Break Through To Yes: Unlocking the Possible by David B. Savage
‘We must use our voices to create a better future’
Canadian author David B Savage has expertise, experience, and leadership in oil and gas, renewable energy, health care, entrepreneurship, stakeholder engagement, and conflict management. He has collaborated to develop five companies and four not-for-profits. His focus – building capacity, innovation, and accountability in people and in and between organizations and communities. His books to date include BETTER BY DESIGN, the four volume podcast series based on BREAK THROUGH TO YES, and this updated and revised edition of BREAK THROUGH TO YES, based on his work with leaders and organizations to advance their success through collaboration, negotiation, conflict resolution, and business development.
One of the many reasons this book makes such an impact is the author’s gift of creating stories that underscore his ideas, providing solid evidence of his recommendations. He opens with a story about a forest of trees watching as man enters, cuts down trees and destroys natural wonders, and in doing so allows a windstorm to demolish efforts to retain our ecosystem. ‘Trees collaborate in nature but have no knowledge of collaboration in the face of human destruction. Humans collaborate and can learn together to change what seems to be tragic, inevitable consequences.’
This easily accessible resource of information may be designed for business leaders, but the concepts are so valid that they apply to any coming together of people in any situation – friendships, organization to address climate change, racism, changes in law enforcement tactics – that will benefit from collaboration. The meat of this fine book is well defined in the author’s 10 Essential Steps to Collaboration – Set intention: declare you honest purpose, Be aware: engage others with an open heart, Embrace conflict: seek out those who speak out, Seek diversity: bring in many perspectives, Design the collaboration; imagine success and create the right container, Come together: engage with respect and trust, Listen deeply: realize what wants to be hear but is not spoken, Collaborate with vision: tap into the collective wisdom, Now lead: with purpose and accountability, and Make it so: Change the energy and the Future Together.
All aspects and benefits of honest collaboration are well discussed and defined, and made accessible to every reader. Highly recommended.
