TESTIMONIALS


"Review by Anne Heathcote"


A new look at what every leader needs to know about controllingemotions, relating dialoging, negotiating, and braking free of being hostage to the past or to one current environment. This book is a pratctical masterpiece.

Jim Allen, M.D. Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, President, International Transactional Analysis Association and author.


Hostage at the Table is a "breakthrough" book for all those who practice and teach conflict management and conflict resolution. Through his practical and highly relevant experience as hostage negotiator with the Police department in Ohio, Dr. Kohlrieser has created a wonderful metaphor which helps to understand why many times we become a hostage of our past and of our own perceptions. This very valuable book is insightful, easy to read and highly motivational. As a Management Professor in Germany and a certified coach I am already using Dr. Kohlrieser's book with top executives and my clients. Hostage at the Table is already a "classical" in management development education. Every coach must read Dr. Kohlrieser's book

Dr. Francisco Szekely, Adjunct Professor of Responsible Leadership. European School of Management and Technology, Germany. And former Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural resources of Mexico.


George Kohlrieser understands the brain. Hostage at the Table is packed with wonderful insights into how your mind works....in business and in life. It is a readable book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. George has a gift for making the complex clear and easy to understand. He has connected up some very important dots regarding leadership and the brain. Chapter 2 is worth the price of the book alone! I am giving a copy to each of our kids.

Terry Small, President The Terry Small Learning Corporation.


Let’s face it – from time to time we allow ourselves becoming a hostage in everyday situations. George Kohlrieser’s book offers inspiring insights which can fundamentally change the way you interact with people in your organization, your family and ultimately yourself.

Marc Bitzer, President, Whirlpool Europe, Executive Vice President, Whirlpool Corporation.


Kudos to Kohlrieser! If you are a leader or truly interested in developing leaders in your organization, Hostage at the Table is a must read! In clear and compelling words, Kohlrieser addresses the missing dimension in leadership development -the art and science of bonding. On each page Kohlrieser unpacks dynamic principles about leadership interaction, bonding and how to managing emotions and enhances each principle with some rather poignant narratives from the world of a hostage negotiator. I drained two pens underlying and marking up this book. Every leader ought to have this book in their library.

David VanderMolen, "Leader n' Reader", West Michigan.


If a dangerous criminal was demanding a one-way ticket to Venezuela as he threatened to blow your brains out, the person you would most want to see coming onto the scene is author George Kohlrieser. A psychologist and veteran hostage negotiator who has diffused explosive situations around the globe, Kohlrieser now applies his knowledge, motivational insights and techniques to the business world. He contends that conflict resolution is not difficult if you understand how human self-esteem operates. The basic negotiating principles he presents may have been noted in other psychology and business management texts, but Kohlrieser's credibility and unique approach give his ideas an added kick. For example, he uses real-life hostage negotiations to illustrate his points. We think you'll find that this whole package is definitely a nonnegotiable demand.

Rolf Dobelli, Lucerne, Switzerland.


This book is a masterpiece in terms both of content and reader friendliness! It is a distillation of the wisdom from an extraordinary, life long, experience of the author, on countless business - and not only - leadership settings, practically in any part of the world.
The reader will be walked through "an emotional experience that will stimulate his heart, mind and spirit", so that - in a unique practical way - will be taken to "new places in his personal and professional life". He will understand (1) the power of the mind's eye (the way we view the world - "weltanschaung"), (2) the primary need ("just like air, food and water") of a secure base ("never to be left without one!") that results from bonding to other people and from bonding to stimulating concepts (goals, countries, objects, beliefs, religions...) and (3) the art of conflict resolution (through effective dialogue, negotiations and E.Q. management). Based on the above ideas, Professor George Kohlrieser is showing to all of us how to live with a "hostage-free state of mind" and to achieve high performance in our lives and our corporations. George concludes: "Take time to reclaim yourself and decide to be who you want to be. Live life as an adventure, a journey, and view it as an opportunity to learn, to contribute, to grow every minute, every hour, every day. Accept the tremendous power that is within you, and, with humility, make the choices that you want in order to enable your life to be fulfilling with a hostage-free state of mind". Personally, I would like to express publicly my sincere gratitude for the opportunity that I had to read this exceptional book. I have no other words but to recommend this book for everyone who wishes to become an effective leader for the benefit of his company, himself, his family, his friends and associates, and the world as a whole...

