‘Sync or Swim’ Teaches New Leaders How to Be the Best Communicators They Can Be [REVIEW]

An apathetic employee. The cynical, frustrated colleague. The unengaged manager. It seems like we have all worked with at least one of these individuals at some point in our career. But when you are tapped to become the leader, you probably have grand goals of being better than all those underwhelming people that came before you. But to do so, you’ve got to learn how to communicate effectively. I’ve got just the book to show you how!

If you are a newly minted supervisor or manager, Sync or Swim should be the first book you read. Here you’ll learn the art of listening with an open heart and mind. This book is powerful in thought and shows you how to effectively execute communication within your team.

My first thought while reading this book was, “Do I listen?” My second thought was, “How can I become a great listener?” For certain, listening with an open mind is not always as easy as it sounds. Although I recognize the need to take myself out of the equation, I sometimes feel I lose ground when it comes to the objective at hand.

As I was reminded recently, people who are driven are often those in management positions. Yet, it is how they empower, encourage and engage those who report to them that makes the difference.

Sync or Swim brings this thought home by teaching a lesson in listening via a wise, old puffin to an ambitious, naïve sheepdog. Along the way many personality types come to the fore which can sometimes be difficult to handle, but are not insurmountable. It is all in how you marshal your troops!

If you’ve been looking for a fresh perspective on how to get your team to open up, trust, and communicate with an ear to understand rather than the goal to dominate, this little thin volume is just the book for you. It tells the story of life within an organization in terms anyone can understand and relate to, and is filled with plenty of “Aha!” moments. You may very well read it in one sitting, but the lessons it teaches you will last a lifetime.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Gary Chapman, one of America’s most-read relationship experts, is author of the number one New York Times bestseller The 5 Love Languages and numerous other books. He travels the world presenting seminars. For more information, visit 5lovelanguages.com, like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Paul White is a psychologist, author, and speaker who makes “work relationships work.” He has consulted with a wide variety of organizations including Microsoft, the U.S. Air Force, the Million Dollar Round Table, Princeton University, and many more. He and Gary Chapman coauthored The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. For more information, visit appreciationatwork.com, like him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter.

Harold Myra has written more than two dozen fiction and nonfiction books, including The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham. During his 32 years as CEO of a magazine publishing company, the organization grew from one magazine to 13 while establishing a thriving Internet site.

SYNC OR SWIM: A FABLE ABOUT WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION AND COMING TOGETHER IN A CRISIS
By Gary Chapman, Paul White, and Harold Myra
112 pp. Northfield Publishing. $14.99.

Purchase Sync or Swim direct from Jathan & Heather Books or from one of these other fine online retailers: Amazon, or IndieBound.