Talk Lean: Shorter Meetings. Quicker Results. Better Relations.

by Alan Warwick Palmer

The businessperson's guide to saying what needs to be said and asking questions that need to be asked In the business world, the first step to great results is good communication. Talk Lean uses original research and a fresh approach to teach businesspeople how to say difficult things and ask difficult questions in a way that is positive, effective, and comfortable for everyone involved. You'll learn how to begin meetings and conversations in a way that is succinct, empathetic, and effective, while putting people in a positive and receptive frame of mind. You'll learn how to listen and respond during meetings to maximise both productivity and empathy and how to close meetings in positive ways that lead to great results.

Offers proven techniques for improving communication and making an impact professionally Written by Alan Palmer, head of Interactifs UK, which offers communication coaching to major corporate clients Ideal for executives, team leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone whose success depends on great communication

Genres: Business, Communication, Nonfiction, Self Help, Leadership, Management, Entrepreneurship

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Author also writes under Alan Palmer

Alan Palmer was Head of the History Department at Highgate School from 1953 to 1969, when he gave up his post to concentrate on historical writing and research.

Reviews

[Yigit Konur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not impressive if you are reading tons of business books. These advices are easily findable by anybody.

[Eric Swanson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simple guide to improve communication

Alan discusses fundamental and seemingly obvious truths about communication. In practice, people struggle to apply these principles consistently with some bad habits that hinder effective communication. The book provides simple examples like considering one idea at a time, how to start and end meetings, being respectfully direct and realizing what is and is not being communicated, and listening to non-verbal communication like body language. Most people struggle with authentic, active listening and the author clarifies the importance of not just listening, but paying actively seeking to understand.

Three response approaches are suggested:

1. Respond from the other person's point of view by reflecting something they have said or done with the intent to understand through confirmation and/or clarification
2. Respond from your own point of view using "I" and "me" statements. This approach can be effective by starting with the other person's point of view above and then sharing your personal observations. However, the author challenges well established communication tools of reflection or "reformulation" strategies as empty when they do not directly address your need/want.
3. Respond by combining your perspective with theirs; especially useful in meetings

This book offers broad help, but readers may find satisfaction with books that target more specific communication and collaboration challenges. For example, there are great books that can help you resolve professional and personal conflicts, how to facilitate engaging meetings, and effectively presenting your ideas and concerns to others.

[Thiago Amieiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not only relevant in terms of practical application, but an excellent guide to know better the Discipline Interactifes, which I've had the pleasure of being introduced and already harvested practical and really satisfactory results with its use.

The author has a good sense of humor and despite of the easy reading, his analysis of real situations give us an interesting perspective in how the communication occurs currently.

If you want to improve your communications skills, I do not know a better material to recomend. Or if you want a world with people more polite, calm, respectful, courteous, using a language more clear, simple, straight to the point, this is a excelent option to give as a present to someone that you have much contact.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Be precise with your intention right off the bat. Avoid beating around bushes

- Think about what you want from the other person, then work your way backwards to see the best way to express your intent (without coming off as rude)

- Draw down things others say without having your emotion attached to them: often times we paraphrase others' talk with our own feeling, missing out the important content

- Never speculate other people's intent, rather, just ask

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk lean covers the art of being assertive by asking what you want to know by using statements such as "I want to know why" and "I'd like to better understand what you meant by what you just said"

The key message is to slow down and listen to yourself before speaking out loud.

[Alan E · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the author says, there's but a thin gap between being courteous and vague, or direct and rude. Ideally we would all be able to speak in a clear, straightforward, polite way, but the truth is that just few people actually know how to do this, whether intuitively or by some sort of training.
Even if it's obvious that what's written in this book is far from being a script to follow, they can certainly help the reader acquire the skill about which this book is written, talking lean. Note to self: this work lectures are getting really redundant.

[Paul Baldowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and insightful, yet somehow not as complete or robust as I'd hoped. The few scenarios used throughout somehow seemed to narrow the focus to the books detriment. However, I did feel I'd learned something by the end. How did you feel about it?

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the main thing about this is it made me quite interested in going on the course...a successful book then ;)

[Khaled · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did read the Arabic version of the book
Good book full of details and examples
If you busy you read the summary of each chapter

[Gareth Mee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Potentially life changing. I found it extremely useful in terms of really changing the way that I address people and communicate. A must for English business people.

[Herve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Well worth the read!