My Book Review of Break Through To Yes: Unlocking the Possible within a Culture of Collaboration: Updated and Revised Edition
Break Through To Yes: Unlocking the Possible within a Culture of Collaboration: Updated and Revised Edition by David B. SavageMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Great Guide for Business Teams
I picked this book up as I’m often interested in nonfiction. This was a bit outside my comfort zone, but I enjoy exposing myself to new things. After all, that’s how we learn.
I liked the message, which was very positive and encouraging. I agreed with the author that often we think we know things when really there’s always room to grow – more to learn. Collaboration is more than self. It’s finding a commonality for the greater good.
The book’s ideology can be sensed in this statement: “Yin and Yang can be thought of as complementary (rather than opposing) forces that interact to form a dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the assembled parts.” Collaboration is about finding harmony in our talents and balance in our voices. You can only be a team with diversity and mutual respect. This I agree with wholeheartedly.
Another quote I feel prudent to share was: “Marketing and influence-making in today’s distracted and fast-moving world rely heavily on emotional engagement. Trouble is, throughout history the emotional triggers that are felt but not questioned, have got mankind into many deadly wars and disgusting prejudices.” The author was making a point that we don’t all have to agree, but we do need to actually communicate – listening as well as speaking with facts – for true collaboration to occur. It’s not about giving up individuality, but finding common ground to best benefit the community and world while protecting each person as best as we possibly can. To do that, you have to give up hatred, prejudice, and truly care. That’s something I believe in.
There’s a lot of common sense knowledge that humans easily overlook, especially when stressed. This quote illustrates one such example: “When people within and across cultures don’t share the same vision, purpose or goal, they are polarized by their differences. When people believe in a common vision, purpose, or goal, they are able to work together with love and no self-interest. A common vision ignites collaborative efforts.”
What I disliked was the format. Weird word cut offs or oddly hyphenated and spaced… there were even blank pages. It gave the text a confused and amateur appearance, which distracted from not only the reading, but the meaning. It lessened the package of the message in its display.
Though there are enlightening tidbits for the average reader, this is definitely targeted towards management, leadership, and team-building. It’s not a typical read, but intended for a more specific audience, which made it more difficult to enjoy. I feel it will resonate well with whom its written for.
