Richard Fox - Making Relationships Work at Work: A toolkit for getting more done with less stress

A review

Richard Fox in his new publication Making Relationships Work at Work A toolkit for getting more done with less stress is a useful and practical book for those who are looking to freshen up their work practices. There is also a bit of a clue in the title, its about helping all of us to be less stressed and more in tune with our colleagues, and able to make our work place a creative and productive space.

There are lots of practical examples of how things can go wrong that will appeal to anyone who is used to reflective learning. Dont we all know how organisations and meetings can be the worst experiences of our lives. Richard is utterly practical, and the solutions are equally grounded in actual experience. As he says, this is probably the first book that moves through the foundations to more detailed engagement around building effective relationships. What is obvious is that this book is written by a practitioner for practitioners. You get the question and the answer. If anything, there is too much ground covered. But it is clear that Richard is a mentor and coach, and this shines through the pages of the book. Gently encouraging here, guiding there, it is entirely focused on getting the reader through to the next stage.

I was particularly drawn to the section on home working as we have all had to learn new and exciting things about the strengths as well as the weaknesses of home working. Here I think Richard is on the cusp of something new and exciting. As we have all endured the early days of a pandemic, we have all had to adjust to new ways of being in community and new ways of communicating. The principles that Richard suggests throughout this book should enable us to begin working in refreshed, but different ways. We need to go back and re-examine the assumptions we have made about our colleagues, our workplace and our way of working. What will be the new new?

Who better to guide us through into new territory than someone who has spent a lifetime navigating new pastures and different contexts? As we move into an uncertain time of potentially significant change, we need the wise counsel and the steady hand of someone like Richard. Think of this book as a handy reference book that you can dip into when a new situation arises. Use it and reflect, then use it again. This book is a gift to come back to again and again.

Bob Fyffe

General Secretary, CTBI

Endorsements continued from the back cover

This book is very timely as making relationships work will be one of the key issues we will need to focus on while our working structures, securities and beliefs are being challenged.

The principles and tips in this practical book will enable young professionals to go through their working lives much more smoothly. As a seasoned professional I acquired many useful insights to apply in my work.

This is an excellent toolkit and a great read and not just for someone interested in making relationships work at work.

Anke Neale, Head of Human Resources, MAKINO
Europe GmbH

I cannot recommend this book too highly for anyone in or contemplating being in a leadership role. There are lots of books in this crowded marketplace trying to give wise counsel. In my view this is by far the most practical and capable of speedy implementation. If you read this book and try out some of the practical tips which it contains, I am confident that you will soon see some real, tangible benefits.

Ken Woffenden has held many senior leadership roles
during his 40-year career in major legal practices

First published in Great Britain by Practical Inspiration Publishing, 2020

Richard Fox, 2020

, Anneliese Gurin-LeTendre, 2020

The moral rights of the author have been asserted

ISBN 978-1-78860-173-3 (print)

978-1-78860-172-6 (epub)

978-1-78860-171-9 (mobi)

All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the author.

Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material. The publisher apologizes for any errors or omissions and would be grateful if notified of any corrections that should be incorporated in future reprints or editions of this book.

Contents

About this book

This book is for you if you want to make your working week more enjoyable, productive and fulfilling, by learning what you can do to build great relationships, make the most of your skills, experience and personal qualities, and enhance your teams performance. You will also find this book useful if you are curious to find out more about your own preferred ways of being and working and why you find working with some colleagues so effortless (almost not like working at all) while others drain your energy and leave you at a loss as to what to do next!

More specifically, this book is for you if you are:

a member of a department or team who is committed to getting things done and creating harmonious and effective relationships at work, but you are not able to access a comprehensive training programme in interpersonal relationships

an HR or Learning and Development professional, mentor or coach, who is looking for a resource handbook to give to workshop participants

an experienced and capable professional stepping up to your first or a more senior management/leadership position

This book will also be useful if you are:

an existing director or manager keen to improve your interpersonal skills and enhance those of your team

self-employed, working with some key associates. You want to know more about building good relationships and working collaboratively with business colleagues and clients

Many of the points in this book apply equally to external relationships and personal relationships.

Common-sense reasons for getting relationships right

People who get on well are much more likely to work well together and be willing to collaborate effectively. On the other hand, when staff are not engaged or feel unsupported at work, performance suffers, staff morale drops and staff turnover increases.