Conversation Transformation: Recognize and Overcome the 6 Most Destructive Communication Patterns

One of the New York Post's Top 10 Best Career Books of 2012

Repair communication breakdowns on the spot and drive positive results in every conversation

Failed conversations can take a heavy toll on our professional and personal lives, threatening to damage relationships, erode trust, and make it impossible to resolve conflicts, reach decisions, or achieve mutual understanding.

Conversation Transformation gives you practical guidelines for managing the six most common (and aggravating) conversation killers: yes-buts, mind-reads, negative predictions, leading questions, complaining, and verbal attacks. Each skill-building chapter guides you through a three-step process for replacing unconstructive habits with more effective responses:

AWARENESS
Learn to recognize an ineffective communication pattern the instant it occurs

ACTION
Use specific new strategies to turn the conversation in a better direction

PRACTICE
Engage in repeated, structured practice to turn those actions into new habits

Praise for Conversation Transformation:

“Devastatingly insightful . . . provides the practical coaching you need to change old habits and transform your interactions.”
―SHEILA HEEN and DOUGLAS STONE, bestselling authors of Difficult Conversations

”An invaluable resource . . . filled with simple tools and fixes to improve communication skills, exactly the skills that can make us all more effective in politics, business, and life.”
―SENATOR JOHN F. KERRY

“Practical, inspiring, and powerful. You will never look at your conversations the same way again.”
―SUZANNE BATES, bestselling author of Speak Like a CEO and Discover Your CEO Brand

Dr. Ben Benjamin is a communications consultant, business coach, and writer. He holds a doctorate in education and is an accomplished teacher trainer; he has trained instructors who have offered his courses throughout the United States and in Europe. Dr. Benjamin is author of hundreds of articles, as well as several books.

Amy Yeager is a certified Senior SAVI Trainer. She has designed and led SAVI trainings for multinational corporations, schools, healthcare organizations, and other nonprofit institutions. In addition to her in-person training, she conducts Web-based phone seminars for ongoing skill development. She is a certified practitioner of the Alexander Technique and Self Regulation Therapy.

Anita Simon is co-developer with Yvonne Agazarian of SAVI®, the System for Analyzing Verbal Interaction. Dr. Simon teaches SAVI® regularly at a variety of professional conferences and at smaller meetings in the fields of psychotherapy, human resources, and education.