Resources: Communication & Conflict

Tools

1. ‣Jott Assistant – A tool with a host of time management applications, Jott is also great for on-the-go communication. Once you set up your account (cost is about $4 per month after the free trial), you can speak short messages into your phone and have them emailed or texted to any of your designated contacts, or even to groups of contacts.
   

2. ‣Meeting Wizard – An easy way to gather input from others about their availability for various proposed meeting dates. Also will send confirmations and reminders for you.
   

Reading

1. ‣The Art of Powerful Questions (pdf) – From the World Cafe website, this is one of my all-time favorite articles. It highlights the power of great questions (beautifully summarized in the article’s subtitle: “Catalyzing Insight, Innovation, and Action”), explains how to craft questions that pack a great punch, and then provides a list of sample questions you can use or adapt to your own situation.
   

2. ‣The Platinum Skill of Giving Feedback – Excerpted from the book, The Accidental Manager*, this article is a great how-to (and when-to) of giving constructive feedback.
   

3. ‣Getting to Yes: The Secret to Successful Negotiation* – The classic book based on research at the Harvard Negotiation Project, this is an outstanding, easy-to-understand manual on win-win negotiation strategies.
   

4. ‣Principles & Practices for Effective Multicultural Communication (pdf) – A thorough guide to working and communicating with multicultural communities. Includes lots of great case examples from nonprofits working on social change.
   

5. ‣Speaking as a Performing Art – Public speaking tips from a professional singer turned speech coach.
   

Websites

1. ‣CR Info – A vast collection of links to writings and resources on conflict management.
   

2. ‣Nonprofit Tech – A collection of information on using technology in nonprofits – much of which, obviously, is very much about communication.
   

*Full disclosure: The links marked with an asterisk (*) take you to view more information about those resources. If you decide to purchase them, I’ll earn a small commission – but only if you use these links to do so. Note that I never recommend products I haven’t reviewed myself and don’t believe offer real value.