Susan Scott, Fierce Conversations

These interviews are a constant source of pleasure for me.  I get to talk to people who inspire me, who I think are funky, who I think are heroes.  And then occasionally I speak to people who make me jealous.  Susan Scott’s one of those people. When I came across her first book, Fierce Conversations, my initial response was to let out a heavy sigh and go … “ahhh – there’s the book I wanted to write.”

Susan Scott leads Fierce, a company that believes that the conversations we have – and don’t have – in our organizations make all the difference. Before founding Fierce ten years ago, Susan had spent 13 years leading CEO think tanks and really honing and being in conversation with CEOs and organizational leaders to figure out what are their challenges, and how can conversation itself be a tool to help unlock the way we work and start evolving what it means to be at work and be in connection with the people around us.

When we recorded the call, Susan’s new book – Fierce Leadership – was on the verge of being released.  It’s now out, already a bestseller, and it’s a terrific read that challenges all those “best practices” that suck the life and creativity and capacity out of our organizations.

In this interview Susan and I:

• look at some of those best practices and kick them around a little
• we rail against the practice of covering your butt
• and we talk about how you go about interrogating reality

Listen to my interview with Susan Scott

0:16    Michael introduces Susan Scott
0:46    Susan’s books Fierce Conversations and Fierce Leadership
2:49    Look at some of those best practices and kick them around a little
4:00 Susan explains her mission
13:37  We rail against the practice of covering your butt
13:51  We talk about how you go about interrogating reality
30:12  How to find out more about Susan Scott
31:03  Michael closes the interview

If you enjoyed this post, you'll also like:

1. Scott Stratten, UnMarketing
2. Scott Belsky, Behance
3. Scott Allen, The Virtual Handshake
4. Practical Coaching Series: Fierce Love
5. Scott Wallace, Cirque du Soleil