Get to the Balcony

Sometimes, you feel like you've read a book without actually reading it.  That's how I feel about this book.  I actually haven't read it, but several of the book I have recently read have all referenced it or drawn on principles from it.  The book is a renown guide on negotiating and written by experts who have vast experience on conflict between corporations, governments, and foreign nations.

One of the key things I've pulled from this book I've never read(!) is the concept called "get to the balcony".  The authors- and those who have cited the authors- describe this idea as trying to see things from the other person's perspective.  When you're in the middle of a conflict with an employee, a fight with your spouse, trying to change your child's behavior, or any other number of potential conflicts we find ourselves in, the authors encourage you and I to get to the balcony.  Can you see things from their perspectives?  Can you understand where they are coming from?  Can you repeat what they said (and more importantly), listen to them without trying to figure out what you're going to say next?  It's not rocket science, but it (apparently) takes Harvard trained professionals to remind us of these timeless principles when it comes to conflict.