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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People summary
Renée Evenson
Over 325 Ready-to-use Words and Phrases for Working with Challenging Personalities
18 mins
Brief summary
"Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People" by Renée Evenson is a guidebook for effectively managing challenging interactions in both personal and professional settings. It provides readers with a range of actionable phrases to use in difficult situations, fostering healthier communication and relationships.
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Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People
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Key idea 1 of 8
Some basic rules
Tense relationships at work typically don’t just solve themselves.
Chances are, if you’re wondering whether Phil three cubicles down has been giving you the cold shoulder, he probably has. And if you have some hard feelings toward Linda in quality control, she’s probably aware of it on some level. These things don’t usually go undetected.
The good news is, there are a few simple rules you can follow to smooth the way for a productive conversation – even if you’re not great with conflict.
Rule one? Never say never. That is, don’t start conversations with “always” or “never.” Take a second to think about the last time you messed up. Maybe someone came to you with an always or never statement like, “You never put your coffee mug in the dishwasher.”
Did that statement make you feel like putting your coffee mug in the dishwasher? Or did it instead make you feel like defending yourself ? After all, you do put your coffee mug in the dishwasher most of the time!
A better alternative would be something like, “Hey, I ended up doing dishes today, and it cut into my lunch hour. Would you mind putting your mug in the dishwasher next time?”
And this leads us to the second rule: don’t start conversations with “you.” In the coffee mug example, saying “You never put your coffee mug in the dishwasher” sounds like an accusation – so it puts you on the defensive. On the other hand, offering an “I” statement gives you a chance to see how your actions affected someone else.
In the next section, we’ll explore some common phrases you can incorporate into your conflict conversations.
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What is Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People about?
Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People (2013) provides practical tactics for navigating tough conversations at work. Along with over 325 phrases, it includes dozens of sample conversations that show the phrases in action.
Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People Review
Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People by Renée Evenson (2014) is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and handle challenging interactions with grace. Here's what makes this book worth reading:
- It offers a wide range of practical phrases and strategies for effectively dealing with different types of difficult people in various situations.
- The book provides real-life examples and case studies that help readers understand and apply the techniques, making it a highly applicable and useful guide.
- With its straightforward and actionable advice, this book ensures that readers build confidence and develop the skills needed to handle difficult people confidently and assertively.
Who should read Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People?
- Anyone dealing with difficult coworkers or bosses
- Employees looking for practical guidance on how to talk to colleagues
- People interested in conflict management
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Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People FAQs
What is the main message of Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People?
The main message of Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People is to provide effective communication strategies for handling challenging individuals.
How long does it take to read Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People?
The reading time for Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People varies, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People a good book? Is it worth reading?
Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People is worth reading for its practical advice on effectively managing challenging interactions.
Who is the author of Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People?
The author of Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People is Renée Evenson.
What to read after Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People?
If you're wondering what to read next after Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Getting Along by Amy Gallo
- Can We Talk? by Roberta Chinsky Matuson
- Difficult Conversations Don't Have to Be Difficult by Jon Gordon & Amy P. Kelly
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- How to Hug a Porcupine by Sean K. Smith
- Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace
- The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
- How to Enjoy Your Life and Your Job by Dale Carnegie
- How Economics Explains the World by Andrew Leigh
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