Rick Brandon - Straight Talk: Influence Skills for Collaboration and Commitment

Contents

Praise for Straight Talk

Rick Brandon is like a Michelin Star Master Chef who serves wholesome food for the brain in a deliciously scrumptious package. He is one of the few authors who weaves the magic of an in-person workshop between the covers of his book. Straight Talk is another masterpiece in Brandons indomitable style that combines powerful and practical insights with an engaging and enjoyable style.

Kedar Vashi, Learning and Development Head, Coca-Cola International

Rick Brandons relevant, practical, and engaging approach focuses on the exact skills needed for productive influence while recognizing that in the real world, conversations can be tough, emotional, and dont always go according to plan. Straight Talk truly gets it!

Kevin DeNoia, Global Head of Leadership and Executive Development, Credit Suisse

Straight Talk is the most unique and practical book I have read on influence management and interpersonal effectiveness. I feel like I just attended Rick Brandons highly rated workshop in book form in the comfort of my own home What an achievement! There are tips, tools, checklists, or models on practically every page. As a bonus, Straight Talk is just flat-out fun to read. Dr. Brandon has set the new gold standard.

Ed Betof, Worldwide Vice President, Talent Management & CLO, Becton, Dickinson and Company (Retired)

Straight Talk is a fun read with a conversational tonepacked with real-world examples, relevant quotes, practical tips, and exercises. Its so engaging and action oriented that youll feel like youre attending an interpersonal skills workshop while reading this book. Dr. Brandon also addresses the complexities of our virtual and hybrid world, giving us an influence savvy how-to manual for our time!

Janice Winstead, Director, Leadership Development, Anthem, Inc.

Straight Talk is a spot-on, practical, and critical book for maximizing your interpersonal effectiveness, influence, and work results during this time of COVID. Just like his workshops at Autodesk were for years, Brandons down-to-earth teaching is fun and easy to absorb Brilliant!

Jan Becker, Chief Human Resources Officer, Autodesk (Retired)

Straight Talk is a great, helpful, and practical handbook for understanding and building critical soft skills. Understanding communication dynamics in a mega-corporation in todays work world isnt easy Ive witnessed Rick Brandons go to consulting to develop my Fortune 50 companys key talent, and now his Straight Talk is the go-to book for developing professional teams and early career executives in the real world.

Martin Robatti, Global Human Resources Leader, Fortune 50 company

Straight Talk is a communication skills handbooka skills-building workshop in book form Brandon packs each chapter with practical tips, simple how-to instruction, relevant quotes, real-world examples, metaphors, humor, and skill drills.

Nicole Glasrud Haydon, Vice President Learning & Development, Fortune 500 Company

Im excited about this book! Straight Talk is an invaluable field guide for communication and influence skills in todays demanding, ever-changing, and increasingly virtual work environment. It takes special talent for an author to translate a wildly successful interpersonal skills workshop into book format in such a dynamic, fun, and practical way, and Dr. Brandon is at the top of his game.

Lisa Goude-Vera, Senior Manager Talent Development, Lockheed Martin Space

In a world where were looking at our phones more than talking to one another, those who can pick up their heads and have meaningful conversations have an advantage. Straight Talk is a practical guidebook with clear, direct, actionable advice for anyone looking to build their communication skills into a superpower both at work and at home. Dr. Brandons latest book builds readers interpersonal savvy through engaging, humor-laced teaching; fun and practical drills; and insights about each skills application in our modern world of remote work.

Beth Loeb, Director of Learning & Development, TESLA (retired)

Dr. Brandon has taught interpersonal influence savvy for decades and now hes made his workshop available in a fun, flowing, reader-friendly book form! Ricks dynamic delivery style in his workshops comes through loud and clear, complete with Humor Hits, Demonstration scripts, and Coaching Huddles to help the readers grapple with their discomfort in learning skills. Its truly a comprehensive and inspiring read!

Meribeth Germino, Senior Leadership and Team Performance, Genentech

Reading only the first few pages turns out to be addictive, like a Netflix series! In todays remote, hybrid, high-pressured, and depersonalized work world, everyone needs skills for re-connecting, achieving results, and excelling. Rick Brandon throws every worker a life preserver for navigating the influence waters with savvy, impact, empathy, and win-win outcomes.

Doris Bisaro, Group Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Generali Global

Rick Brandon first grounds readers in the fundamental interpersonal skills of assertive speaking and active listening for accuracy and empathyskills that are critical to workplace effectiveness and productivity. Then he transitions the learners into step-by-step formats for optimizing essential conversations in gaining agreements, advising others, coaching, challenging ideas, and constructively confronting others to hold them accountable. These competencies help individuals master interpersonal communication with confidence.

Lisa Welker-Finney, Vice President Human Resources, Boston Scientific Group

Just in time! In todays stressful and emotion-laden business environment, where employees are blunt (saying whatevers on their mind) or fearful (saying nothing at all), Dr. Brandons book is filled with practical how-tos for successfully handling any communication challenge that may arise. Thank you!

Deborrah Himsel, VP of Organizational Effectiveness, Avon Products (former) and University of Arizonas Eller College of Managements faculty

Dr. Rick Brandon has knocked it out of the park again! His new book, Straight Talk, is an easy, entertaining, and potentially life-changing read. It cleverly transports readers into a workshop hes teaching, exposing them to tools and practices that can be immediately used. This workshop in a book is a must-read for anyone who wants to kick it up a notch to dramatically transform both their personal and business interactions and relationships.

Delta Emerson, President, Global Shared Services, Ryan, LLC (former)

Straight Talk is exactly what the title suggestsDr. Brandon shares practical, common sense skills, delivered in a funny, easy-to-read format that sounds like hes talking right to you! He gives it to you straight and shares his own vulnerable moments while he encourages us to get better. I love this bookBrandons examples, stories, and activities come to life in your mind, as if you were attending a live workshop with him!

Jen Crabb, Talent Development, Fortune 500 financial services company

Having been fortunate enough to learn from Rick within his Institute for Management Studies workshops for many years, I was thrilled to learn that he finally decided to share all his insights, best practices, and proven techniques in book form, complete with insightful and clear explanations, dramatic scripted demonstrations, and rigorous practice exercises. This wonderful book is packed with actionable insights and tools to take your communication skills to the next level.