Words That Work In Business: A Practical Guide to Effective Communication in the Workplace (Nonviolent Communication Guides)

“Words That Work In Business offers refreshing, practical tools like ‘practice pauses,’ and relevant clear examples to confront age-old workplace issues like gossip, employment termination, and unproductive meetings that make your eyes roll back into your head. Learn how to transform ‘enemy images’ into connected dialogue through self-empathy, silent empathy, out-loud honesty, and compassionate listening. If you want to increase your enjoyment of the workplace and enliven meetings by connecting with yourself and others, I would highly recommend this book.” —SYLVIA HASKVITZ, M.A., R.D., Dean, Integrated ClarityTM Educational Services, Elucity Network, Inc. and author, Eat by Choice, Not by Habit Do you wish for more respectful work relationships? To move beyond gossip and power struggles to improved trust and productivity? If you've ever wondered if just one person can positively affect work relationships and company culture, regardless of your position, this book offers a resounding "yes". The key is shifting how we think, and talk. Mediator, Ike Lasater, offers practical communication skills matched with recognizable work scenarios to help anyone address the most common workplace relationship challenges. Learn proven communication skills to: * Enjoy your workday more * Effectively handle difficult conversations * Reduce workplace conflict and stress * Improve individual and team productivity * Be more effective at meetings * Give and receive meaningful feedback Table of contents: Chapter 1: How to Begin * Silent NVC practices * Becoming aware of blocking connection * Using self-empathy--recognizing your triggers * Using silent empathy--understanding * Your co-workers Chapter 2: The learning cycle * Celebrating progress, mourning mistakes * Celebrating and mourning in NVC * Putting the learning cycle into daily practice Chapter 3: Practice * Building confidence and competence * Practicing silent skills * Practicing out loud skills * Making agreements to practice NVC * Taking the time you need Chapter 4: Powerful requests * Asking for what you want * Recognizing typical patterns in unclear requests * Getting clear on making clear requests * Helping others formulate clear requests Chapter 5: Suggestions for addressing common workplace communication challenges * Recognizing enemy images * Handling difficult conversations * Addressing humor in the workplace * Challenging prejudice in the workplace * Contributing to effective meetings * Navigating power differentials * Responding when colleagues complain * Giving feedback and evaluations * Sharing common work areas * Mediating broken agreements * Answering email * Transforming the end of employment Conclusion Addressing the most common workplace relationship challenges, this manual shows how to use the principles of nonviolent communication to improve the workplace atmosphere. Offering practical tools that match recognizable work scenarios, this guide can help all employees positively affect their work relationships and company culture, regardless of their position. This handbook displays proven communication skills for effectively handling difficult conversations, reducing workplace conflict and stress, improving individual and team productivity, having more effective meetings, and giving and receiving meaningful feedback, thereby creating a more enjoyable work environment. Addressing the most common workplace relationship challenges, this manual shows how to use the principles of non-violent communication to improve the workplace atmosphere. Offering practical tools that match recognisable work scenarios, this guide can help all employees positively affect their work relationships and company culture, regardless of their position. This handbook displays proven communication skills for effectively handling difficult conversations, reducing workplace conflict and stress, improving individual and team productivity, having more effective meetings, and giving and rec Addressing some of the most common workplace relationship challenges, this manual shows how to use the principles of non-violent communication to improve the workplace atmosphere.