Let's Talk about It: Turning Confrontation Into Collaboration at Work - Hardcover

by Paul L. Marciano (Author)

From the bestselling author of Carrots and Sticks Don't Work--proven communication techniques for turning workplace confrontations into respectful, successful collaborations

In the workplace, the most common approach to what we believe will be a difficult or emotionally charged conversation can be summed up in one word: avoidance. Most of us will do anything to skirt conflict, but not only does that fail to resolve important issues, it typically harms our relationships and undermines productivity. In Let's Talk About It, bestselling author and top consultant Dr. Paul Marciano presents a powerful collection of proven communication and relationship strategies that will transform your difficult conversations into healthy conversations. You'll learn how to:

• Identify and shed the cognitive biases that hinder you from viewing situations from other people's perspectives
• Recognize and address your own emotional triggers
• Use verbal and nonverbal communication to reduce conflict and foster collaboration
• Deal effectively with different personality types
• Navigate the course of a critical conversation from beginning to end
• Build, restore, and maintain healthy relationships

Filled with ready-to-use sample scripts, real-world scenarios of common workplace disagreements, and proven psychological methods for diffusing conflicts effectively, Let's Talk About It delivers everything you need to deal with the most challenging people and situations--confidently, competently, and collaboratively.

Back Jacket

The new standard for conflict resolution, Let's Talk About It equips you to build and deepen relationships one conversation at a time.
--Kevin Kruse, CEO of LEADx and author of Great Leaders Have No Rules

"Dr. Marciano has created a brilliant and thorough playbook on how we can all improve our relationships, both within and outside the workplace. This extremely useful set of recommendations, exercises, and reference scripts will prove invaluable to anyone who needs a strategy and proven tools on how to be deliberate and effective with everyday conversations. In my more than 25 years of advising and investing in companies, I wish I'd had a manual like this to recommend to entrepreneurs and management teams."
--Krishnan Ramaswami, Director at Fallbrook Private Equity, LLC

"Dr. Paul Marciano has delivered a truly insightful and comprehensive guide to building collaborative relationships by changing the only thing within our power--our own behavior! It is a must-read for high-potential leaders to gain the vital skills of self-awareness and conflict resolution required in C-suite roles."
--Sharon M. Werner, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC

"This book provides crystal clear advice on how to turn difficult conversations into productive ones. In Let's Talk About It, Dr. Marciano has distilled his 30 years of transforming workplace relationships into universal, easy-to-implement strategies that we can all use to improve important relationships in our professional and personal lives."
--Eliot Brenner, PhD, Executive Director of Klingenstein Philanthropies

"Let's Talk About It should be required reading, regardless of what position or industry you are in. This is an easy read with effective tips to make anyone, at any level, a better communicator. Successful leaders communicate authentically and honestly. This book will help you become that leader."
--Sharon Noble, Vice President of Human Resources at Huber Engineered Materials

"Having healthy conversations is the key to effective leadership and, ultimately, to organizational success. In Let's Talk About It, Dr. Marciano provides the communication strategy and tactics to achieve those twin goals."
--Christopher J. Phelan, President and CEO of Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce

"Marciano reminds us that creating inclusive and welcoming workplaces requires intentional and meaningful work--work that starts with the 'I' in inclusion. This work is not so much a destination as it is a journey of self-reflection, soul-searching, and commitment that will inevitably have communal impact. Let's Talk About It cultivates the common good by focusing on the we."
--Carol E. Henderson, PhD, Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, Chief Diversity Officer, and Advisor to the President of Emory University

"Let's Talk About It is an essential handbook that enables us to recognize how our biases, blind spots, and body language inform the manner in which we communicate. In today's fast-paced digital world, the book's scripts, scenarios, and best practices--especially in video conferencing--will empower you to handle any communication conflict with confidence. Packed with solutions, it will equip you to foster and maintain healthy, respectful relationships."
--Diane Piraino-Koury, McDonald's franchise owner and operator

"Relationships deepen because of, not in spite of, conflict. Dr. Marciano helps us transform conflict into opportunity, providing the tools (and courage) to convert negative emotion into successful conversations that produce positive outcomes."
--Melanie Katzman, PhD, business psychologist and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Connect First

"Now more than ever, the skills we need to bridge divides, find common ground, and come together in joint purpose are even more critical to our success. If relationships are the foundation of that success, conversations are the glue. Let's Talk About It equips us with the necessary tools to build that strong foundation."
--Jeremey Donovan, Senior Vice President of Sales Strategy at SalesLoft and bestselling author of How to Deliver a TED Talk

Author Biography

Paul Marciano, PhD, is a leading authority on employee engagement and respect in the workplace. He earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from Yale University and has worked in the field of human resources for over 30 years. He is the president of the human relations consulting firm Whiteboard, LLC, a company committed to helping organizations cultivate, manage, and grow their human capital through targeted behavioral solutions based on the RESPECT Model(TM). Marciano is the author of Carrots and Sticks Don't Work, a bestseller that has received critical acclaim around the world and been translated into several languages.