James D. Showkeir, Maren S. Showkeir

Authentic Conversations (eBook, ePUB)

Moving from Manipulation to Truth and Commitment

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

In this groundbreaking new book, the Showkeirs take something people typically think of as merely functional-ordinary conversations-and show the power they have to create, sustain, and change the very nature of workplace culture. Conversations can lead to an engaged and energized workforce, or to one that is alienated and uninspired. If you want to change the culture you must change the conversations. All too often workplace conversations-between managers and direct reports, peer-to-peer, or with external stakeholders- create parent-child relationships. People hide facts, sugarcoat reality and claim helplessness to try to control interactions and get what they want. The Showkeirs expose the destructiveness of these manipulative conversations, and demonstrate how we can move to honest and authentic interactions that create adult relationships. By intentionally and thoughtfully changing conversations, organizations will engender increased commitment, true accountability, and improved workplace performance. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience as organizational consultants, their book offers examples of parent-child and adult-adult workplace conversations in a variety of settings, circumstances and industries. They also provide a hands-on guide, including sample scripts, for dealing with a host of potentially difficult conversations. Authentic Conversations goes to the heart of why so many people today are disengaged, uninspired, and uncommitted to their organization's success. It challenges the conventional wisdom about managing people and sets out specific, concrete ways to consciously make conversations the primary driver for change.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
• Seitenzahl: 209
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. September 2008
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781605096933
• Artikelnr.: 38329996

Autorenporträt

James and Maren Showkeir are principals of henning-showkeir & associates, inc., whose clients include 3M, Ford Motor Company, Kaiser Permanente, British Airways, Coca-Cola, Hewlett-Packard, Levi Strauss, the Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership, and the Nature Conservancy.

Inhaltsangabe

DEDICATION
FOREWORD by Margaret J. Wheatley
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION The Dangerous Book for Adults
CHAPTER 1 Revolutionary Conversations for Results
CHAPTER 2 Relationships That Don t Work at Work
CHAPTER 3 The Myth of Holding Others Accountable
CHAPTER 4 You Can t Make All the 4th Graders Happy
CHAPTER 5 Hostages to Disappointment
CHAPTER 6 Change the Conversation, Change the Culture
CHAPTER 7 Moving from Manipulation to Engagement
CHAPTER 8 Stop Courting the Cynic
CHAPTER 9 Cutting the Ties That Bind
CHAPTER 10 Declaration of Interdependence
CHAPTER 11 Open Season Remove the Camouflage!
CONCLUSION Starting the Revolution
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO AUTHENTIC Conversations
Suggestions for Getting Started
Facing a Difficult Issue
Seeking an Exception
Proposing Change
Introducing a Mandate
Renegotiating an Established Relationship
Initiating Endings
Dealing with Individual Performance
A Radical Performance-Appraisal Approach
Creating Your Own Authentic Conversations
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
NOTES
INDEX
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
ABOUT henning-Showkeir & associates, inc.

Rezensionen

After thirty-five years working in newspapers and nine more as a school readiness advocate, I wished I had read this book decades ago. It would have helped so much. Its basic theme of honest, respectful conversations is the answer to so much in business and in life.
David Lawrence Jr., President, The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, and retired publisher, The Miami Herald

The Showkeirs have written a book that gives us the tools for conversations that can help us create a shared purpose and the future we hope for. This authentic approach is essential not only for business results but for any conversation that is important to you.
Nancy Light, Senior Associate Director of Philanthropy, The Nature Conservancy, Maine Chapter

This book is for everyone, from the CEO to the everyday employee, who is serious about working in an organization in which every person has a deep personal commitment to the success of the business. The concepts and practical steps outlined in this book are easy to under- stand and are a genuine source of sustainable competitive advantage. This book offers us hope.
Jim Burke, Regional Director of Human Resources, Asia Pacific, Watson Wyatt Worldwide

If you believe that conversations change the world and if you have a passion for organizations that work, you will want this book. This book has the combination of relevance, inspiration, and actionable steps that I seek in books.
John Schuster, Principal, Schuster Kane Alliance, and author of The Power of Open-Book Management and Answering Your Call

This book is about sharing the truth with each other in ways that build effective relationships and improve business results. It is not a fairy tale but an honest, hard-hitting book. And it s not just for lead- ers or managers it is for everyone in your organization. If you want to compete successfully in the world marketplace, you need Authentic Conversations.
Dr. Kent M. Keith, CEO, Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, and author of Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments

I can t remember the last time I was this excited about a book on corporate cultures and leadership. Authentic Conversations gets to the heart of what is really going on in organizations, presents persuasive business reasons for change, and puts forth a proven strategy to get on with unleashing the organization s buried and dormant core potential. It left me wanting more.
Patrick J. Banks, PhD, President, Banks International, LLC

The Showkeirs take on using conversations for cultural transformation is refreshing and eminently logical. They challenge much of the conventional wisdom about managing people. This book teaches us how to intrinsically inspire individuals to choose to succeed.
Bob Gremillion, Executive Vice President, Tribune Publishing Company

The Showkeirs new book envisions organizations where employees treat each other as business partners, colleagues, and trusted advisors, allowing the wisdom of the organization to emerge. For leaders ready to share power in order to build an organization that is stronger, more responsive, more flexible, and more focused on serving customers, this book is a field manual for changing cultures. It is a must read.
Melvin D. Dowdy, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Organizational Excellence, Bon Secours Richmond Health System

Authentic Conversations is one of the most important books I ve read in years. It makes a compelling case for the great benefits both for people and for organizations that can come from engaging in true conversation.
Larry C. Spears, President and CEO, The Spears Center for Servant-Leadership, Inc.

Authentic Conversations gives us a chance to renew and revive a lost art and essential foundational element so our society can be viable. Additionally, this book gives us models for how to have conversations for those who have never been exposed to an authentic conversation.
Corwin Harper, Senior Vice President/Area Manager, Kaiser Permanente