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Whether you for facilitate meetings for a living or simply as part of your job, you've surely found yourself "standing in the fire"-at the center of a group that is polarized, angry, fearful, and confused. Veteran facilitator Larry Dressler has found that what makes the crucial difference in these situations is the leader' presence. You have to master away of being that allows you to remain effective no matter a way of being that allows you to remain effective no matter how hot things get.
Dressler shows how to cultivate six "stances"-mental, emotional, and physical-that will keep you steady, impartial, purposeful, compassionate, and good-humored. Drawing on his own experiences and the insights of thirty-five distinguished practitioners, he helps you keep your cool and make the kind of inventive, spilt-second decisions these pressure-cooker situations demand.
Foreword Roger Schwarz ix
Preface xiii
Introduction: The Power of Fire 7
Part I The Fire 7
1 Fire for Better or Worse 9
2 We Are Fire Tenders 24
Part II Six Ways of Standing 35
3 Stand with Self-Awareness 38
4 Stand in the Here and Now 54
5 Stand with an Open Mind 65
6 Know What You Stand For 80
7 Dance with Surprises 97
8 Stand with Compassion 110
Part III Practices 125
9 Cultivate Everyday Readiness 127
10 Prepare to Lead 149
11 Face the Fire 162
12 Reflect and Renew 180
Conclusion: Stepping into the Fire Circle 199
Notes 201
Suggested Reading 204
Web-based Resources 206
Acknowledgments 207
About the Author 209
Index 211
Your mother may have told you not to play with matches, but you can't always avoid fiery exchanges when you facilitate a meeting or lead a group. Organizational development consultant Larry Dressler explains why you should encourage rather than stifle heated discussions. He shares ways to control those personal "hot buttons" - sensitivities you've developed from past experiences - that can make you lose your cool in the heat of the moment. He reveals six steps for dealing with hot topics to help you successfully run a meaningful session when tempers flare. The book is a bit repetitious, and its advice may be familiar to readers of self-help books; however, it does contain practical suggestions and useful anecdotes that do a good job of illustrating its points. getAbstract recommends its expert guidance and practice exercises to anyone who leads or works with teams, whether in the workplace, on the playing field or at home.
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Overview
Whether you for facilitate meetings for a living or simply as part of your job, you've surely found yourself "standing in the fire"-at the center of a group that is polarized, angry, fearful, and confused. Veteran facilitator Larry Dressler has found that what makes the crucial difference in these situations is the leader' presence. You have to master away of being that allows you to remain effective no matter a way of being that allows you to remain effective no matter how hot ...