Crucial Conversations

Chapter 9-Move to Action

Chapter 10-Yeah, But

Part I-Summary:

This chapter discusses how to turn crucial conversations into action and results. There
are four methods of decision-making that should be taken into consideration. The first method is
command. The command method includes decisions that are made with no involvement. When
it comes to command decision-making, its not our job to decide what to do, but rather to decide
how to make it work. The next method is consult. This method involves the process where the
decision makers invite others to influence them before they make their choice. There are many
different individuals that can influence you before making final decisions. This is an effective
way to gain ideas from others. The next method of decision-making is voting. Voting is an
efficient method when youre selecting from a number of good options. Voting is a good time
saver, but making certain all team members agree and support the decision being made should be
taken into consideration.
Part II-Essential Elements:
Chapter 9

When teams or families meet and generate a host of ideas, they often fail to convert the
ideas into action for two reasons: (p. 177)
1. They have unclear expectations about how decisions will be made
2. They do a poor job of acting on the decisions they do make.

The two riskiest times in crucial conversations tend to be at the beginning and the end.
The beginning is risky because you have to find a way to create safety or else things go
awry. The end is dicey because if you arent careful about how you clarify the
conclusions and decisions flowing from your Pool of Shared Meaning, you can run into
violated expectation later on. (p. 178)

Make it clear how decisions will be made-who will be involved and why. (p. 179)

There are four common ways of making decisions: command, consult, vote, and
consensus. (p. 180)

The following questions should be considered when choosing among the four methods of
decision-making. Who cares? Who knows? Who must agree? How many people is it
worth involving? (p. 182-183)

Four elements should be considered when making assignments and putting decisions into
action. Who? Does what? By when? How will you follow up? (p.184)

To do nothing is in every mans power. (p.177)

Chapter 10

In good teams, the boss eventually deals with the problem behavior. In the best teams,
every team member is part of the system of accountability. (p.193)

Trust can comes on two different forms, which are motive and ability. An example is
You can trust me to administer CPR of needed; Im motivated. But you cant trust me
to do a good job; I know nothing about it. (p. 196)

Most people are far more likely to talk about the presence of a bad behavior than the
absence of a good one. (p. 199)

Show zero tolerance for insubordination. Speak up immediately, but respectfully. (p.205)

Good words are worth much and cost little. (p.189)

Part III-Application/Implications:

When reading these two chapters, the four methods of decision-making made me think of
how decisions are made at the school and district level. \Unfortunately, when we have staff
meetings and other informational meetings, staff leaves the meetings without clear expectations.
The points being made, and the expectations given are not reiterated enough for the staff to fully
comprehend what is meant. It also seems that what is talked about at meetings is the only time
we ever hear it. If this information were communicated over and over and on a consistent basis,
the information would be more relevant. This chapter also made me think of our districts PD
days. Everyone from the staff is required to attend these days and only hears the relayed
information once. There is never any follow up from the leadership about the expectations from
the meeting, so the teachers seem more reluctant to apply what they have learned into their
classrooms. To communicate more effectively and efficiently, the leadership in the building
needs to relay information to the staff more than one time. Majority of the time, we will only
receive messages one time through the use of e-mail. Reiterating information several times on a
consistent basis and also by word of mouth would be highly more beneficial for all involved.