For the past 100 years, we've progressively dehumanized our places of work. We've learned to systemize, homogenize, and mechanize - all in the quest for greater efficiency and cost-saving. We've forgotten that the human being is the centre of work.

This book highlights the ten essential performance and development conversations leaders must have to restore human spirit at work. First, it explains the importance of cultivating an authentic workplace by resisting the dumbing down of work and respecting employee dignity. Second, it presents five developmental conversations, from coaching to relationship-building. Third, it outlines five performance conversations, from climate review to innovation.

An organization - any organization - is a group of people working together towards a common goal, but we tend to lose sight of this simple idea. Too often, human resources are lumped in with technological resources, administrative resources and financial resources. Managers become obsessed with processes, procedures and systems. Tim Baker provides leaders with a roadmap to bring the human being back to work.

1 The dumbing down of work

2 Human spirit and work
3 The concept of workplace of dignity
4 A lack of authentic conversations
5 Two task-focused pillars of authentic conversations
6 Three people-focused pillars of authentic conversations
7 Conversation #1 - The coaching conversation
8 Using G.R.O.W. for a better coaching conversation
9 Conversation #2 - The delegation conversation
10 Ten keys to a better delegation conversation
11 Conversation #3 - The visioning conversation
12 Visioning questions to ask
13 Conversation #4 - The encouraging conversation
14 Twelve powerful ways to engage or disengage people at work
15 Conversation #5 - The relationship building conversation
16 Five steps to relationship building conversations
17 Overview of the five conversations framework
18 Rationale and benefits of the five conversations framework
19 Conversation # 6 - The climate review conversation
20 Conversation # 7 - The strengths and talents conversation
21 Conversation # 8 - The opportunities for growth conversation
22 Conversation # 9 - The learning and development conversation
23 Conversation # 10 - The innovation and continuous improvement conversation.