Art of Focused Conversation: 100 Ways to Access Group Wisdom in the Workplace - Softcover

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R. Brian Stanfield was an inspired leader, who spent years helping others to become the same. As well as his decades of experience as an educator and researcher, he held the position of Director of Publications at the Canadian Institute of Cultural Affairs for many years. Brian was the author of 5 books focusing on the qualities required for successful progressive leadership and group facilitation, including The Workshop Book,The Art of Focused Conversation and The Courage to Lead.

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The Art of Focused Conversation 100 Ways to Access Group Wisdom in the Workplace

"At its essence, every organization is a product of how its members think and interact." Senge, Kleiner, Roberts, Ross and Smith, The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook

Besieged by information overload and seduced by knowledge from books, tapes, and the Internet, many people―especially in their work lives―suffer the tyranny of data, feeling the loss in the form of the fragmentation and alienation of their relations with one another. More and more, people appear to have forgotten the value of wisdom gained by ordinary conversations.

But, at different times in history, conversation has been regarded as an art form―a crucial component of human relations. Conversation has the power to solve a problem, heal a wound, generate commitment, bond a team, generate new options, or build a vision. Conversations can shift working patterns, build friendships, create focus and energy, cement resolve.

The Art of Focused Conversation: 100 Ways to Access Group Wisdom in the Workplace convincingly restores this most human of attributes to prime place within businesses and organizations. It describes the conversation method, and then provides 100 sample conversations designed for use in many different situations, such as reviewing, evaluating, planning, coaching, mentoring, data interpretation, decision-making, managing and supervising, reflection and celebration. It is an invaluable resource for all those working to improve organizational communications.

"This book has served me so well in my new job. I can't tell you the many times I have pulled the book off the shelf to get some direction in creating my own questions. It has been a great asset in helping me have meaningful and directed conversations at a critical time in my new job. And has saved me precious time. Great Book!"
Marlene Lockwood, Group Leader, St. Helen's Hospital, Deer Park, California, USA

"This book is absolutely fabulous. I started it last night, used a whole bunch of stuff I found in it in my workshop today. I love this book. It is a must-have for every facilitator in the world. If I won the lottery, I would mail one to every member of the International Facilitators Association (IAF) as a benefit. This book is without a doubt, the book of the year."
Margaret Runchey, Editor, IAF Facilitation News, Palm Springs Gardens, Florida, USA