Conflict is a central theme of our lives. We see the negative consequences of war and violence all around us. Even in the workplace, disputes and arguments cause problems and stifle productivity. But opposition can also be positive. For instance, our muscles become stronger as they encounter resistance. The bonds of our relationships can become stronger as we strive to overcome our differences. Likewise, says author Darby Checketts, businesses and organizations can become stronger as a result of conflict. Postive Conflict is a book that goes beyond coping with or handling workplace conflict; its premise is that conflict is often an indicator that creative energy is about to be unleashed. There is potentially positive power inside opposition, just as with the fusion of atoms. When opposing ideas are openly explored, a breakthrough in thinking can occur, which can reveal more comprehensive solutions. And the coming together of these once-opposing forces multiplies the potential for success. If our view of conflict transcends a win-lose mentality, we will see that the flipside of opposition is the opportunity for discovery and innovation. And in business today, we need leaders who can reconcile the seeming exclusivity of competing ideas and fuse them for new and better results. For example, it is the combination of self-confidence and humility that maximizes a leader's effectiveness. By reading Postive Conflict, you will: Recognize the creative energy inside conflict to unleash the power of opposites. Discover why the optimist's answer to everything is 'yes' - that the issue is not what is right or wrong, but how to synthesize ideas to expand problem-solving options. Help your stakeholders come together in a spirit of partnership to move beyond special interests and personality clashes. Understand that your own conflicting ideas and viewpoints reveal new dimensions of who you are and the range of opportunities that await you. Darby Checketts is the president of Cornerstone Professional Development of Mesa, Arizona, which he founded in 1985. He is known by his clients as a powerful catalyst for innovation, high performance leadership, and service excellence. He is the author of eight other books, including Leverage: How to Create Your Own 'Tipping Points' in Business and in Life. His work has influenced hundreds of organizations and millions of individuals around the world.

When he was young, consultant Bill Treasurer feared heights. He overcame his fear and became a high-diving champion. Every day for seven years, Treasurer would climb to the top of a 100-foot tower (as tall as a 10-story building). From there, at a speed of more than 50 miles per hour, he'd dive head-first into a 10-foot deep pool. He became the captain of the US High Diving Team. Now, he teaches managers how to be brave and how to imbue their workers with courage. In this tenth-anniversary edition of his bestseller on building courage in the workplace, Treasurer jokes that he hopes to enroll his readers in the "Fraternal Order of Courageous Managers." Sign up here.

John Hoover, an organizational leadership consultant, discusses how to deal with an "Idiot Boss" - or I-Boss - who does stupid things. Hoover distinguishes idiots from other tricky bosses, including those who think they are God, or who are paranoid, sadistic or Machiavellian. He leaves the reader with a couple of issues. First, you'll think no good, caring bosses still exist. Second, he doesn't tell you clearly where to set boundaries or when enough is finally enough. He often advocates appeasing bad bosses, although his other counsel on how to deal with them has some effective pointers. To his credit, Hoover is very candid about how he has learned from experience, including his mistakes. He offers personal examples from his experiences at Disney and elsewhere, and tries to write in a light-hearted or whimsical vein. getAbstract.com finds the book strongest when it is strategic and weakest when it tries to be funny, given that with bad bosses you only laugh to keep from crying.

Here is one book every job hunter needs. Fast paced, with no fluff, Winning Job Interviews is packed with strategies and techniques that are practical, market-proven, and easy to use. Combining 30 years of career expertise with equal doses of motivation and humor, Dr. Paul Powers shows you how to: -Overcome the ""deadly dozen" roadblocks that trip up the even the most-seasoned job hunter. Always have a great, fail-safe answer for even the most difficult interview questions. Discover the secrets of the world's most successful salespeople and how they can make you a superior job interviewer. Have your references singing your praises. Get more and better job offers... and the simple phrase to help you negotiate the best deal possible. The job-hunting pros and cons of today's technologies. Four disastrous social networking mistakes that will hurt your job hunt and career. How to recession-proof your job and keep your parachute packed and ready to go. An expanded toolkit, with worksheets, flowcharts, outlines and insider tips for the motivated job hunter, is also included in this extensively revised new edition.