Product Review

Organizations and individuals suffer immensely when relationships sour. Costs soar. Waste multiplies. Pain and resentments paralyze work and productivity. What if these outcomes could be avoided? Learning in Relationship says they can, and rather easily at that. These difficulties are seldom because of malevolence (although we often assume so) or impossible individuals (although we often think "they" are), but because we miss, misinterpret, and misattribute information. Relationships and difficulties are opportunities to learn.

To accomplish learning, the book puts the reader--not the other "malevolent" or "difficult" individual(s)--in charge, knowing that abstract organizations don't change, only individuals change. . . who then work together to make changes in their specific relationship and organization.

The book is divided into three parts: Thinking Lessons, Inquiry Lessons, and Application Lessons. The reader walks away with specific maps, methods, and models to put into immediate use.