We encounter politics in our lives daily, and it’s not just the kind we see in Washington, DC. It’s handling delicate situations in just the right way with the right words and the right actions to avoid making it worse or more uncomfortable.
It can be a simple case of the harried volunteer who can’t take on any additional work but fears losing respect or her position for future projects when she has more time available. It’s hard and awkward to turn down an opportunity or project, but it’s necessary. What is a good way to do it? Power Phrases.
Are you trying to negotiate a deal on a car, a house, or even a potential new job? Are you trying to make the sale? Handle a conflict? Communicate with your boss, co-workers, or direct reports? Heck, do you have a hard time breaking the ice in social situations? All of these situations can be daunting, but Power Phrases can take the edge off and get you the results you want.
As the book suggests, I read through it in its entirety the first time to get familiar with the concept and how it works. Then, when I am ready to put Power Phrases to practice, I whip out the book and get some ideas. Plus, there are exercises to get you in shape.
With e-mail being a regular communication tool for most of us, it’s a great way to make Power Phrases a habit. Since there is no spur of the moment thinking in creating an e-mail, take the time to review the book and determine the best way to word the e-mail for a given situation.
Another opportunity to practice it is when making a phone call on a tough topic. Prior to making the call, review the book and think about what you want to say, write down your thoughts, and try to have possible counters to the person’s questions or concerns.
Many of the lessons in Power Phrases! are based on things I’ve learned over the years in management-related classes, seminars, and reading self-improvement articles and books. The book provides a reminder of all these lessons in one shot. It applies to all facets of life: work, home, and social. Even if you work independently with little or no contact, it’s impossible to hide from a situation when a Power Phrase can come in handy.
How often have you been asked something and you instinctively and quickly said “yes,” but regretted it? Perhaps you can easily say “no,” but what of the person’s feelings that could be negatively impacted with a fast “no” answer? Or maybe you need more time to think it over? Ah-ha! A Power Phrase can help you here and buy you more time.
Buying time gives you a chance to think it through and look for good Power Phrases to use in providing an answer. Suggestions:
- Let me check and get back to you.
- I need to think it over and I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow (or an appropriate time).
Everyone should have a book like this to provide support in everyday life, although I think the comment on the book – “Better than any college degree” is a little too enthusiastic. In college, we rarely get lessons on people skills and this book offers that.
Even the most voracious readers like me have too many unread books or once read and never opened again. However, this book is written in a way that makes it easy to quick-reference and find the perfect phrase for a given situation. Plus, reading it the first time only took a few hours on an airplane.
To borrow a Power Phrase – How important is it to get results by saying what you mean, meaning what you say, and not being mean when you say it? If it’s important, then you should know what to do after reading this review.