The World's Best Book Summaries
Why is building good work relationships important? How can you work better with other employees? Building solid relationships at work makes your job much easier and more enjoyable. When you develop your professional relationships, you build a system of trust and respect that will benefit you in your career. Develop good work relationships by following these six steps below.
Are you an introvert who has something to say? How can you make yourself heard? Communicating your ideas can be hard if you’re an introvert with strong opinions. Luckily, Shonda Rhimes is the same way, and she explains how to speak loud and clear in her book Year of Yes. Learn how to make yourself heard among all the extroverts in the room.
Do you find socializing overwhelming? Do you feel like your introversion prevents you from connecting with people? If you feel overstimulated or exhausted by social situations, you may be a highly sensitive introvert. High sensitivity may make it difficult to form relationships with people, especially since it isn’t well understood by the general population. With this in mind, here’s how to navigate the social scene as a highly sensitive introvert.
Are you uncomfortable with conflict? How should you address conflict? Not many people enjoy getting into conflict, but unfortunately, you can’t always run away from it. Shonda Rhimes’s book Year of Yes gives techniques for addressing conflict so that you can assert your boundaries. Continue reading to learn how to address conflict the right way.
What is the key to effective marital communication? What are some of the most common points of contention when it comes to communication in a marriage? Almost all marriage problems stem from communication errors. There are many possible points of contention when it comes to communication in a marriage, from how often to have sex and how to handle finances to how to raise children. Here’s how to handle some of the most common marital communication problems.
How does problem-solving in communication work? What skills do you need for conversational problem-solving? According to leadership expert Michael Bungay Stanier, problem-solving in communication is all about adopting a questions-first approach, which results in more productive solutions. By learning to think like a coach, you can let your curiosity lead the way when faced with a problem, says Stanier. Read on to learn Stanier’s three essential skills for problem-solving in communication.
What is The Advice Trap about? Why does Michael Bungay Stanier say giving advice isn’t the best form of leadership? In The Advice Trap, coaching expert Michael Bungay Stanier explains that advice-giving can lead to more problems than solutions. He encourages you, instead, to adopt a coaching style of leadership and learn to approach difficult conversations with questions instead of suggestions. Read on for a brief overview of The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stanier.
Why is advice-giving a common habit in the workplace? How can you stop giving unsolicited advice at work? In The Advice Trap, leadership coach Michael Bungay Stanier argues that when we use advice-driven leadership at work it creates an unproductive work environment and a lack of team confidence. To stop giving unsolicited advice, Stanier offers four steps to break the advice-giving habit. Read on to learn how to stop giving unsolicited advice, according to Stanier.
What is the “advice monster?” What’s the problem with advice-giving? How can you tame your advice monster? According to author Michael Bungay Stanier, advice-giving is a widespread habit that many people find difficult to break—a habit he personifies as your “advice monster.” He claims that subduing the compulsion to give advice (i.e. taming your advice monster) is not an easy change to make. Read on to learn more about Stanier’s advice monster and how to break advice-giving habits.
Why is asking questions important in communication? How can you ask better questions? According to leadership expert Michael Bungay Stanier, asking questions is important in all forms of communication because it helps you to avoid the advice-giving trap. In his book The Advice Trap, he explains the benefits of asking questions versus the drawbacks of offering suggestions. Read on to learn why asking questions is important, including Stanier’s tips for asking better questions.