Resources for the Washington DC area

Book Review - Instant Persuasion: How to Change Your Words to Change Your Life by Laurie Puhn, J.D.

This book should be required reading for all members of the Administration. It's so important now that people involved in national or international affairs speak in a way that's not confrontational or insulting, and that helps promote the harmony and cooperation that we all seek. We've seen that a single sentence can set the US back years in terms of diplomacy and trade relations.

This book is so well written and accessible. It's broken down into 35 chapters, each with a title that very directly gives you a concrete pointer. If you don't have time to read the whole book right away, you can zero in on a few areas you want to work on. Some chapters cover:

Make People Your Partners

Acknowledge Others in a New Way

Rein in Roaming Anger

Create Comfort in a Difficult Time

Disagree Without Being Disagreeable

Keep it Private

Have Balanced Conversations

By now, you may well get a sense that these skills are good for anyone. Whether you're a diplomat or an executive or on a job interview, the skills covered in Ms. Puhn's book are essential for anyone who wants to be successful in life. And there are probably tens of millions of couples that would really benefit from her insights.

Scattered throughout the book are great specific tips to clarify her message. They're called "Communication Wonders"  and "Communication Blunders" and are tips like:

"Seize the opportunity to sincerely praise someone in public when he or she has done something worthy."

or

"It is a blunder to jump into a conversation without preparation when you want something specific or want someone to agree with you."

You can see the skills Ms. Puhn has learned as a lawyer.

Overall, essential reading for anyone.

about the author:

Laurie Puhn, J.D. has a B.A. from Harvard College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. She gives workshops including ones specifically developed for managers, physicians, lawyers and more. You can learn more about her at www.lauriepuhn.com.