Summary and Review of Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott
This summary and review of the book, Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work & in Life, One Conversation at a Time, was prepared by Kelsey Gagnet while a Management student in the College of Business at Southeastern Louisiana University.
Executive Summary
Many people fail to realize the importance of our daily conversations and interactions with one another. Scott suggests that our lives either fail or succeed gradually, and then suddenly, one conversation at a time. While no single conversation is guaranteed to change a business, career, relationship, or life, any single conversation has the ability to make that change. The conversation is the relationship. A fierce conversation is one in which we come out from behind ourselves into the conversation and make it real.
When a conversation is real, change occurs before the conversation has even ended. Many people are afraid to have fierce conversations because there is a risk that they will be known, seen, or changed. This change and understanding is what makes the conversations fierce. The word fierce can mean robust, intense, strong, powerful, passionate, unbridled, untamed, or uncurbed. It does not mean menacing or cruel. The four purposes for fierce conversations include: interrogate reality, provoke learning, tackle tough challenges, and enrich relationships.
Scott lists seven principles of fierce conversations. First, managers must master the courage to interrogate reality. There are infinite and constantly changing realities. The goal in interrogating reality is to get an understanding of everyone’s truths. Leaders should encourage input from all views, especially opposing views. Second, managers must come out from behind themselves into the conversation to make it real. One cannot step out from behind themselves and into the conversation until they know who they are and where they are headed in life. A Mineral Rights conversation can help to answer these questions.
Third, managers must be present, prepared to be nowhere else. Participate as if this is the most important conversation you will ever have with this person. Do not allow any distractions. Forth, tackle your toughest challenge today. The problem named is the problem solved. Ask questions to get a better understanding of the issue at hand. Take time to fully identify the problem and where it originates. Do not jump to solutions. The fifth principle is do not just trust your instincts – obey them. Tune in and pay attention to your internal radar. Our instincts are not always correct and should never be regarded as the ultimate truth, because reality is that there are multiple truths.
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