The Power of a Positive No: How to Say No and <i>Still</i> Get to Yes

William Ury

Bantam,  February 2007

From the coauthor of Getting To Yes -- the world's bestselling book on negotiation , with over 5 million copies in print -- comes a revolutionary new book that can teach everyone . . .

The Power of a Positive No
How to Say No and Still Get to Yes

No is perhaps the most important and certainly the most powerful word in the language. Every day we find ourselves in situations where we say No -- to people at work, at home, and in our communities -- because No is the word we must use to protect ourselves and to stand up for everything and everyone that matters to us.

But as we all know, the wrong No can also destroy what we most value by alienating and angering people. That's why saying No the right way is crucial. The secret to saying No without destroying relationships lies in the art of the Positive No, a proven technique that anyone can learn.

This indispensable book gives you a simple three-step method for saying a Positive No. It will show you how to assert and defend your key interests; how to make your No firm and strong; how to resist the other side's aggression and manipulation; and how to do all this while still getting to Yes. In the end, the Positive No will help you get not just to any Yes but to the right Yes, the one that truly serves your interests.

Based on William Ury's celebrated Harvard University course for managers and professionals, The Power of a Positive No offers concrete advice and practical examples for saying No in virtually any situation. Whether you need to say No to your customer or your coworker, your employee or your CEO, your child or your spouse, you will find in this book the secret to saying No clearly, respectfully, and effectively.

In today's world of high stress and limitless choices, the pressure to give in and say Yes grows greater every day, producing overload and overwork, expanding e-mail and eroding ethics. Never has No been more needed. A Positive No has the power to profoundly transform our lives by enabling us to say Yes to what counts -- our own needs, values, and priorities.

Understood this way, No is the new Yes. And the Positive No may be the most valuable life skill you'll ever learn!

hardcover | ISBN: 9780553804980 | Publication Date: February 2007

Reviews:
"William Ury brings a marvelous blend of experience, insight, integrity and warmth to his work. In this wonderful book he teaches us how to say No -- with grace and effect -- so that we might create an even better Yes." 
--Jim Collins, author of Good to Great

"Every woman needs a copy of this book. Learning to set realistic limits while honoring relationships is more than a win-win strategy. It's a miracle. I promise that learning to deliver a positive no can change your life -- it changed mine dramatically in a single week."
--Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., author of Inner Peace for Busy People and Inner Peace for Busy Women

"For me and many others who are involved in resolving disputes, a new book by Bill Ury about negotiation is an exciting event. This incisive new approach will be a boon to all of us."
--President Jimmy Carter

"William Ury's advice on how to say 'No' gracefully brims with social intelligence. An immensely useful book for anyone." 
--Daniel Goleman, author of Social Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence

"Born of profound professional worldwide experiences and painful personal challenges, this is another marvelous book from William Ury, really a prequel to Getting to Yes. It compellingly shows that you can give a 'positive no' if you find the burning 'yes' inside you . . . Tremendous contribution!"
--Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

"The world's biggest shared secret is that most of us say yes when we really want to say no . . . Bill Ury generously provides us with insights and techniques to turn this malady into win-win solutions. This is a wise and powerful book."
--John Naisbitt, author of Megatrends

"No matter whether you are negotiating compensation with the toughest CFO or a curfew for your teenager, this book teaches us a critical and counterintuitive lesson. You can say no and still be nice. Simple, straightforward, and easy to read, The Power of a Positive No is a YES on our reading list."
--Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval, authors of The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness

"If I'd had and used this book for the last twenty-five years, I would have doubtless avoided innumerable heartaches and headaches and tattered personal and professional relationships . . . This all-important book stands alone on a subject that underpins, like no other, individual and organizational effectiveness."
--Tom Peters, author of In Search of Excellence

"Yet another essential roadmap from Bill Ury . . . this book is the perfect companion to Getting to Yes and should be read by anyone who struggles with getting what you want while continuing to protect that which is most important to you. Be prepared -- this book will change your life." 
--Anthony Robbins, author of Awaken the Giant Within and Unlimited Power