Conversations Worth Having & Conversations Worth Having in Healthcare

Two book course! The main book in its 2nd edition shows how to make conversations generative and productive rather than critical and destructive, so people, organizations, and communities flourish. We know that conversations influence us, but we rarely stop to think about how much impact they have on our well-being and ability to thrive. This book is the first to show how Appreciative Inquiry—a widely used change method that focuses on identifying what's working and building on it rather than just trying to fix what's broken—can help us communicate more effectively and flourish in all areas of our lives.

By focusing on what we want to happen instead of what we want to avoid, and asking questions to deepen understanding and increase possibilities, we expand creativity, improve productivity, and unleash potential at work and home. The authors use real-life examples to illustrate how these two practices and the principles that underlie them foster connection, innovation, and success.

The second book applies the principles specifically to the healthcare setting with examples and conversations found in acute care.

Quotes:

Wow! What a great book! I’m going to use it in my courses and with every client. It is rare to read a book that is so compelling and practical with simple guidelines anyone can use. – Gervase Bushe, Professor, Simon Fraser University

I bought this book and started reading it, and then halfway through, a situation arose that required a difficult conversation. I decided to follow the framework in this book. I took a step back, I planned my role in the conversation, considering the elements described in the book, and then I had the conversation. It went so much better than it would have otherwise. This book is essential for anybody, every day when experiencing any type of conversation. It is an easy read and thoroughly engaging with its stories. This is a must read. – Lynn Kelley, Amazon 

Burnout is rampant in healthcare. This book promises to bring joy and positivity back into your daily interactions with patients and colleagues…you can make visits and meetings more satisfying and improve the quality of your clinical care.  – Philip Baer, MDCM, FRCP, Editor, The Journal of Canadian Rheumatology Association