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.