Workstorming: Why conversations at work go wrong, and how to fix them

by Rob Kendall

Whatever your job you need to communicate with others, as even when your intentions are sound, the impact of a bad conversation can be highly destructive. If people in your work community form a negative opinion of you, they stop properly listening. Rob explains how and why your career success can depend so much on good communication at work. Each chapter is short and self-contained, focusing on a specific topic with clear steps for action and a key lesson. As in Blamestorming, there is a cast of characters placed in a variety of situations in which they experience conversations go wrong. Using five simple 'warning signs' to watch out for Rob explains how the characters could change the way they speak and listen in order to achieve a positive outcome.

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2016

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. This is probably the best book I have ever won. It is full of useful, practical, and insight tips about how to communicate better at work (and I would argue, in life in general).

I have been negligent about completing this review because this is the kind of book that you have to read carefully, and then want to share, and then start to implement before you move on to the next chapter. I have been so impressed by the content that I ordered this book for my officemates.

I hope if you have ever looked for a book to improve your communication skills, you will pick this up. It is easy to read and in a fun and intuitive format. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

[Hanum Hapsari · Rating 4 out of 5]

People are sometimes eager to achieve the highest GPA in universities to get or create a job or anything. This situation sometimes pushes people to forget about other skills. The fact is that our system creates GPA as a standard requirement in the beginning of an employment requirement process.

At least, not all people realize that conversation is also a skill that you need to master in your life not only to work but also to survive in this messy world.

Rob, the book's author, is not a millennial (who is blamed for jumping from one career into another career in a short period). However, he has changed his career over the time in multiple countries with 25+ years experience working in an international atmosphere. He explains comprehensively with many example cases on why conversations at work go wrong and how to fix them. There are 18 chapters that explain about it. He also wrote about how to be mindful in professional ways, for example in replying email with mindful responses through several steps such as involving your rational brain, restoring the pauses, and choosing your channel.