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Let's Talk Culture: The conversations you need to create the team you want
Packed with research-based insights from leading workplaces, Let’s Talk Culture is the how-to guide for people leaders who want to shape a world-class team culture by design.
Successful leaders and organizations know that culture is the unseen advantage of world-class teams. But can it be influenced? And what role do managers play in building and shaping it? Author and expert in leader communication, Shane Michael Hatton, says the research suggests it can be influenced and that the people leader plays a crucial role – but it all starts with effective communication.
Based on extensive research with people leaders on the ground, Let’s Talk Culture reveals the five practical conversations people leaders need to have to design a world-class team culture within their organzation. An easy-to-understand guide for future culture champions, this book will give you the tools to build a team that attracts and retains your top talent, confidently address cultural inconsistencies in the workplace and meaningfully reward the behaviors that strengthen your team culture.
Successful leaders and organizations know that culture is the unseen advantage of world-class teams. But can it be influenced? And what role do managers play in building and shaping it? Author and expert in leader communication, Shane Michael Hatton, says the research suggests it can be influenced and that the people leader plays a crucial role – but it all starts with effective communication.
Based on extensive research with people leaders on the ground, Let’s Talk Culture reveals the five practical conversations people leaders need to have to design a world-class team culture within their organzation. An easy-to-understand guide for future culture champions, this book will give you the tools to build a team that attracts and retains your top talent, confidently address cultural inconsistencies in the workplace and meaningfully reward the behaviors that strengthen your team culture.
264 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2022
17 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 25, 2023
As a new manager in a workplace with a toxic culture, I was severely aware of the effects of a bad culture on employees, and wanted to try and improve this from within my own team. This book lays culture out very simply and clearly and has some great steps to follow to ensure a positive workplace culture. I particularly like the summaries at the end of each chapter, I know as my small team starts to grow that I will refer back to these chapter summaries for ongoing tips and advice to apply as my workplace culture changes. Highly recommend this book to all people leaders, no matter their current workplace culture.
September 24, 2022
Culture is an integral element of every organisation, and plays a critical role in the engagement, performance and retention of staff. The deliberate creation of a strong organisational culture is an unseen competitive advantage, making it clear what it takes to belong within the organisation, and helping to attract and retain the right people. However, the role of the leadership team, middle management and team leaders in developing and promoting a positive culture is not always well understood. In the research for Let’s Talk Culture, half of the respondents believe that culture ‘just happens’ and cannot be influenced. Shane’s intent in sharing his expertise is to show not only how much can be achieved when leaders set out to build a strong organisational culture, but also to give his readers a clear blue-print on how to go about it.
The tone of Let’s Talk Culture is engaging, and I found it a very easy read. It is clearly and logically laid out, with plenty of stories and examples to illustrate the points that Shane is making. I particularly enjoyed the ‘Culture Conversation’ exercises at the end of each chapter. Each set of questions links to the ideas in the chapter, and are designed to be used in team meetings in order to start deliberately building a positive culture.
Another tool which I know will be very useful in my day to day role is the step by step guide to difficult or challenging conversations. Delivering tough feedback is one which all people leaders have to do at some point in their careers. Shane has provided us with a step by step guide for preparing, having, and then following up on the conversation. There is even a handy one page flow chart for ready reference.
Using lessons from other organisations, Let’s Talk Culture provides plenty of ideas to try, including ways of keeping culture top of mind that don’t involve posters on a wall, and ways to recognise and celebrate team members who demonstrate the team or organisational culture.
Let’s Talk Culture is one of those books that I wish I’d had when I started in a managerial position. With a blend of stories, research, and practical exercises, it is a fantastic resource for any manager’s toolkit. It has been written for aspiring, new and experienced people leaders, with an emphasis on what leaders can do to develop both team culture as well as organisational. It is clear that this is a book that is intended to be sitting on a manager’s desk as a well-thumbed, practical tool.
The tone of Let’s Talk Culture is engaging, and I found it a very easy read. It is clearly and logically laid out, with plenty of stories and examples to illustrate the points that Shane is making. I particularly enjoyed the ‘Culture Conversation’ exercises at the end of each chapter. Each set of questions links to the ideas in the chapter, and are designed to be used in team meetings in order to start deliberately building a positive culture.
Another tool which I know will be very useful in my day to day role is the step by step guide to difficult or challenging conversations. Delivering tough feedback is one which all people leaders have to do at some point in their careers. Shane has provided us with a step by step guide for preparing, having, and then following up on the conversation. There is even a handy one page flow chart for ready reference.
Using lessons from other organisations, Let’s Talk Culture provides plenty of ideas to try, including ways of keeping culture top of mind that don’t involve posters on a wall, and ways to recognise and celebrate team members who demonstrate the team or organisational culture.
Let’s Talk Culture is one of those books that I wish I’d had when I started in a managerial position. With a blend of stories, research, and practical exercises, it is a fantastic resource for any manager’s toolkit. It has been written for aspiring, new and experienced people leaders, with an emphasis on what leaders can do to develop both team culture as well as organisational. It is clear that this is a book that is intended to be sitting on a manager’s desk as a well-thumbed, practical tool.
July 5, 2022
Read this book at a very auspicious time, as my business was going through team value setting workshops. It's a really practical book with concrete examples which I really appreciated. A bit of philosophy and a lot of step by step. I don't often enjoy business books but would definitely recommend this one for anyone with an interest in workplace culture but especially for middle managers looking for a tool kit to these conversations with your team.
June 19, 2022
I love the tone and clarity of message in this essential leadership text. I've dog-eared too many pages to count, to take either inspirational/provocative phrases or the straight up practical conversation prompts and apply them to my organisation.
February 24, 2024
Excellent book on workplace culture!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews