Welcome to My Favorite Books & Tools!
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Welcome to My Favorite Books & Tools! *
Explore a growing collection of the best books and resources for conflict resolution, leadership, and workplace dynamics—curated for HR leaders, managers, and professionals navigating complex workplace challenges.
Check back often for new recommendations!
Fight Right – How to Make Workplace Arguments Constructive, Not Destructive
Conflict in the workplace isn’t the problem—it’s how you handle it. Fight Right challenges leaders to rethink conflict as an opportunity for growth, innovation, and stronger teams. This book provides actionable strategies for transforming workplace disagreements into productive conversations.
Split the Pie – A Radical New Way to Negotiate
Most negotiations get stuck in a tug-of-war over value—but what if there’s a better way? Split the Pie introduces a groundbreaking negotiation framework that shifts the focus from competition to fair value creation. Essential for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone who wants to achieve better deals without unnecessary friction.
How to Have Impossible Conversations – The Art of Persuasion & Conflict Management
Difficult conversations don’t have to end in frustration. How to Have Impossible Conversations provides a step-by-step guide to engaging in high-stakes discussions with people who strongly disagree with you. Whether you’re managing workplace conflicts, negotiating tough decisions, or trying to bridge divides, this book equips you with the tools to communicate effectively and build understanding.
Negotiating the Nonnegotiable – Defusing High-Emotion Workplace Conflicts
Some negotiations feel impossible—deeply emotional, high-stakes, and seemingly unwinnable. Negotiating the Nonnegotiable explores how to break through these deadlocks, manage emotional triggers, and find creative solutions even in the most intense disputes. A must-read for mediators, HR leaders, and professionals dealing with workplace conflict.
The Mediation Process – Practical Strategies for Resolving Conflict
Mediation is an essential skill in resolving workplace disputes. The Mediation Process offers a step-by-step guide to facilitating fair and effective resolutions. Whether you're an HR leader, mediator, or manager, this book provides the tools to navigate difficult conversations with confidence.
The Truth About Negotiations – Breaking Workplace Deadlocks
Think you know how to negotiate? The Truth About Negotiations debunks common myths and provides science-backed strategies to improve your negotiation skills. Essential for HR professionals, leaders, and anyone who wants to achieve better outcomes in workplace negotiations.
Good Arguments – The Science of Productive Disagreement in the Workplace
Disagreements don’t have to be divisive. Good Arguments reveals how mastering debate skills can improve listening, persuasion, and decision-making. Ideal for HR professionals, managers, and leaders looking to foster constructive discussions in the workplace.
Dealing with Difficult People: How to Navigate Challenging Workplace Interactions
Every workplace has them—difficult personalities that create conflict and tension. Dealing with Difficult People offers proven strategies for handling challenging behaviours with confidence. Whether it’s an aggressive colleague, a passive-aggressive employee, or an uncooperative boss, this book provides tools to navigate tough interactions and maintain professionalism.
The Book of Real-World Negotiations – How Professionals Handle Workplace Disputes
How do negotiations play out in real life? The Book of Real-World Negotiation goes beyond theory, offering real case studies from high-stakes business deals to personal disputes. This book is an essential read for HR leaders, mediators, and professionals who handle workplace negotiations and want practical strategies that work in real scenarios.
Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion – Mastering the Art of Persuasion: How Verbal Judo Defuses Conflict and Builds Influence
Want to turn confrontation into cooperation? Verbal Judo teaches techniques to defuse tension, redirect hostility, and communicate effectively—even in high-pressure situations. Essential for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone managing difficult workplace conversations.
Nonviolent Communication – How Empathy Can Transform Workplace Disputes
How do you communicate in a way that defuses conflict and builds understanding? Nonviolent Communication introduces a four-step process to express needs, listen actively, and create mutual respect. A must-read for HR professionals and leaders who navigate high-stakes conversations.
Why We Fight – Understanding the Roots of Conflict: Why We Fight and How to Stop It
Why do conflicts escalate, and how can we prevent them? Why We Fight explores the underlying causes of disputes, from personal clashes to global wars, offering research-backed strategies for de-escalation. Ideal for HR professionals and workplace leaders, this book provides insights into managing tensions before they spiral out of control.
When to Walk Away – The Power of Letting Go: Knowing When to Walk Away from Toxic Situations
Sometimes, the best conflict resolution strategy is knowing when to disengage. When to Walk Away offers guidance on recognizing when a workplace relationship or situation has become too toxic to fix. A must-read for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone struggling with workplace toxicity, this book helps set boundaries and protect mental well-being.
High Conflict – Breaking Free from High Conflict: How to Stop Workplace Feuds from Spiraling
What happens when conflict becomes all-consuming? High Conflict explores how workplace tensions, political divides, and personal disputes can spiral into destructive cycles—and how to break free. Amanda Ripley’s research-driven approach offers insights for HR leaders and professionals managing complex workplace conflicts.
The Beauty of Conflict – Rethinking Conflict: From Workplace Tension to Team Strength
Most people view conflict as something to avoid—but what if it could be a tool for transformation? The Beauty of Conflict reframes conflict as an opportunity for growth, creativity, and deeper collaboration. Through engaging stories and practical strategies, this book helps workplace teams harness conflict productively instead of letting it derail success.
Good for You, Great for Me – Winning Negotiations Without Creating Resentment
Winning at negotiation isn’t just about claiming value—it’s about creating it. Good for You, Great for Me dives into the concept of “trading wisely,” where both parties walk away feeling satisfied while maximizing their own outcomes. Ideal for workplace leaders, HR professionals, and dealmakers, this book teaches the art of building trust while negotiating assertively.
Bargaining for Advantage – Winning Negotiations Without Losing Relationships
Great negotiators aren’t born—they’re made. In Bargaining for Advantage, G. Richard Shell blends psychology, strategy, and real-world examples to teach readers how to craft winning negotiation strategies. Whether you’re navigating salary discussions, business deals, or workplace conflicts, this book equips you with practical skills to strengthen your bargaining power.
The Power of a Positive No – Saying No Without Burning Bridges
Saying "no" can be one of the hardest things to do—especially in high-stakes workplace negotiations. The Power of a Positive No teaches you how to assert yourself with confidence while preserving relationships. Whether you're declining an unreasonable request, setting boundaries with a difficult employee, or negotiating workplace policies, this book provides a framework for standing your ground while keeping the conversation open.
Getting Past No – How to Turn Resistance into Agreement Without the Fight
Have you ever faced a conversation that felt like hitting a brick wall? Whether it's a difficult colleague, a resistant employee, or a high-stakes negotiation, getting past an emphatic "no" is a skill every leader must master. In Getting Past No, William Ury, co-author of Getting to Yes, provides a five-step strategy to transform resistance into cooperation. This book is a game-changer for HR leaders, executives, and professionals looking to defuse tension, navigate workplace disputes, and achieve positive outcomes—without escalating conflict.