Charles Duhigg‘s SUPERCOMMUNICATORS is a book that applies to everyone, regardless of title or profession. As a communications professional, I’m always eager to read books on the subject, and frequently bore friends and family with trivia-like tidbits of what I’ve learned. Get ready, friends and family: I made 25 pages of notes while reading this one.

Duhigg begins with one of my favorite quotes about communication:

“The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion it has taken place.” (George Bernard Shaw)

SUPERCOMMUNICATORS walks readers through essential skills for having conversations, with a special focus on difficult conversations. And, let’s be honest: in an increasingly polarized world, the chances of encountering a difficult conversation are growing daily. There are six over-arching tips that guide one’s path to becoming a “Supercommunicator”:

1. Paying attention to body AND voice helps us hear others better
2. HOW we ask a question sometimes matters more than WHAT we ask
3. It’s better to acknowledge social differences rather than pretend they don’t exist
4. Every discussion is influenced by emotion
5. When starting a dialogue, it helps to think of the discussion as a negotiation where the prize is figuring out what everyone wants
6. The most important goal of any conversation is to connect

Filled with real-world examples, sociological case studies, and practical tips, SUPERCOMMUNICATORS is, in my opinion, a must-read.