This book by Kathryn Mannix shares her healthcare experience in palliative medicine of how to handle conversations tenderly.
Introduction
Communicating is a core skill for any occupational safety and health professional. Within our work there will be ‘difficult’ or ‘challenging’ conversations, perhaps as part of an investigation, or as part of changing work practices or business culture. And, of course, we all need to have serious, sorrowful, or emotional conversations in our personal lives.
In the words of the author: “the skills involved in important conversations are nuanced and layered…. this is an invitation to notice and expand a skill-set that we all possess”.
This easy-to-read book is packed with advice and suggestions on how to structure and enable tender conversations. It uses relatable case studies to illustrate the principles of communication.
Content
The book summarises with a helpful ‘listening style guide’. It provides a wealth of reflections to enhance and expand a skill set that we all possess and however experienced, can benefit from reflecting upon. It addresses far wider areas than the obvious competency framework competencies around communication: communicating effectively and active listening. It provides the opportunity for personal reflection upon self-awareness, empathy, collaboration and negotiation.
It develops the concept of listening – to understand, via using curious questions and by using silence. There are sections dedicated to planning for such conversations – ‘getting started’, through to ‘finishing safely’. It includes tips and techniques for managing emotion during conversations as well as dealing with confrontation to achieve consensus.
Evaluation
On a personal note, I was disappointed that I’d finished it – I have pages of notes and have even drawn diagrams of the concepts the book contains around the edge of the monitor as helpful reminders of the messages it contains. I will definitely be revisiting this book!
This book was reviewed by IOSH magazine's book club review team
If you have a book review suggestion, please email [email protected]
