5 Conversations: How to transform trust, engagement and performance at work

Research shows that successful businesses are those where employees are really engaged. How do they achieve this? Complex organisation initiatives or something more personal? In today’s world of work, with all its jargon, processes, KPIs and technology we have forgotten a simple truth: the power of authentic, two-way, human conversations. This book, now in its 2nd edition, comes from over 30 years of learning from world-class organisations, tried-and-tested leadership coaching techniques and emergent thinking on neuroscience and employee behaviour. The result is a simple guide to why, when and how to hold five critical conversations with people you manage, which have been proven to dramatically improve trust, relationships, motivation and performance at work.

Table of Contents:
Praise for 5 Conversations Acknowledgements Foreword Preface CHAPTER 1 Leadership is relationship CHAPTER 2 Why do conversations matter – the business case CHAPTER 3 Why do conversations matter – the scientific evidence CHAPTER 4 Getting ready to hold the conversations CHAPTER 5 Conversation 1 – Establishing a trusting relationship CHAPTER 6 Conversation 2 – Agreeing mutual expectations CHAPTER 7 Conversation 3 – Showing genuine appreciation CHAPTER 8 Conversation 4 – Challenging unhelpful behaviour CHAPTER 9 Conversation 5 – Building for the future CHAPTER 10 Other ways to use 5 Conversations 5 Conversations in action CHAPTER 11 Conclusion APPENDIX Conversation Toolkits Bibliography About the authors Nick Cowley Nigel Purse

About the Author :
Nick has such a wealth of experience in major corporations that it made a 2nd edition of this book essential. Before joining The Oxford Group in 1994, his career included roles with British Airways, Bayer AG and Whitbread in operational management, HR/L&D and Organisational Development across Europe and the Middle East. Nick gained corporate expertise in leading international projects, participating in M&A activity and significant organisational change programmes, as well as designing and implementing learning and development architecture. As a Director of The Oxford Group, he has responsibility for acquiring and growing client relationships over the long-term and works as a Consultant and Executive Coach. In 2013, Nick led the development of The Oxford Group’s 5 Conversations programme, the concept from which this book was created. Nigel is an experienced facilitator, writer and speaker whose passion lies in developing management and leadership capability in both new and senior leaders in organisations worldwide. He was most recently the Chairman and Director of The Oxford Group, which he co-founded in 1987 following a career in HR and business management with the Mars Corporation and Burmah Oil. Under Nigel’s leadership The Oxford Group grew from its roots as a small company specialising in behavioural assessment to a global consultancy providing leadership and management development as well as executive coaching. In 2013, Nigel was instrumental in the development and launch of the 5 Conversations programme and today he continues to research, write and speak on a variety of leadership topics.

Review :
The principles behind 5 Conversations are exactly the same as those applied in the British Olympic Rowing Team to help us build strong teams and win Olympic Gold medals For too long, we have attempted to separate the rational from the emotional in organisational decision making. We now know this is not how our brains work and that we have therefore been failing to connect fully with the people who are the backbone of any organisation. This book demonstrates how to combine our ability to think both emotionally and rationally through conversations, encouraging leaders to use their whole brain and providing lots of practical examples of how to do this. I strongly recommend that you read this book to discover how to encourage trusting relationships and foster cooperation in your workplace. This is a crucial and absolutely practical book. It understands the nature of how vital the attachment emotion of trust is in organisations, without which no leader can engage the energies of the best people pulling in the same direction. If you are genuinely interested in creating a more engaged workforce, this book is a must-read. 5 conversations is chock-full of pragmatic examples that both inform and instruct. For too long we have compartmentalised our work relationships and ignored our basic humanity in the workplace – this book has reminded us of the importance of these relationships and the conversations that develop them. Highly readable, practical and relevant for public and private sectors alike, 5 Conversations draws us back to the origins of communication and teaches us of the simple power of honest and authentic conversations for driving organisational engagement and performance. Read this book, and never fear a sabre-toothed tiger again. You would struggle to find conversations that are more important than those that are so expertly explored in this book. 5 Conversations offers a powerful and practical set of strategies for getting to the heart of workplace performance. 5 Conversations demonstrates not only the power that quality conversations can have in the professional workspace for leaders, peers and employees alike – but also how much personal confidence and satisfaction can be gained from the art of good conversation – something that can be easily lost in our era of mobile, email and internet. This book is a great idea. It is the first time I’ve seen very simple and so powerful things said about management: talking about “simply being human” or about “courage” and “curiosity about others”, which brings us back to what management really is: interaction between human beings! Something that most managers have a tendency to forget! Much of this book really resonates with how we operate – leadership is THE key enabler for success. This book is a practical guide for leaders in how they can evolve and develop the skills and approaches necessary for personal and organisational success.