University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
People Skills
Book

People Skills

How to Assert Yourself, Listen to Others, and Resolve Conflicts

Robert Bolton
Touchstone, 1986
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Well Structured
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

Most people want to deal effectively with others, but they often find expressing their ideas and feelings difficult. Without realizing it, people introduce “communication barriers” when they talk with each other. Communications expert Robert Bolton offers concrete practices that break down barriers. He describes precisely and in great detail how you can improve your listening skills, work toward conflict resolution and be more assertive as you ease the path to helpful conversations at work and at home.

Summary

The human ability to use language distinguishes people from other species.

Being able to use spoken and written language makes people unique among living creatures, but most people lack the ability to communicate successfully. Loneliness has become pervasive in the modern world. The widespread inability to communicate effectively plays an important part.

Even within families, people suffer loneliness due to poor communication. When people live close together and don’t develop intimacy, the resulting sense of distance harms everyone. Failure to communicate also has implications in the workplace. Fully 80% of those who don’t perform well at work can’t get along with other people.

Sometimes interactions with other people are joyful and enlightening, while other times the results can diminish one or both parties’ identity and sense of self. Parents, teachers and friends teach kids and teenagers how to relate to others, and they also learn from television and other media. However, many people pick up ineffective and damaging ways of communicating. They need better skills and new information, so ...

About the Author

Robert Bolton, PhD, is president of Ridge Consultants, which provides performance training in industry, health care, education and government. 

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