The Power of a Positive No: Save The Deal Save The Relationship and Still Say No

I found this book by William Ury to be as groundbreaking and revolutionary as Ury's blockbuster hit "Getting to Yes." Ury makes the critical point that is better to say no than to accept a bad deal that will inevitably lead to future conflict. The best way to say no is thoroughly explored in this book and it is worth the time to read since saying no is such a sensitive subject to most relationships. The Ury approach is to first articulate your needs, i.e. your yes, and to be able to explain how your needs are not being met by the bad deal. The next step is to say no is a way that is emphatic and to stick to your no so as not to cave to the other side's pressure. Finally, you then make a counter-proposal, i.e. your "yes," so as to preserve and continue the relationship. This "yes, no, yes" approach may sound simple but it is not. Ury's books have been referred to me by several law professor over the years as part of my legal training. I have found Ury's books eminently practical yet paradigm shifting. I heartily recommend the power of a Positive No as well as all the other Ury books on negotiation.

I love this book. First of all it is broken up into many tracks under 3 minutes and I think the tracks are broken into pieces to listen to it by itself (once you listen to the entire book once). I stored this in my iPod and I get these tracks randomly shuffled in with music and it is great. A great message, and useful and practical messages. I think everyone should read/listen to this book, particularly the people who can't say no, people who have been putting up with stuff without having figured out how to stop other person's negative behavior, and the people who wants to say no to things without loosing the relationship (preserving the relationship). I love it, and I listen to it more often than I thought I would.

That is awesome

I’ve read my fair share of self help books. This was one of the most impactful. This book will teach you healthy alternatives to using the word “NO”. This is a read that can be useful in your personal life , as well as business. You’ll find yourself better able to save your relationships, as well as the sale. Up until I read this book, I thought that being able to say “No” meant that I had the power. I never considered how harmful It could be to my friendships and relationships or how It may make others feel. This book will allow you to develop an understanding of your reasoning for often saying no, and how you can control your interactions to turn a NO into a yes under your terms. Although there are some great examples in the book on how to react in certain situations, don’t just rely on those solutions as a one size fits all. I’d suggest using these tools and formula to create your own scenarios that may be common in your life. Practice Practice Practice.

This series leans toward management, yet this book in particular is great for both sides of the table. I find these techniques help conflict-averse people say "no" when they need to.

The point of view and basic premise is fine. This book is just way too long for making its points. Like interminable. As in, I couldn't finish it. And I finish just about everything. I get it. You want to sell a book so it's probably got to be at least XXX pages. There is value here. And there are important points. So yes, in spite of my 3-star seemingly somewhat negative thoughts here, I'd still recommend getting it. Just read the first parts, then skim for the ideas. It's just too painful to get through every detail

As a counselor; this is one of the book that I most recommend.

I think this is one of the most important books I've read, but time will tell. Before I even finished it, I was planning to re-read it. This is one of those books you need to study and commit to putting into practice, and I expect it will be so worth it. This book is full of lots of useful ideas on how to say no effectively. I want to organize a workshop on it amongst my friends so we can practice it together, using this book. It's also a breeze to read. Ury's other book, "Getting to Yes," is a bit of a slog by comparison, unless you actually work in negotiation. This book is more relevant to the life of the average person.

Nicely written, easy to see the logics behind each the argument and proposal. Definitely a toolbox for communication and negotiations.

I've always found it hard to say no without either putting my own needs aside or getting angry at the other person for being disrespectful. This book explains step by step how to say no without getting into a conflict, all the while getting what you need/want. The method works, I applied it directly to a situation I was in. Would recommend to anyone who finds it difficult to say no.

This book is simply transformative. I had to recently fire someone and I prepared my Positive No based on the ideas in this book. The philosophy behind the technique is so simple and powerful that it is so effective. If you truly find your Yes, it is so much easier to deliver your No. I have become an instant fan of this author.

Super livre, je connaissais déjà ce livre mais en version française. Ce livre est un incontournable en négociation

What a great book! William Ury delivers what are expected from a professional of such a great level like him. After a lot of years of mediating tough conflicts, he showcases simply and useful examples to be applied on our relationships at work, family or even state matters. Worthy of every single penny...