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Time to Talk
Let's face it, some conversations with staff can be really challenging. Although we realise we should address the issues, we often procrastinate or hope they will go away before a discussion becomes an absolute necessity. When a team member's off-target performance for example or a staff member's lengthy sick leave, must be addressed before business results suffer. You'll be pleased to hear that help is at hand!
Kathy Catton has written Time to Talk to help busy managers make their workplaces more enjoyable through the conversations they have with their teams. Practical, easy-to-follow guidelines are provided for 20 common people-management topics to help ease those discussions and reduce procrastination. Each step-by-step approach with some top tips for success will make your work a more enjoyable experience, help your staff become more committed and increase their productivity.
Time to Talk differs from many management and business guidebooks, in that it is also a work of art with superb motivational images and quotes to keep both managers and staff focused and inspired. Time to Talk folds into a desk-top aide that can be used in 1:1 and group meetings. You can view the text page most suited to the conversation having, whilst staff on the other side of the desk will see a beautiful scenic image with a motivational quote.
Here's a recent example of Time to Talk being put to good effect. Joe needed to give feedback to his staff member Rebecca, about speaking very loudly on the telephone in a small office shared with two others. He consulted his copy of Time to Talk and identified that preparing for the conversation was key. He thought about how he was going to open the discussion and how he would deal with Rebecca's reaction to the feedback. He noted specific occasions of the behaviour, so that he could describe the current problem by giving specific examples and their impact. During the conversation Joe was clear and explicit about what needed to change, and as non-judgemental as possible. After the meeting he followed-up, to ensure Rebecca was feeling positive about what she needed to do differently.
The key with difficult conversations is to be brave and practise success. (No one becomes fit by going to the gym just once). Time to Talk makes practice easy. It's a well-written, very practical day-to-day guide to help you stand out from the crowd of mediocre managers and become a great manager. Great managers make a great difference!
Manager and Business Owner Nikki Gardner, says about Time to Talk: "I think of this as a living book! It sits on my desk and whenever I need some help having those difficult HR conversations, I flip over the beautiful images and find the text page most suited to my current HR issue. It's full of simple and practical steps to demystify the world of HR and help me get the best out of my people."
Time to Talk: Making the workplace more enjoyable through the conversations you have with your team - by Kathy Catton. Guide and desk art, 23pp, A5 format, wiro bound, full colour throughout. ISBN 978-0-473-12104-4.
Published by Mighty Knowledge International Ltd. (MKI) 2007.
Available from www.fishpond.co.nz @ $NZ$33.21 per copy (1-3 copies), plus P&P.
Contact the author for volume discounts or customized copies.Select and contact a Mentor if you'd like to discuss these ideas or want support to make progress with your own issues.
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