The Why of Work: How Great Leaders Build Organizations That Win
Author: Dave Ulrich, Wendy Ulrich and Marshall Goldsmith
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
Price: $27.95
Stars: 5 out 5
The Why of Work: How Great Leaders Build Organizations That Win is a wonderful combination of self-reflection, personal and family anecdotes combined with an understanding of the pertinent research in a wide variety of related areas. While talking about the now, it has all the hallmarks of a book long in the making - the culmination of 22 books, 35 years of marriage, and numerous awards behind it.
This book is a passage, a change and a reaffirmation. The central motif of the work is the idea of abundance, of fullness that overflows. The Ulrichs invite us to focus our attention on what we stand to gain from our crises, not just what we stand to lose; to look to future opportunities rather than past disappointments.
Around this motif of abundance are arrayed seven fields. Some, like 'high performing teams' or 'networks', have already entered our everyday management speak. Others such as 'civility and happiness' bring a new dimension.
The book builds from a base of strong rational, philosophical and emotional reasons as to why meaning at work matters. It also integrates a whole host of ideas from strength-based development to positive psychology in an elegant and thoughtful way. And, as we have come to expect from Dave Ulrich, it asks provocative questions, provides frameworks, surveys and models to ensure the ideas and inspirations can be easily converted into actionable behaviours.
Ulrich is a much-loved and highly regarded member of the human resources community. Anyone wanting to get a deeper understanding of what he believes and how they themselves can discover meaning as employees and leaders will find this marvellous book points to the possibilities and potential. It's a book that every thinking executive should read, contemplate and action.
Lynda Gratton is professor of management practice at the London Business School and founder of the Hot Spot Movement - www.hotspotsmovement.com. Her current research is on the Future of Work and you can follow the debate on her blog www.lyndagrattonfutureofwork.com.