Book excerpt: Positively Speaking: The Art of Constructive Conversations with a Solutions Focus By Paul Z Jackson and Janine Waldman Suppose.. You've got a difficult conversation that you're really not looking forward to You want to change your boss's mind, but he doesn't listen You need your team - or your children - to take responsibility for their own issues Top consultants Paul Z Jackson and Janine Waldman take you on a tour of successful, constructive conversations, from preparation through opening remarks to agreeing the right actions. Illustrated throughout with tips, examples and exercises, Positively Speaking will develop your skills in creating dialogue that works well for you at work, in social settings and at home. With a resource-based, solutions-focused approach, you will find it simpler and more enjoyable to get what you want by talking to people the Positively Speaking way. And the results will be positively extraordinary. Praise for Positively Speaking: "With Positively Speaking Jackson and Waldman have created my dream Solutions Focus book: they make the concepts absurdly easy to understand and - more importantly - they make the material relevant to my work and relationships " Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener, Programme Director, Center of Applied Positive Psychology "The strategic application of Solution Focused approaches can help unlock the most challenging aspects of executive leadership in the modern public sector. Jackson and Waldman's approach instils the discipline of simplicity and builds confidence through positive enquiry. I have greatly benefited from working with them and recommend Positively Speaking as a way ahead." Andrew Fowlie, General Manager, NHS Grampian "For me, there's nothing like going on a course and gaining new skills - unless it's a book like 'Positively Speaking', which gives me background, theory, case studies, models and, most importantly real concrete ways to put all of that into practice in my day-to day work of coaching, facilitation and working through conflict. This book is a real asset to any practitioner who needs to 'just do it' - just great." Ann Lukens, Director, Groupworks "This resource really does live up to its aim of helping us learn more about what we can do rather than what we can't. I like the way it brings the idea of Solutions Focus to life through examples, case studies and practical exercises. I'll definitely be using these ideas in my work as a facilitator and coach." Colin Coombs, Learning & Development Manager, Tate Paul Z Jackson and Janine Waldman are co-directors of The Solutions Focus (www.thesolutionsfocus.co.uk), leading a team of consultants, facilitators and coaches who apply this approach worldwide in organisations including Beiersdorf (Nivea), PepsiCo, Reading Borough Council, John Laing and The Metropolitan Police