Powerful Conversations: How High-Impact Leaders Communicate

Customer Reviews

Anyone who is sufficiently motivated to read this book will no doubt be already aligned with the basic philosophy of trust, openness, honesty, and clarity. The challenge lies in implementing such a philosophy. No doubt Harkins takes a more practical approach in his corporate training programme, and it would be a very large and expensive book if it were to contain such a programme in full. However, I find it frustrating that Harkins spends far more time explaining â??whyâ?? than he does explaining â??how.â?? Some methodology is woven into the text, but on the whole, the presentation focuses largely on principles and attitudes.

All of these elements, of course, provide a necessary foundation for any system â?" after all, rote behaviours are largely unsustainable â?" but there is also a need for clear directives on the progressive action steps that need to be taken. The book must serve exceedingly well as a door opener for corporate clients, but the owner/operator of a small business will not find definitive steps that he or she could progressively implement from the book alone. I should add that I am not advocating the rigid â??paint-by-numbersâ?? formula that some other motivational books follow.

What I most question is Harkins' representation of â??trustâ?? as a primary focus, rather than as an outcome of deliberate process. Trust, far from being a subjective quality only, is an objective competency that employees as well as their leaders must progressively develop as well as demonstrate. For example, in his book, â??Leadership,â?? Rudolph Giuliani describes the functioning of his mayoral team with great frankness. In so doing, he demonstrates clearly how trust is not assumed at the beginning; it is developed over time and established through frank and honest appraisal of each team memberâ??s verbal and practical input. I miss this in Harkins' book.

I have nevertheless reserved a place for â??Powerful Conversationsâ?? on my bookshelves. But to round out Harkins' perspective, I have added books like Rudolph Giulianiâ??s â??Leadership,â?? Jim Loehrâ??s & Tony Swartzâ??s â??The Power of Full Engagement,â?? Dorothy Leedsâ?? â??The 7 Powers of Questionsâ?? and Meryl Steinem Runionsâ?? â??Power Phrases.â?? Together, they make a mighty team.

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