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The Power of a Positive No
Book

The Power of a Positive No

How to Say No and Still Get to Yes

William Ury
Bantam Dell, 2007

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Imagine that you are a police department’s hostage negotiator. An armed man who has just lost his job is holding his wife and children hostage in their barricaded home. He threatens to kill his family and himself unless the authorities turn over the boss who fired him so he can “administer fiery justice.” How do you tell this potential murderer no without jeopardizing everyone in the house? The professionals who negotiate during such extreme situations know how to refuse in such a way that no one gets hurt. That’s a useful skill, even when lives are not at stake. William Ury, head of Harvard’s Global Negotiation Project, has negotiated agreements that have ended bloody conflicts around the world. Here, he outlines a nimble strategy for delivering a “Positive No” in every situation. This approach enables you to be firm about your values and state your opinions without alienating others. getAbstract suggests this book to anyone who has to deliver an occasional no and make it stick.

Take-Aways

  • Saying no effectively is a tough business skill to learn.
  • People often cannot say no with impact because they don’t know how to exercise personal power without jeopardizing their relationships.
  • You can give a negative answer without creating tension by following the “Yes!-No.-Yes?” formula.

About the Author

William Ury heads Harvard University’s Global Negotiation Project. He is the co-author of Getting to Yes, and a leader in the global “e-Parliament,” designed to advance democracy by developing an ongoing international forum to address global problems.

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