Good Talk

Our personal, professional and cultural lives are shaped by the conversations we have, and this book shows how to tell which ones deserve attention, how to change them for the better, and how to keep them in balance while guiding an organization through change. We talk constantly, with ourselves, with others and with the wider world. Many of these exchanges seem minor, yet each one can improve the quality of our lives. The book explains how conversations function and gives practical guidance for making them more productive.

The author asks readers to list the crucial conversations in their work and life, both the large ones they are building and the small everyday ones. Readers are encouraged to look at conversations within their organization and beyond it, as well as those taking place inside their own heads. Useful questions include how many conversations are active, where attention is going, what is working, and what needs to change.

Daniel Stillman, a consultant, podcaster and speaker known for his work in design thinking, offers a framework for keeping important conversations on track. He also provides tools for reframing what is missing or unclear in them. The book is aimed at leaders and anyone who wants to communicate more effectively and create meaningful impact.