Fierce Conversations

Achieving Success at Work & in Life, One Conversation at a Time

By: Susan Scott

Narrated by: Susan Scott

Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Fierce Conversations illuminates the path to a new degree of authenticity, a new way of expressing who you are and what you believe as a person and a leader.

Susan Scott trains clients in the art of fierce conversations, empowering them to achieve exceptional results through transforming dialogue. Success hinges on engaging people in ways that interrogate reality, provoke learning, tackle tough challenges, tap our deepest aspirations, and enrich relationships. Fierce Conversations takes you step-by-step through your first fierce conversation - with yourself - and on to the most challenging and important conversations facing you.

Susan Scott teaches you how to:

• Overcome barriers to meaningful conversation
• Expand and enrich the territory you explore with colleagues, friends, and family
• Explore issues by mining for increased clarity, improved understanding, and impetus for change
• Confront challenges with courage, compassion, and skill
• Leverage new skills for frictionless debate
• Handle strong emotions - your own as well as others'
• Build breakthrough relationships with colleagues, clients, friends, and family

Fierce Conversations is the master guidebook to transforming the conversations that are central to your success, offering a new way of relating to people - at work, at home, and in every area of your life.

©2002 Fierce Conversations Inc., All Rights Reserved (P)2002 Simon & Schuster Inc., All Rights Reserved, SOUND IDEAS Is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"Those whose conversations with co-workers or family members aren't producing the results they want will find plenty of helpful tools and assignments in this succinct guide." (Publishers Weekly)

I thought it was excellent~

Not only helped me with issues at work, but is having a big impact on my marriage. Highly recommended...

I learned a lot about listening

I loved the book and learned that listening is a party of conversations I need to work on. great book.

A great elaboration on real conversation

I really enjoyed Susan's insight into having real conversations and how become more successful in having clear and meaningful conversation.

My first step towards taking action

The book has provide me with key points and practical advise to carry out difficult conversations. Something I have struggled with all my life. The book left me with a feelings of enthusiasm and a new perspective towards conversations.

Took a while, but Scott eventually delivered

Where does Fierce Conversations rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the genre of Self-Improvement, this book is probably toward the top-middle of my list. Not my favorite but really good advice.

I must say that it took too long to get to the meat of the book. I was on the verge of giving up on it when she started to get into the applicable parts. Also, the book contains really useful strategies that are well laid out when you get to them, but she mentions them and defends them as if you are familiar with the tactics first, and then describes how to do them and what they are later (see "mineral rights" in the book). If I've bought a book on Fierce Conversations, I don't want to read half of it just to be convinced of its importance. If it's important, I'll keep reading. The book could have been better edited and arranged.

What other book might you compare Fierce Conversations to and why?

I'd compare this to Mindset by Carol Dweck. About that level of insight and really a book about practical ways to be more effective and happy. Mindset had a bit more hard science to it with studies and research driving it, whereas Fierce Conversations is driven by the anecdotal (but powerful) experiences of Susan Scott.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Not that the book is a story, but the Narration was generally well paced. I find that author-narrator is usually a bad idea. "Take of all the hats and write books please!" is my usual sentiment. She comes off a little school-marmy, but she's easy to understand and keeps you involved.

Tools Every Leader Needs

Would you consider the audio edition of Fierce Conversations to be better than the print version?

I have both the print and the audio version, and I need both. I listen to the audio version during "windshield time" and then review the print version. Both have value.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fierce Conversations?

"All conversations are with myself, and sometimes they involve other people."

Which character – as performed by Susan Scott – was your favorite?

No characters - this is nonficton.

What did you learn from Fierce Conversations that you would use in your daily life?

How to carry on effective communications in all conversations, especially in leadership and coaching situations.

Some good concepts but not sure I’ll change

Unfortunately I listened to this book over a period of months and so lost continuity. Scott makes some really good points and made me wish we could have more honest and straightforward conversations but I could not envisage applying many of her maxims in my workplace.

This is a book to read...and then read again!

I just finished the book and my first thought is..."should I begin again?" There are so many good practices, insights and ideas that I want to implement. it is definitely a book I will continue to revisit as there is just too much to fully take in the first time around.

Great info for working with difficult people.

This was a book that most of the staff at work had to read. If only they would actually live it out now. It would be so nice if people loved you enough to have fierce conversations with you.

Needs to be unabridged

I don't like abridged books there's always something missing. This is a good book and good ideas in it