotions and navigating differences of all kinds.Learn ways you can:* Hear what people mean, not just what they say.* Share a difference of opinion without sounding dismissive.* Encourage uncommunicative people to open up.* Make sure both sides get heard in heated discussions.* Get through to someone who never seems to listen.* Ask for support without getting unwanted advice.* Reduce miscommunication in texts and online.From renowned therapist Michael P. Nichols and new coauthor Martha B. Straus, the third edition reflects the huge impact of technology and social media on relationships, and gives advice for talking to loved ones across social and political divides.

The Search for Why: A Revolutionary New Model for Understanding Others, Improving Communication, and Healing Division


Bob Raleigh - 2021
    Misinformation, fake news, and politicization is affecting how we as a society come to grips with a global pandemic, economic inequality, and racial injustice. If we are to mend the divides between us and grapple with the challenges before us, we need, first, to understand the why. In The Search for Why, Bob Raleigh provides a new model for how to understand human behavior, the fundamentals of why we do what we do. He draws on his experience in market research and public communication strategy and combines that with research in the social sciences, like psychology, cognitive and behavioral sciences, and anthropology. The Search for Why covers topics like: -Why so frequently people seem to act against their own best interests, both in politics and their personal lives -How to better communicate with one another across political and cultural divides -How to craft persuasive messages that meet people where they are, and listen to what they are saying back -Ways you can apply this model to help build a better world, at a personal, social, and global level -What influences our decisions, even when we don’t realize it For anyone looking to persuade people, heal divisions, or build better relationships, The Search for Why is a crucial step in the right direction.

Preaching to People in Pain: How Suffering Can Shape Your Sermons and Connect with Your Congregation


Matthew D. Kim - 2021
    Through vulnerability and self-disclosure, pastors can help their congregants share their suffering in community for the purpose of healing and transformation. The book includes stories, shares relevant Scripture texts imparting biblical wisdom, and offers best practices for preaching on specific topics. Each chapter ends with discussion questions and a sample sermon.

Would You Rather Book for Kids: Gamebook for Kids with 200+ Hilarious Silly Questions to Make You Laugh!


Jennifer L. Trace - 2021
    Your children will have the opportunity to practice critical thinking and justify their decisions.• Produced and created by professional writers native in the English language• Large activities made easy to see with cute picture themes• Improve hand-coordination skills with our activities• Enhance productivity and improve problem-solving skills• Tons of fun for everyone in the familyOther than the above mentioned points, these activities for kids also provide numerous health benefits such as reduced stress and relaxation.Includes a certificate on the back of the book that you can present to your child upon completion.Order Now and Enjoy One of the Best Would You Rather for Kids!

Suddenly Virtual: Making Remote Meetings Work


Karin M. Reed - 2021
    Rather than focusing on what worked best, they focused on what worked now . . . which meant closing up the office and being suddenly virtual in nearly every meeting, often without the tools, the training, or the expertise to optimize the new "kitchen table" office. Thankfully, businesses are beginning to be more purposeful in both the tools they use and the approach they take.This book seeks to be a definitive guide for businesses looking to make their meetings as effective as possible in the ever-evolving "new normal"--leveraging insights from some of the foremost thought leaders in meeting science and on-camera communication.This book will:- Highlight new research insights springing from the rapid and exponential adoption of virtual meeting technology- Discuss the problems, challenges, and pitfalls of meeting in this new modality- Provide practical, actionable best practices, backed by meeting research that lead to more productive and effective virtual meetingsPerfect for executives, managers, and employees at companies in all industries and of all sizes, Suddenly Virtual provides practical and actionable best practices that lead to more productive and effective remote meetings.

The Highest Common Denominator: Using Convergent Facilitation to Reach Breakthrough Collaborative Decisions


Miki Kashtan - 2021
    Majority rule, top-down orders, compromise, and consensus lead to people feeling disconnected, drained of energy, and unsatisfied. "THE HIGHEST COMMON DENOMINATOR: Using Convergent Facilitation to Reach Breakthrough Collaborative Decisions" presents a better way to make decisions using Convergent Facilitation, the method Miki developed after years of working with groups in a variety of settings. Miki posits that collaborative decision-making, where people feel heard and their needs respected in a structured and trusting environment, maximizes willingness and efficiency for all. This can lay the ground for breakthroughs for groups working on challenges, allowing decisions to be made at lightning speed. The process includes three phases that can bring groups to outcomes that are profoundly collaborative and genuinely supported by all.THE HIGHEST COMMON DENOMINATOR gives readers examples, tools, and processes to implement Convergent Facilitation. It includes vivid case studies and practical examples to explain how to guide people towards solutions that integrate everyone's needs and concerns and don't require compromise; provides tips on how to keep people on track with the task at hand; and encourages facilitators to invite dissent and engage with it productively.One case study explores the revision of child custody laws in Minnesota. Lawmakers had been struggling for years to write new legislation that would satisfy stakeholders. When Miki began working with them, many regarded each other with deep mistrust and believed no new laws could be created. The process ended with the creation of legislation that was passed near-unanimously by the state legislature. One of the participants later described it as "a transformative experience."In workplace settings, Miki explores how companies can truly achieve a collaborative culture, where employees feel heard and are motivated. Stuart Thorn, retired President and CEO of the Southwire Company, wanted to achieve a truly collaborative culture for his multi-billion-dollar company, all the while he was experiencing friction between division managers and leadership. After bringing Miki in personally to bring his own team toward convergence, he reflects that after reading THE HIGHEST COMMON DENOMINATOR, "I can see that her ability to draw out insights about the inner workings of organizations is not effortless at all, but rather based on a very conscious, thoughtful, and deliberate approach carefully developed over many years of practice and experimentation. This is good news. It means that Miki's skills are transferable."The procedures described in this book can be used in any kind of setting--from grassroots social change movements to village councils to corporate boardrooms--where people are having trouble collaborating effectively in a group, which is almost everywhere. With the mounting social, political, and environmental problems of our times, harnessing a group's energy for effective action is essential. And yet many people drift away from organizations they care about due to their inability to sit through meetings--where tensions may remain unresolved, power differences are not addressed, and solutions that work for all do not seem available.Ultimately, this book is not just about working with groups. It is an entire re-examination and affirmation of the human heart. Facilitation involves transparency on the part of the one leading it, as well as a deep faith and hope in how even impossible-seeming differences can transform into unity.

