The Communication Problem Solver: Simple Tools and Techniques for Busy Managers

Local author Nannette Rundle Carroll’s debut book, The Communication Problem Solver, is a how-to for business managers who need help communicating effectively with their workers. However, what I learned early on in reading this book is that it is also a book for anyone who would like to communicate more effectively. Whether its with your co-workers, employer, or anyone else you may come into contact with as part of your job. For myself, as a teacher, I found that I could even apply most of these same strategies in my classroom or when I communicate with my students’ parents.

The book, which includes such chapters as Giving Feedback, Compelling Coaching Techniques, Communicating Your Expectations, and How to Break the Judging Habit, basically boils down to three simple rules. Be honest, be open, be positive. These themes seem to run throughout the many strategies the author describes.

Additionally, the thing that distinguishes this book from other business how-to’s of its kind is that it is very readable. The writing style of The Communication Problem Solver reads more like a Malcolm Gladwell book (The Tipping Point and Blink) rather than a the typical text book how-to for business. Carroll mixes real life situations with analogies to help the reader fully understand the concept being explained. Moreover, this book has short, to-the-point, easy navigable chapters and sub-chapters so that it can be used as a reference book for cases when you need a quick answer on how to approach a situation.

Nannette Rundle Carroll does a fantastic job in her debut book. This The Communication Problem Solver is an absolute must for anyone working in the field of business management, sales, education, or just anyone who would like to better communicate with the people they work with.