Have you ever been in a situation that was emotionally charged and the stakes were high? And it was difficult to find the right words? Back Pocket Coach(TM) provides 33 power-packed communication strategies to support you in creating satisfying conversations that result in good outcomes for you and others. These just-in-time strategies will help you move through conversations masterfully, whether you're engaging with one person or a team of people. This book also introduces Game Changing Conversations, the 8-step process that prepares you for any difficult or high stakes conversation. Included in the book is a worksheet for your personal use.

You'll learn how to:

• Provide difficult feedback to everyone from your boss to mother-in-law, improving your relationships in the process.
• Effectively renegotiate any agreement.
• Say no to a request that would leave you stretched too thin, and do so from a place of strength.
• Get unproductive meetings back on track, even is you're not the meeting organizer.
• Safely speak your truth.
• Increase your self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
• Use appreciate authentically, the secret sauce for thriving relationships.

Diane Brennan is a consultant, coach, author and speaker. She is passionate about leadership in all types of organizations. She enjoys working with leaders and teams in the fields of healthcare, aerospace, engineering, science, academics and business. Diane's expertise in organizations includes strategic thinking, navigating change and creating a learning culture. Diane holds a doctorate in behavioral health, an MBA and is a Master Certified Coach. She brings calm to the chaos in organizations and life. Contact Diane at Diane@DianeBrennan.com

Contents Introduction xiii How to Use This Book xv Part One One-on-One Conversations 1 1. I would like to appreciate you for... 3 2. What outcome do you want? 4 3. We both want the same thing here. 5 4. Help me understand... 6 5. What is your understanding of our agreement? 7 6. What are your expectations for...? 8 7. May I give you some feedback? 9 Part Two Conversations On-the-Fly 11 8. Can we continue this conversation later? 13 9. Let me take some time to consider this. 14 10. What's the priority here? 15 11. Who is accountable? 16 12. What expectations do you have of me? 17 13. I may need to renegotiate our agreement. 18 14. Just keep breathing! 19 Part Three In Meetings 21 15. May I make a request? 23 16. I want to be sure we're clear. Will you please clarify...? 24 17. Let's each summarize our actions and agreements. 25 18. Please...let's not interrupt each other! 26 19. Hold that thought! 27 20. May I ask a question? 28 21. Time out! 29 22. How does this relate to our bigger goal? 30 23. What are we thinking but not saying here? 31 24. Be bold. Ask a question! Make a comment! 32 Part Four Self-Reflection 33 25. What if I don't have all the facts? 35 26. Assume positive intent. 36 27. Who else needs to know or be included? 37 28. Notice and acknowledge successes. 38 29. What could I have done better or differently? 39 30. What am I learning? 40 31. What am I holding onto here? 41 32. Tell the truth respectfully. 42 33. Shake it off! 43 Part Five Situations and Issues 45 When you value someone's work or contribution 47 When the objective is unclear 48 When you find yourself in disagreement with others 49 When you're just not connecting 50 To make sure you're on the same page 51 To avoid making assumptions 52 How to diplomatically critique another 53 When you need to buy time 54 When your role is unclear 55 When you can't deliver as promised 56 When you're feeling overwhelmed 57 How to step up when the situation calls for a leader 58 When the discussion gets heated 59 When everyone's talking at once 60 To get a meeting back on track 61 When someone is rambling 62 To make sure someone is ready to listen 63 Making it safe to speak the truth 64 Realize that your contribution is valuable 65 When you're angry and think you have a reason to be 66 How to bring your "A" game every time 67 When your ideas are met with resistance 68 Part Six Game Changing Conversations 69 Game Changing Conversations Context and Methodology 71 Game Changing Conversations Worksheet 75 About the Authors 77 Acknowledgments 79