A Brief Review of “Verbal Judo”
In the past, I used to be very good at talking with people. I was younger, thirsty for knowledge, and eager to serve. Many of my jobs were in retail and all of my jobs were in customer service. I was good at listening to people’s stories, their wants, needs, and desires. However, lately I, like many people, get caught in the business of being busy and trying to get things done. I’ve also been trained in my career to get the facts and make quick decisions, which sometimes doesn’t leave room for really listening to people, which I think is counter intuitive and bad practice. All jobs are customer service based, aren’t they? I think they are.
If I really think about it, people and their stories are what matter most and what we need to get in touch with to improve our businesses, improve our families, and improve our lives. “Verbal Judo,” by Dr. George J. Thompson and Jerry Jenkins, is a fantastic book and an easy read about how we can be better communicators in all aspects of life.
Dr. Thompson was once a police officer, like I was, and he learned very quickly that managing his behaviors, responses, and the way he talked to people would not only make or break his interactions with them, but they’d also help him go home safe every day. “Verbal Judo is the classic guide to the martial art of the mind and mouth that can help you defuse confrontations and generate cooperation…”
While I was able to relate to Dr. Thompson’s stories on a personal level, the stories he tells to illustrate his points in “Verbal Judo” are transferable to any type of job, even being a parent…especially being a parent. I think the most powerful piece of “Verbal Judo” is empathy. I think everyone wants to be understood or at least listened to and “Verbal Judo” teaches you how to be more effective in communication.
I highly recommended this book. I purchased the audiobook version of “Verbal Judo” because I’m not the quickest reader and I like to take advantage of time in the car driving to work, working in the yard, or even listening while doing the dishes. I definitely need to improve in effectively communicating with others and this book is a great tool. Please check out “Verbal Judo” here.
