Rob Kendall - Workstorming: Why conversations at work go wrong, and how to fix them

We spend our life in conversations, but so often come away thinking that we could have achieved more from them. Whatever your role or gender, Workstorming offers a practical toolkit to increase the odds of getting your conversations right.

Sharon Doherty, Global Organization and People Development Director, Vodafone

Workstorming is packed with practical insights gleaned from Robs extensive personal experience, many of which resonated with my own challenges of leading large teams during my career. Rob reminds us that if we listen, pause and focus on meaningful conversations we can be at our most impactful, not only in our workplace but also in our personal lives.

Ian Buchanan, Group Chief Information Officer, Barclays Bank Plc, and Global Chief Operating Officer, Barclaycard

Rob understands the dynamics of conversation inside out. He has vast experience and mastery in this field. The world will be better for him sharing it.

Hugh Brasher, Race Director, London Marathon

With the pressures of the always-on digital age, Robs simple techniques based on real-life stories helped me become more effective at work. Its easy to feel overwhelmed, but Rob helps you to step back, develop your business relationships and working style successfully, and still enjoy your life with family and friends.

Bryn Jones, Chief Technology Officer, Three UK

Rob knows how to have meaningful conversations that allow people to be honest with themselves and authentic with others. I cant think of a better person to write a book like this!

Paula Vennells, Chief Executive, Post Office Ltd

Full of wonderful anecdotes, anchored in practical experience, and backed up by hard science, Workstorming is an essential guide to being a more effective worker, manager or leader.

James Alexander, co-founder of Zopa (the worlds first online person-to-person lending exchange)

As someone who spends his own professional life advising leaders on how to improve their conversations, I hugely admire the clear and practical insights which Rob brings to the subject. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve the way they talk to others at work.

Dik Veenman, Founder, The Right Conversation

Have you ever come away from a work conversation or meeting wondering how it had gone so wrong? Rob Kendall has an extraordinary ability to see beyond the event itself, provide hidden insights into why it may have happened, and propose easy-to-apply avoidance strategies and techniques. His insight has helped me to deal with challenging work situations that all of us can face in everyday conversations from large team meetings through to one-to-one discussions. This book is a must-read for those seeking more valuable and rewarding interactions.

Dr Claire Ruggiero, Vice President Technology and Innovation,Lloyds Register

Workstorming is engaging and thought provoking, tackling the simplest but most profoundly important human behaviour talking to each other. Youll recognize the life pressures and examples of conversations going wrong, and Rob offers clear, practical ideas and techniques to improve our conversations.

Bryan Diggins, Group Head of Quality, Laing ORourke

Rob uses his experience to great effect and encourages a focus on how we can get more from our interactions. Workstorming captures the numerous challenges of work communications and provides practical ways to help anyone seeking to have better conversations.

Kay Eldergill, Human Resource Director, Met Office

As a great believer in the power of small talk, and being a skimmer in remission, Workstorming offers thought-provoking advice on ways to improve my interactions at work and at home. Taking the time to reflect on the anchors we set is a crucial skill for all business leaders.

Gerry Mulholland, Head of Health, Safety and Environment,British Gas

Robs new book helps us understand why everyday workplace conversations can go so wrong and provides simple strategies for making them more effective. In todays globally connected world, he teaches us that paying attention to the context of a conversation helps us work effectively across cultures and build enduring, trust-based relationships with bosses, key suppliers or team members around the world.

Sue Jackson, HR Director Asia, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

In Workstorming Rob has managed to achieve that balance between insightful content and an engaging narrative. The use of character scenarios adds context and richness to the content. The book is great timing by Rob, with the quality of conversations and workplace communications coming under increased scrutiny and interest.

Gary Browning, Chief Executive, Penna Consulting Plc

As were bombarded with information and face relentless demands on our attention, our fulfilment and success at work depend on our ability to find our own voice, make it heard above the crowd, and make space to listen. In Workstorming, Rob throws light on one of the great challenges of our time.

Clare Geldart, Marketing and Communications Leader, Global Risk Assurance, PricewaterhouseCoopers

We have been lucky to have Rob help us grow our company into a leading and award-winning player in a highly competitive market by putting into practice the advice he outlines so well in this wonderful book. By reading Workstorming, you too can benefit from that wisdom.

Philip Dobree, Founder and Chief Executive, BAFTA- and EMMY-winning Jellyfish Pictures

I first met Rob over 15 years ago when working in banking. He inspired me then and continues to be an inspiration to me now in my very different world, where I am a director of a childrens hospice. The simplicity of his approach, which centres on having brilliant conversations, has transformed the way I work for ever.

Liz Gratton, Head of Fundraising, Donna Louise Hospice Trust

We engaged Rob to guide us and our joint-venture partner to better align ourselves, listen and monitor whether we were addressing challenges and seizing opportunities. It worked! Rob helps us all get the importance of listening, conversation, saying what we mean and accepting differences and diversity. We look forward to this book helping many other joint ventures overcome the natural tensions in such relationships.

Des Crowley, Chief Executive, Bank of Ireland (UK)

Rob Kendall is one of the worlds leading experts on improving conversations. With Workstorming, he has applied his expertise to an area that sorely needs it: the workplace. Based on sound psychology, this is an absolute must-read for anyone wanting to communicate more effectively at work.

Rob Archer, The Career Psychologist

I was so glad to learn that Rob has written another book, and what a welcome addition it is to the art of good communication! In his usual clear style, and using an enjoyable and practical approach, Rob explains how to listen truly listen and teaches you how to convey exactly what you intend. This book is a treasure.

Linda Blair, clinical psychologist, author, broadcaster and weekly columnist for theDaily Telegraph

WORK
STORMING

INTRODUCTION

Thinking back to your school days, which teacher do you owe a debt of gratitude to? In your working life, who has brought out the best in you? As a customer, when were you thrilled with the way a complaint was resolved? In each case someone was doing their job, but not in a business-as-usual way. If we were to examine what these people had in common, Id wager that they excelled in speaking and listening.