凱瑞·派特森（Kerry Patterson）著有多部獲奬培訓作品，曾負責過多個長期行為變化調查研究項目。2004年，凱瑞獲得楊百翰大學馬裏奧特管理學院迪爾奬，以錶彰他在組織行為領域的傑齣貢獻。凱瑞在斯坦福大學從事組織行為方麵的博士研究工作。

約瑟夫·格雷尼（Joseph Grenny）是一位知名主題演講師，也是在企業變革研究領域從業20多年的資深顧問。此外，他還是非盈利組織Unitus的共同創始人，該組織緻力於幫助世界貧睏人口實現經濟自立的目標。

羅恩·麥剋米蘭（Ron McMillan）是一位廣受好評的演講師兼企業谘詢顧問。他是柯維領導力研究中心創立者之一，曾擔任該中心的研發部副總裁。羅恩和眾多企業領導閤作過，其中既包括一綫經理也包括財富500強企業高級總裁。

艾爾 史威茨勒（Al Switzler）是一位著名谘詢顧問兼演講師，為財富500強中數十傢企業提供過服務，主要從事培訓和管理指導工作。艾爾是密歇根大學行政開發中心講師。

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Foreword by Stephen R. Covey, Author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People A PAPERBACK ORIGINAL "Most books make promises. This one delivers. These skills have not only helped us to change the culture of our company, but have also generated new techniques for working together in ways that enabled us to win the largest contract in our industry's history." --Dain M. Hancock, President, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics A powerful, seven-step approach to handling difficult conversations with confidence and skill "Crucial" conversations are interpersonal exchanges at work or at home that we dread having but know we cannot avoid. How do you say what needs to be said while avoiding an argument with a boss, child, or relationship partner? Crucial Conversations offers readers a proven seven-point strategy for achieving their goals in all those emotionally, psychologically, or legally charged situations that can arise in their professional and personal lives. Based on the authors' highly popular DialogueSmart training seminars, the techniques are geared toward getting people to lower their defenses, creating mutual respect and understanding, increasing emotional safety, and encouraging freedom of expression. Among other things, readers also learn about the four main factors that characterize crucial conversations, and they get a powerful six-minute mastery technique that prepares them to work through any highimpact situation with confidence.