Includes bibliographical references (p. 31) and index.

What's a crucial conversation? : and who cares? -- Mastering crucial conversations : the power of dialogue -- Start with heart : how to stay focused on what you really want -- Learn to look : how to notice when safety is at risk -- Make it safe : how to make it safe to talk about almost anything -- Master my stories : how to stay in dialogue when you're angry, scared, or hurt -- State my path : how to speak persuasively, not abrasively -- Explore others' paths : how to listen when others blow up or clam up -- Move to action : how to turn crucial conversations into action and results -- Yeah, but : advice for tough cases -- Putting it all together : tools for preparing and learning.

Learn how to keep your cool and get the results you want when emotions flare.

When stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong, you have three choices: Avoid a crucial conversation and suffer the consequences; handle the conversation badly and suffer the consequences; or read Crucial Conversations and discover how to communicate best when it matters most. Crucial Conversations gives you the tools you need to step up to life's most difficult and important conversations, say what's on your mind, and achieve the positive resolutions you want. You'll learn how to:

Prepare for high-impact situations with a six-minute mastery technique
Make it safe to talk about almost anything
Be persuasive, not abrasive
Keep listening when others blow up or clam up
Turn crucial conversations into the action and results you want
Whether they take place at work or at home, with your neighbors or your spouse, crucial conversations can have a profound impact on your career, your happiness, and your future. With the skills you learn in this book, you'll never have to worry about the outcome of a crucial conversation again.