BOOK REVIEWS “We need to talk” – Tough Conversations with your Employee

Author: Lynne Eisaguirre

Publisher: Adams Media (2009), 211 pages

Like previous editions of the “We need to talk” series of books, Eisaguirre’s Tough Conversations with your Employees delivers insightful and practical guidance to managers on what to say, how to say it and even on what not to say.

Based on the premise that employee communication generally should embrace conflict as a source of innovation and that handling conflict is a skill that can be learned like any other, Eisaguirre guides readers through a number of typical conversations such as performance reviews, retrenchments, sloppy work, alcohol and drug abuse, hygiene issues, complaints about discrimination and others. The book has been written in an easy-going, conversational style, making it an easy read. It is filled with great tips and practical suggestions – like the idea of asking employees to confirm the content of discussions via e-mail, for instance (instead of summarising the content for the employee). Eisaguirre acknowledges that what you will receive back from your reports will, in all likelihood, leave you even more depressed than you were before, but, by the same token, the approach opens the way for more open and constructive communication and the removal of more deep-seated, underlying misconceptions. Naturally the US statutes and judicial case law referred to in Tough Conversations with your Employees may not be directly relevant to South Africa, but the principles contained in and underpinning those laws and cases are relevant in the local context and may serve as useful guidelines. All sound labour relations are ultimately based on fairness, consistency, honesty and the appropriate management of emotions. The ability of managers to conduct difficult conversations with their reports in a professional and effective manner may arguably be the one truly distinguishing feature between effective and ineffective managers. A book like Tough Conversations with your Employee is a good starting point to learn the skill of confronting difficult situations and conducting the necessary conversations with skill; even if they are terrifying. Tough Conversations with your Employee is a worthwhile read and will make a useful addition to your arsenal of managerial tools.