How Great Decisions Get Made: 10 Easy Steps for Reaching Agreement on Even the Toughest Issues

Contents......Page 6
Foreword......Page 10
Acknowledgments......Page 14
Introduction......Page 18
PART 1: MAKING GREAT DECISIONS......Page 28
Fear Undermines Decision Making......Page 29
Hopes Stimulate Great Results......Page 38
The Practical Ten-Step Process Is the Key to Positive Change......Page 41
When to Use This Process......Page 45
How Long Will It Take?......Page 46
Putting the Process into Play......Page 47
PART 2: TEN EASY STEPS FOR REACHING AGREEMENT......Page 50
How to Use Each Step and Gain Practical Value......Page 51
STEP #1 Enlist Everyone: Invite Hidden Talent as Well as Visible Talent and Avoid Creating Enemies......Page 52
STEP #2 Discover Shared Hopes: Multiply Your Prospects for Success......Page 64
STEP #3 Uncover the Real Issues: Listen to Thoughts and Feelings......Page 78
STEP #4 Identify All Options: See the Whole Tree Before You Go out on a Limb......Page 89
STEP #5 Gather the Right Information: Look Through the Lens of Your Hopes......Page 98
STEP #6 Get Everything on the Table: 100 Percent Information, Zero Percent Debate......Page 107
STEP #7 Write Down Choices That Support Shared Hopes: Take the Guesswork out of Decisions......Page 117
STEP #8 Map Solutions: See Clear Results......Page 126
STEP #9 Look Ahead: Be Prepared with Alternatives......Page 133
STEP #10 Stay Charged Up: Celebrate Results and Renew Your Hopes......Page 139
PART 3: SIX STRATEGIES FOR OVERCOMING OBSTACLES......Page 148
STRATEGY #1 Don’t Have Time? Try the 30-Minute Miracle......Page 150
STRATEGY #2 Not in Charge? Employ Persuasive Techniques......Page 158
STRATEGY #3 No Guide? Follow the Self-Directed Process......Page 166
STRATEGY #4 Very Large Group? Solve Problems the Way You Play the Accordion......Page 175
STRATEGY #5 Can’t Get Everyone Together? Be an E-Team......Page 185
STRATEGY #6 Stuck? Dissolve Old Differences and Build Trust......Page 191
Epilogue: Be an Agent of Hope in a Fearful World......Page 201
Appendix A: The Ten-Step Improvement Checklist......Page 208
Bibliography......Page 216
C......Page 220
H......Page 221
O......Page 222
T......Page 223
W......Page 224
About the Author......Page 225