Fierce Conversations: Achieving success in work and in life, one conversation at a time

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Conversation = Relationship. Your conversations are your relationships. When you avoid something in a conversation, you limit the possibilities in that relationship. The more you withhold, the more you reduce your emotional capital and the potential scope of your relationships. At an organizational level, this affects whether you can attract and retain great customers and employees, which in turn determines how far it can build a sustainable competitive advantage. Successes and failures don’t happen overnight. Our relationships, organizations, and careers are shaped one conversation at a time, until they cross a tipping point to suddenly bloom or collapse. A failed marriage or business comes from the cumulative effect of conversations you’ve had (or avoided) over months or even years. Let Silence Do the Heavy Lifting – Allow silence when having a conversation; the more important the topic, the longer the silence. When we allow a moment of silence in between some of the things we say, it will allow the words to sink in. Be here, prepared to be nowhere else. Speak and listen as if this is the most important conversation you will ever have with this person. It could be.

Edward Jason Beltran is a contributor to Forbes and Fast Company and is the architect of what some media have referred to as one of the most important employee wellbeing initiatives in recent years – the disruptive app Pulse by Fierce, due to be released in fall of 2022. You won’t articulate your needs to yourself, must less to your work team or life partner, until and unless you see getting your needs met as a reasonable expectation. The president of my company recently encouraged all members of the leadership team to read this book. I do not feel that I am being harsh in any way by giving this 1 star. Story about how her boss asked her input when she was a baby employee, and she sensed he was really listening and wanted to know what she thought, and that made her give her best answers, to feel valued, etc etc. He really asked, she really answered, both feel validatedPrior to joining Fierce, Gabe spent over 7 years at The Naval Center for Combat and Operational Stress Control, where he was responsible for understanding and enhancing organizational factors impacting performance among sailors and marines.

It’s a good premise in that all relationships are series of conversations. Thus, we should have those fierce conversations. We should always be our genuine self and we should never take a conversation for granted.

If things become uncomfortable, Scott says, don’t steer away from the issue at hand. Don’t get distracted or go off topic. While no single conversation is guaranteed to change the trajectory of a career, a company, a relationship, or a life, any single conversation can.” A fierce conversation is not about holding forth on your point of view, but about provoking learning by sitting with someone side by side and jointly interrogating reality. The goal is to expand the conversation rather than narrow it. Questions are much more effective than answers in provoking learning.”(Scott, 2004) Gabe loves the outdoors and enjoys surfing, biking, and snowboarding, and especially hiking with his wife. Read More

With her love and passion towards technology and entrepreneurship, Geeta has also gained skills and experience in envisioning and developing product strategy, and driving projects from start to finish. She thrives off of the energy and enthusiasm of a collaborative team and loves to solve problems. You cannot have the life you want, make the decisions you want, or be the leader you are capable of being until your actions represent an authentic expression of who you really are, or who you wish to become.”(Scott, 2004) Notes from the book- overall the book has good ideas but was not about fierce conversations until about chapter 7. Better idea than was executed Pay attention not as a means to an end-to be likes or to make the other person feel liked or understood-but as a new way of experiencing yourself and others Susan is a popular and sought-after Fortune 100 public speaker, and renowned leadership development architect. Known for her bold yet practical approach to executive coaching and leadership development, Susan has been challenging people to say the things that are hard to say for over two decades.When leaders say or do something—be it a simple word of encouragement or a harsh criticism—they leave an emotional wake that continues to impact people long after the event.