“Talk Matters! is an important book for our times, weaving profound wisdom with practical tools, supporting our understanding and the courage required to more fully meet ourselves and each other for the purpose of making the world a better place.”

— Marc Lesser, CEO of Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute and author of Know Yourself, Forget Yourself

We create the present and future in our meetings and conversations every day. What can we do to increase the likelihood that we’re creating a future that we all want? We can start by talking more constructively and productively about what matters to us all.After decades of advising groups in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, process design and facilitation expert Mary V. Gelinas has integrated her best knowledge of brain and behavioral sciences, mindful awareness, and effective process to create Talk Matters! Her eight essential practices offer us ways to avoid getting hijacked by our survival instincts, engage with people who differ from us, and open ourselves, our businesses, and our communities to real, lasting change. As she explains, good process can help us work better together to do good things for the world.In this highly readable and accessible book, Gelinas uses real-world examples to illustrate the practices that can help you start achieving life-serving results in your interactions as a leader, participant, or facilitator today.

“Gelinas provides a deeply optimistic and pragmatic perspective for dealing with the complex challenges of our time. If you are seeking a practical source of hope and guidance to make a difference, this book is for you. Whether at home, in community, or at work, be prepared to be energized and equipped to lead the way in facing intractable challenges.”

— Peggy Holman, author of Engaging Emergence and co-author of The Change Handbook

“Mary Gelinas has written a very important and useful book on how to create more effective conversations and meetings using principles of cutting-edge neuroscience and the timeless wisdom of mindfulness. Essential reading for anyone concerned with building bridges across differences to find better solutions for us all.”

— M. J. Ryan, author of This Year I Will . . . and How to Survive Change . . . You Didn’t Ask For