Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Bandgt;This book was previously titled, andlt;Iandgt;Be Excellent at Anythingandlt;/Iandgt;.andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Way We're Working Isn't Workingandlt;/Iandgt; is one of those rare books with the power to profoundly transform the way we work and live. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; Demand is exceeding our capacity. The ethic of "more, bigger, faster" exacts a series of silent but pernicious costs at work, undermining our energy, focus, creativity, and passion. Nearly 75 percent of employees around the world feel disengaged at work every day. andlt;Iandgt;The Way We're Working Isn't Working andlt;/Iandgt;offers a groundbreaking approach to reenergizing our lives so weand#8217;re both more satisfied and more productiveand#8212;on the job and off. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; By integrating multidisciplinary findings from the science of high performance, Tony Schwartz, coauthor of the #1 bestselling andlt;Iandgt;The Power of Full Engagement, andlt;/Iandgt;makes a persuasive case that weand#8217;re neglecting the four core needs that energize great performance: sustainability (physical); security (emotional); self-expression (mental); and significance (spiritual). Rather than running like computers at high speeds for long periods, weand#8217;re at our best when we pulse rhythmically between expending and regularly renewing energy across each of our four needs. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Organizations undermine sustainable high performance by forever seeking to get more out of their people. Instead they should seek systematically to meet their four core needs so theyand#8217;re freed, fueled, and inspired to bring the best of themselves to work every day. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Drawing on extensive work with an extra-ordinary range of organizations, among them Google, Ford, Sony, Ernst and Young, Shell, IBM, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Cleveland Clinic, Schwartz creates a road map for a new way of working. At the individual level, he explains how we can build specific rituals into our daily schedules to balance intense effort with regular renewal; offset emotionally draining experiences with practices that fuel resilience; move between a narrow focus on urgent demands and more strategic, creative thinking; and balance a short-term focus on immediate results with a values-driven commitment to serving the greater good. At the organizational level, he outlines new policies, practices, and cultural messages that Schwartzand#8217;s client companies have adopted. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Way We're Working Isn't Workingandlt;/Iandgt; offers individuals, leaders, and organizations a highly practical, proven set of strategies to better manage the relentlessly rising demands we all face in an increasingly complex world.
Review
“There’s one compelling reason to read
The Way We’re Working Isn't Working—it works! The 100 senior leaders at the LAPD took the course on which the book is based, and while we were doubtful at first, we became believers and beneficiaries.”
--Bill Bratton, Former LAPD Police Chief
Review
and#8220;Now, more than ever, we need a unified science of energy--what makes us work (and what doesn't.) [Schwartz]andlt;Iandgt; andlt;/Iandgt;begins to unlock essential insights we're going to need to get more done and feel better whileandlt;Iandgt; andlt;/Iandgt;we're doing it.and#8221;
Review
"The foundations of great leadership are self-awareness and thoughtful action, and the ideas in this book can be truly life-changing for both. The transformative power of this lies in its ability to help very smart and already high-performing people change their current behaviors to be even more effective, fulfilled and connected to others."?
-Evan Wittenberg, Head of Global Leadership Development, Google, Inc.
Review
"I've read dozens of books about leadership and management. What makes this book unique and essential is the integrated and comprehensive way it addresses the challenge of getting the best from people. At Zappos we deeply believe that truly meeting our employees' needs is what inspires their great performance. [Be Excellent At Anything]
Review
"An engaging, thorough, and authoritative manual for optimal performance and for a rewarding life. Tony Schwartz has done it again. A business must read."
Review
“The practices in
The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working have truly changed my life and they’ve become guiding principles for all the members of my operating room team.”
--Mark Gillinov, M.D.,Cardiovascular Surgeon, Cleveland Clinic
Review
“Tony Schwartz has become a National Treasure, the champion of a new source of renewable energy—ourselves!
The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working is a great combination of engaging intellectual foundations, intriguing research findings, and truly practical advice."
--Robert Kegan, Ph.D., Harvard University School of Education and co-author of Immunity to Change
Review
and#8220;[Tony Schwartz]andlt;Iandgt; andlt;/Iandgt;is essential reading for anyone who wants a more productive and meaningful life. Itand#8217;s less a self-help book than a peer-reviewed survival manual for the modern age ...[He] provides a road map for how to take back control of our lives from our faster-better-more-techno-merry-go-round culture.and#8221;
Review
"[Schwartz] takes a look at self-destructive behaviors that are common in the workplace, then gives a prescription for correcting each...entirely refreshing."
