Shortcut: Getting Around People Who Stand In Your Way (an Interview with Brian Tolle, Re-Wired Group)

Proud to bring you this interview with Brian Tolle, author of Shortcut: Getting Around People Who Stand in Your Way, which was featured at the Fast Company blog this morning. You can purchase the book at Amazon.

Here's a slice from the interview I did with him:

Douglas Crets: When one first opens your book, the immediate thinking might be that communication alone can solve all workplace problems, but it appears that it's not just communication that helps the work environment. Can you explain why just talking things out with someone isn't enough? A lot of built-in HR and internal consulting basically falls to this default "talk it out" setting.

Brian Tolle: Where I have seen increased awareness and application of these styles (talking things out) come up short in improving interpersonal relationships and teamwork is where there are conflicting priorities and/or values among the team members or between the two individuals. And because so much personal identity and emotions are tied up with one's priorities and values, there are situations where a communication impasse remains. That's when a higher order of "talking it out" is required and it usually involves some form of negotiation (see Fisher & Ury's classic Getting to Yes for more on their "principled negotiation" as an example of the next order up of communication clarity). Without some version of negotiation, what I have seen is that, depending on the rigidity of each person's stand, the only way to break the impasse is through the decision of someone in authority. It's quick but not long lasting. The "agreement" reached usually falls apart fairly quickly from both parties.