A Safe Place for Dangerous Truths: Using Dialogue to Overcome Fear & Distrust at Work

By Annette Simmons

Book Overview

No more "checking for feet." This illuminating guide gets people to tell the truth at the meeting--not in the bathroom afterwards.Almost everybody lies. In one recent survey, 93% of people admitted to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814404790
• ISBN13: 9780814404799
• Release Date: May 1999
• Publisher: AMACOM/American Management Association
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 17 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Angry people are kind of sad....don't you think?

Now out of print- this book sells for more than it's original publication price. It is used as a textbook in several org. behavior classes. Is referenced in more than one Ph.D. dissertation. The author (me) facilitates this form of dialogue successfully with gay and conservative christians, within the intelligence community (WMD was a communication issue) and with other difficult groups. THe book describes a process that is reliable, easily duplicated, and adaptable. This isn't a popularity contest. This is about helping people get past angry attacks and move on to collaborative partnerships. Check it out if you want to make a positive difference in the world.

Here are the directions to your organizations mind & heart.

What is it about organizations that creates so many secrets? In this bright and enjoyably written book, Annette Simmons reveals the subtle art of allowing people to share the secrets througth dialogue. From identifying the escape routes to explaining the step by step process in which dialogue unfolds she clearly identifies what you can expect if you simply follow the directions. She even includes directions. I immediately used this book in a two day retreat that was astounding in helping a California State Agency work through the change process.

An easy-to-read mix of the "why" and "how" of dialogue

Dialogue is a difficult and potentially fear inducing process. The author admits all that and gives the reader the background and a process to facilitate and engage in dialogue. The book is easy-to-read, free of unnecessarily confusing jargon, and full of good illustrative anecedotes. The author recommends some unorthodox facilitative roles based on her experience (some of which I had thought of before I read the book, but was afraid to try out). I found myself jumping from section to section to follow my interest---this was not a linear ead for me. The appendix on how to get dialogue started with a group is also helpful.