Review
andlt;divandgt;"I've read dozens of books about leadership and management. What makes this book unique and essential is the integrated and comprehensive way it addresses the challenge of getting the best from people. At Zappos we deeply believe that truly meeting our employees' needs is what inspires their great performance. [andlt;Iandgt;Be Excellent At Anythingandlt;/Iandgt;]
Review
and#8220;Iand#8217;ve read dozens of books about leadership and management. What makes this book unique and essential is the integrated and comprehensive way it addresses the challenge of getting the best from people. At Zappos we deeply believe that truly meeting our employeesand#8217; needs is what inspires their great performance. [andlt;Iandgt;Be Excellent At Anythingandlt;/Iandgt;] lays out a compelling new workplace paradigm and a detailed roadmap for organizations, leaders and individuals seeking to gain true competitive advantage, even as the rules change every day.and#8221;
Synopsis
This book was previously titled, Be Excellent at Anything.
The Way We're Working Isn't Working is one of those rare books with the power to profoundly transform the way we work and live.
Demand is exceeding our capacity. The ethic of "more, bigger, faster" exacts a series of silent but pernicious costs at work, undermining our energy, focus, creativity, and passion. Nearly 75 percent of employees around the world feel disengaged at work every day. The Way We're Working Isn't Working offers a groundbreaking approach to reenergizing our lives so we're both more satisfied and more productive--on the job and off.
By integrating multidisciplinary findings from the science of high performance, Tony Schwartz, coauthor of the #1 bestselling The Power of Full Engagement, makes a persuasive case that we're neglecting the four core needs that energize great performance: sustainability (physical); security (emotional); self-expression (mental); and significance (spiritual). Rather than running like computers at high speeds for long periods, we're at our best when we pulse rhythmically between expending and regularly renewing energy across each of our four needs.
Organizations undermine sustainable high performance by forever seeking to get more out of their people. Instead they should seek systematically to meet their four core needs so they're freed, fueled, and inspired to bring the best of themselves to work every day.
Drawing on extensive work with an extra-ordinary range of organizations, among them Google, Ford, Sony, Ernst & Young, Shell, IBM, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Cleveland Clinic, Schwartz creates a road map for a new way of working. At the individual level, he explains how we can build specific rituals into our daily schedules to balance intense effort with regular renewal; offset emotionally draining experiences with practices that fuel resilience; move between a narrow focus on urgent demands and more strategic, creative thinking; and balance a short-term focus on immediate results with a values-driven commitment to serving the greater good. At the organizational level, he outlines new policies, practices, and cultural messages that Schwartz's client companies have adopted.
The Way We're Working Isn't Working offers individuals, leaders, and organizations a highly practical, proven set of strategies to better manage the relentlessly rising demands we all face in an increasingly complex world.
About the Author
Tony Schwartz is the founder and president of The Energy Project, a consulting group that works with a number of Fortune 500 companies, including American Express, Credit Suisse, Ford, General Motors, Gillette, Master Card, and Sony.andnbsp; He was a reporter for the andlt;iandgt;New York Timesandlt;/iandgt;, an associate editor at andlt;iandgt;Newsweekandlt;/iandgt;, and a staff writer for andlt;iandgt;New York Magazineandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;Esquireandlt;/iandgt; and a columnist for andlt;iandgt;Fast Companyandlt;/iandgt;.andnbsp; He co-authored the #1 worldwide bestseller andlt;iandgt;The Art of the Dealandlt;/iandgt; with Donald Trump, and after that wrote andlt;iandgt;What Really Mattersandlt;/iandgt;.andnbsp; He co-authored the #1 New York Times bestseller andlt;iandgt;The Power of Full Engagementandlt;/iandgt; with Jim Loehr. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Jean Gomes is Managing Director of DPA, a London-based management consultancy specializing in leadership and culture change. For the past 20 years, he has been advising companies like Coca-Cola, Pfizer, Cable andamp; Wireless, Sun Microsystems, Sony, ICL, The Home Office, Nokia and Intel in the US, Japan and Europe. He is also Chairman of The Energy Project Europe.andnbsp;