Noisy Tom (Smiling Mind #3)


Jane Martino - 2021
    Everything he does makes noise. At the park, Tom finds different people with different ways of playing – loud and quiet, fast and slow. Tom tries out all the different ways, but discovers there’s only one way to show his feelings . . . his way. This fun story celebrates all the different ways that people communicate their feelings.Noisy Tom is the third book in the five-part mindfulness-informed series, developed in collaboration with Smiling Mind, Australia's leading not-for-profit organisation in the pre-emptive mental health space.

Corporate Communication: An Entry to Top-Level Professional Guide


Rokhsana Akhter Rupee - 2021
    There is difference between General English and Business English. If you or your employees are proficient in the business language, then your business has a very important tool for success. English is often used in boardrooms and for presentations, even when none of the participants or presenters is a native speaker. It is the ‘go to language’ if you want to get your point across in both private meetings and public forums. If you can speak English for work purposes, you can also travel for work purposes. However, if you can read and write in English, you can plan business travel and administrate effectively! You will have an advantage when it comes to negotiating business deals or making a business presentation if your English is of a professional standard. Knowing how to put a point across in the right manner is essential, especially when so much communication is done by email. A well-written email without mistakes, in the right tone, is a skill in itself. Considering all the above and her 15 years long (entry-top level) corporate training experience at a good number of public and multinational companies, the author incorporated all basic business communication tips and techniques in this book.

How to Find the Right Words: A guide to delivering life's most awkward messages


The School of Life - 2021
    Occasionally we explode. And typically, we stumble about, looking for the right words - dreading that we didn't find them and thereby causing more hurt than we should. This is a book to help us locate the best possible words to get across a range of life's most difficult messages. With twenty case studies drawn from relationships, friendships, work, our families and service situations, we are gently shown what we might - in an ideal world - find ourselves saying to make our intentions known while causing minimal harm.We are guided, among other topics, to how best to end a relationship, how to make it up with a child and how gently to let down a friend who wants more. We laugh, we recognise our

Prisms of the People: Power Organizing in Twenty-First-Century America


Hahrie Han - 2021
    Unfortunately much of that action has not had the kind of impact participants might want, especially among movements representing the poor and marginalized who often have the most at stake when it comes to rights and equality. Yet, some instances of collective action have succeeded. What’s the difference between a movement that wins victories for its constituents, and one that fails? What are the factors that make collective action powerful?Prisms of the People addresses those questions and more. Using data from six movement organizations—including a coalition that organized a 104-day protest in Phoenix in 2010 and another that helped restore voting rights to the formerly incarcerated in Virginia—Hahrie Han, Elizabeth McKenna, and Michelle Oyakawa show that the power of successful movements most often is rooted in their ability to act as  “prisms of the people,” turning participation into political power just as prisms transform white light into rainbows. Understanding the organizational design choices that shape the people, their leaders, and their strategies can help us understand how grassroots groups achieve their goals. Linking strong scholarship to a deep understanding of the needs and outlook of activists, Prisms of the People is the perfect book for our moment—for understanding what’s happening and propelling it forward.

The Elevated Communicator: How to Master Your Style and Strengthen Well-Being at Work


Maryanne O'Brien - 2021
    Our work lives revolve around effective communication. It is essential for cultivating trust and team collaboration, as well as strengthening our motivation and wellbeing at work. And with teams experiencing more anxiety, stress, and burnout than ever before, strong communication skills have never been more essential. The key to this clear and effective communication begins with understanding our own personal communication styles. Bringing our whole and authentic selves to work improves relationships and teamwork. The better we understand what drives us, how we impact others, and how our wellbeing impacts our communication, the faster we can close communication gaps to build healthy, successful, and satisfying work lives and more intentional careers. Drawing on more than a decade of original research on communication tendencies, as well as proven mindfulness and habit-formation techniques, Maryanne O’Brien has developed a proprietary model of communication styles: Expressive, Reserved, Direct, or Harmonious. In The Elevated Communicator you will find: -A self-assessment to discover your own personal style -An in-depth style profile to strengthen self-awareness and help you play to your style’s strengths -The connection between emotional health and communication patterns -Strategies to manage your communication style under stress -Practices to improve your well-being and reduce conflict -Ways to care for your communication style and improve your wellbeing -Methods to flex toward other styles to communicate more effectively with people -Advice on building healthy, trusted, and productive working relationships Perfect for fans of StrengthsFinder 2.0 and Gretchen Rubin’s The Four Tendencies, The Elevated Communicator’s personalized, mindful approach inspires readers to develop daily practices to spiral up, raise consciousness, inspire accountability, and discover their full potential at work.