Dealing With Differences

Conflicts are inevitable in businesses, non-profit organizations, homes and one to one relationships. DEALING WITH DIFFERENCES, provides coherent and useful ways of thinking about and implementing effective strategies, methods and tools for preventing and resolving disputes and confrontations. The text outlines ways to approach differences positively and creatively to turn conflicts into win/win relationships. The "how to" advice is field tested and practical, based upon the author's extensive research and thousands of experiences as a business manager, management consultant, commercial real estate broker, civic leader, father, spouse, and mentor. The material addresses preparation, planning, execution and creative improvisation in managing relationships with business associates, members of organizations of all types, friends, teens and other family members. A radical proposal for bringing some sanity to our polarized political arena is included.

Conflicts are inevitable in businesses, non-profit organizations, homes and one to one relationships. DEALING WITH DIFFERENCES, provides coherent and useful ways of thinking about and implementing effective strategies, methods and tools for preventing and resolving disputes and confrontations. The text outlines ways to approach differences positively and creatively to turn conflicts into win/win relationships. The "how to" advice is field tested and practical, based upon the author's extensive research and thousands of experiences as a business manager, management consultant, commercial real estate broker, civic leader, father, spouse, and mentor. The material addresses preparation, planning, execution and creative improvisation in managing relationships with business associates, members of organizations of all types, friends, teens and other family members. A radical proposal for bringing some sanity to our polarized political arena is included.

Larry Shirer earned an MBA degree in Finance and Marketing from the Harvard Business School and a BBA from Ohio University. His 50+ year business career included responsible positions in several corporations, two stints as a management consultant and several years as a commercial real estate broker, helping buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants negotiate sales and leases. He was the Vice president and General Manager of a division of a New York Stock Exchange listed company, Vice President of Administration and Planning for a division of another NYSE listed company, Vice President and General Manager of a manufacturer of rubber products and treasurer of a manufacturer of plastics products. He owned, operated and sold two small businesses. His consulting clients included companies like Hitachi and Goodyear Aerospace as well as dozens of medium sized and small business in the U.S. and Canada. In a written assessment of the project, the owner of one consulting client offered the following observation about the value of the contribution Larry made to his business: "I learned more from Larry about running my business in four weeks than I had learned on my own in the last ten years." Serving as: Chairman of the Board of the United Way in one community, Chairman of the Allocations Committee of the United way in another community, Chairman of the Board of a soup kitchen, Chairman of a church's Strategic Planning committee, a member of a Homelessness Task Force and as a Mentor to junior high and high school youth, all contributed to his education, as did helping to rear five offspring and joyfully observing the rearing of nine grandchildren. Larry has written and self- published six previous books. The observations and advice in this book are based on the author's extensive experience and research in helping people get things done.