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Effective difficult conversations : a step-by-step guide / Catherine B. Soehner and Ann Darling.

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublisher: Chicago : ALA Editions, an imprint of the American Library Association, 2017Copyright date: ©2017Description: xiv, 111 pages : illustrations ; 23 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9780838914953 (softcover : alk. paper)
  • 0838914950 (softcover : alk. paper)
Subject(s):
Contents:
Difficult conversations defined -- Getting clear -- Gathering resources -- Clarifying the message -- During the conversation -- You're not finished until you write it up -- Keep up the good work -- Co-workers -- A brief note about change management -- Managing up : how to have difficult conversations with your boss.
Summary: "In an information landscape where change is the status quo, difficult conversations come with the territory. Being a library leader means knowing how to confidently steer these conversations so that they lead to productive results instead of hurt feelings, resentment, or worse. Employees in a library will also encounter conflict, especially during times of change. Using a step-by-step process, this book walks readers through learning the skills to have effective difficult conversations that hold themselves and others accountable. Practice activities throughout the book will help readers feel prepared beforehand. After reading this book, library directors, managers, administrators, and team leaders will feel empowered to proactively identify situations that require an intervention in order to: avoid unnecessary complications or confrontations down the line; prepare for and initiate a difficult conversation, balancing a clear message with compassion to successfully manage change or handle personnel issues; diffuse volatile emotions by maintaining a calm, measured approach; and follow up a difficult conversation in writing, keeping the lines of communication open to ensure a way forward. Illustrated with real-world examples of both successful and unsuccessful difficult conversations, this book will serve as an important leadership tool for handling change and conflicts in the library workplace"--Publisher's website.
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library NonFiction 023.9 S681 Available 33111008798742
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Libraries are experiencing more change than ever before. Conflict is bound to happen during any change process, whether the change is organization-wide or involves a single individual. Additionally, librarians often take leadership positions without the necessary preparation to lead change and many new professionals are unwilling to consider leadership in their institutions because they know that such positions require conducting difficult conversations. The ability to hold an effective difficult conversation is one of the key skills of a successful leader especially in this time of rapid change. Holding an effective difficult conversation is tricky. The emotions of the people involved can be unpredictable and balancing a clear message with compassion takes planning and perseverance. Most importantly, following up a difficult conversation with a written description of the agreements reached during the conversation is imperative for moving forward. This book will provide readers with a step-by-step process to gain the skills needed to have effective difficult conversations that hold themselves and others accountable. Activities throughout the book will encourage practicing skills to learn the concepts in more depth prior to an actual conversation.

After reading this book, readers will be able to:

Identify conversations that need their intervention in order to avoid unnecessary conversations. Successfully prepare for and implement a difficult conversation in order to effectively manage change and handle personnel issues. Understand the importance of follow up in order to effect change and hold employees accountable. Improve their ability to handle conflicts in the workplace.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 103-104) and index.

Difficult conversations defined -- Getting clear -- Gathering resources -- Clarifying the message -- During the conversation -- You're not finished until you write it up -- Keep up the good work -- Co-workers -- A brief note about change management -- Managing up : how to have difficult conversations with your boss.

"In an information landscape where change is the status quo, difficult conversations come with the territory. Being a library leader means knowing how to confidently steer these conversations so that they lead to productive results instead of hurt feelings, resentment, or worse. Employees in a library will also encounter conflict, especially during times of change. Using a step-by-step process, this book walks readers through learning the skills to have effective difficult conversations that hold themselves and others accountable. Practice activities throughout the book will help readers feel prepared beforehand. After reading this book, library directors, managers, administrators, and team leaders will feel empowered to proactively identify situations that require an intervention in order to: avoid unnecessary complications or confrontations down the line; prepare for and initiate a difficult conversation, balancing a clear message with compassion to successfully manage change or handle personnel issues; diffuse volatile emotions by maintaining a calm, measured approach; and follow up a difficult conversation in writing, keeping the lines of communication open to ensure a way forward. Illustrated with real-world examples of both successful and unsuccessful difficult conversations, this book will serve as an important leadership tool for handling change and conflicts in the library workplace"--Publisher's website.

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