Emmanuel C. Kondylis, Ph.D., Professor of Strategic Leadership and Director:Management Unit & MBA Program, University of Piraeus (Greece), also Chairman:Tourist Development Company, S.A.


"George Kohlriesers outstanding book takes a thought-provoking, engaging and in-depth approach to key questions related to peak performance. An authentic source of insights for business leaders who are in search of potential and exellence in their organization."

Heinz Kaegi, emPower-Mentor, Author, Founder of Kaegi emPowerment Ltd.


A very practical, yet powerful book! As a teacher, conflict is a part of my daily occupation. Although I do not have the same obligations or situations as those employed in the 'business world', I believe your ideas of positive communication, mutual respect and emotional commitment are vital to being successful and helping others perform and succeed. I appreciated the many examples/stories at the beginning of the chapters and the reviews at the end. Your book has given me renewed energy and some very helpful tips for dealing with conflicts both at school and in my personal life. I've passed the book on to my husband who works in the business industry and faces a different kind of "hostage" in his company.

Molly Wolf, International School Teacher, Basel, Switzerland.


This very accessible book helps you to unchain your given talents and potentialities. In clear English Dr. Kohlrieser takes you for a journey that brings you to a mindset in which you realise how you can handle yourself much better and how you can live fruitfully with all the people around you. The real life anecdotes make the book thrilling and illustrate the meaning of the book. The underlying very rich human values thouched me deeply and have helped me to be a much better coach and management consultant. In my private live I am more energytic and involved as a father and husband.

Leo Kind, "Stategic Development Group", Breda, The Netherlands.


Many books make grandiose claims for "instant cures" or "life-changing results". I did not anticipate such a revolution in reading George Kohlrieser's book on managing conflict. And yet, what I acquired in these pages was so much more. I discovered a philosophy for life; fresh and inspiring truths that cut into my heart. Through an intriguing balance of teaching, real-life examples, stories and key questioning, George Kohlrieser challenged me to examine what is truly essential to optimise and reach my own personal potential. In my interactions with others he has given me practical guidelines to help create an authentic, challenging, creative and purposeful world through effective communication and dialogue.

Robyn Renaud, Switzerland.


I truly recommend this book as an eye-opener and guide to awaken us to a "hostage-free" state of mind. Using his experience as a hostage negotiator Professor Kohlrieser brings in a very clear and creative way to become aware of when we are psychologically held hostage and how to break free from that. I found the insights in this book truly helpful and full of deep wisdom. The "hostage-metaphor" is also a concept that one can easily keep in mind and act according to it when being confronted with situations in our every day lives. A must read not only for business leaders but for every person who wants to lead a self-determined and content life!

B. Patzner, Munich, Germany.


As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I highly recommend this groundbreaking book. The fascinating and memorable vignettes give a context for remembering the concepts when the therapist would need to apply them during a session. I also appreciate the "summary" and "key points to remember" at the end of each chapter. This allows for easy access to review the concepts presented. In order to be optimally effective, a therapist must maintain a "hostage-free state of mind." This book provides the perfect roadmap to achieve this level of mental focus when working with clients.

Deborah King, Marriage and Family Therapist, California.


George Kohlrieser's book gives powerful new insight into the dynamics of leadership. Resolving conflict using the hostage negotiation framework can help all of us make great strides in creating positive outcomes. The stories in the book provide high impact guidance for resolving conflicts and leading us all to achieve our true potential.

Jane A. Beseda, Toyota, Torrance, California.


Here is an outstanding book which unfolds deep and true components on how to move on with life into a powerful and free position. You will definitely benefit from this reading and by applying your learning from where you are at now, it will both change your life and impact directly and positively the people around you.
I have experienced being a hostage in a management position and have learnt some key principles explained in this book - yes these are real life examples and yes it happens every day to us all. Being aware of it is already half the way - Try it out for yourself.

Mounir Salib, Geneva, Switzerland.


Forget about this being a business book - this is a life book! I have been lucky enough to work with associates who have been familiar with Dr. Kohlrieser's philosophies of dealing with conflict.
I am currently dealing with several challenges in my life, and reading this book has allowed me to deal with those challenges and move to a "hostage free" state of mind. This book has made such an impact personally and professionally that I ordered 5 books for my brothers and several friends. I unfortunately ordered too few and I am now placing another order for 5 more.

Franklin R. Wilkins, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.