Given the opportunity to describe Apple as a company in just a word or two, most would respond with adjectives like: Innovative. Design-conscious. Iconic. Some would probably even say: Secretive. But here's another: Soulful. Yes, Apple has soul, and it is not alone in that respect. A select few organizations can similarly be said to exhibit that same quality of soulfulness that inspires passion in their employees, supercharges growth, and sets them on the path to organizational success. But, given that most organizations are plagued by low levels of employee engagement and lackluster organizational performance, how do the leaders of high-performing organizations do it? How do they create organizational cultures that effectively ignite and sustain employee engagement and boost individual and overall organizational productivity? That is exactly the question that organizational expert David B. Zenoff sets out to answer in The Soul of the Organization. Based on the author's extensive experience consulting to some of the best-known companies in the world, The Soul of the Organization journeys into eleven soulful, high-performing organizations operating in both the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds to determine the underlying qualities and commitments that foster employee engagement at all levels. What Zenoff finds in his inquiry is that organizations as different as home goods retailer Williams-Sonoma and not-for-profit group Larkin Street Youth Services all share in common five key elements that, taken together, are considerably powerful forces for fostering employee engagement, satisfaction, and meaning. And he doesn't stop once he has identified the five core elements of an organization's soul. Instead, he proceeds by offering up both a conceptual framework and a practical primer on how to leverage these key ingredients to create, sustain, and nourish a soul in your organization. Organizations of all stripes and in all industries have difficulty motivating their best talent to work, compelling employees to express a strong pride in and identification with their workplaces, and encouraging their workers to demonstrate exceptional commitment to giving their all. As a result, these organizations' productivity and growth are compromised. If you find that your organization is one of the countless others struggling with sub par employee loyalty, commitment, and drive, you will find the guidance you need in The Soul of the Organization, a guide to infusing into your workplace that "special something" that engages employees, drives their productivity, and taps into their collective well of potential so that your organization can make its mark on the world. What you’ll learn The five essential ingredients that contribute so importantly to strong emotional and intellectual bonds between soulful organizations and their employees. How deep organizational connections between soulful organizations and their employees drive overall high performance. How organizations as different as Barclays Global Investors and the Sisters of Mercy manifest the five essential ingredients of soul in their workplaces. The best practices of organizations that have sustained and nourished their souls over many years despite leadership transitions and organizational adaptations to changing times. The many potential threats to the health of an organization's soul, as well as the various remedies that exemplary organizations have found to protect and preserve their souls. Who this book is for The Soul of the Organization is targeted to the thousands of leaders, managers, and human resources employees at both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations that want to know what they can do to turn their organizations into high-performing workplaces. The book will also appeal to the vast number of prospective employees who wish to link up with organizations that offer opportunities for career satisfaction and meaning.
Description:
Given the opportunity to describe Apple as a company in just a word or two, most would respond with adjectives like: Innovative. Design-conscious. Iconic. Some would probably even say: Secretive. But here's another: Soulful. Yes, Apple has soul, and it is not alone in that respect. A select few organizations can similarly be said to exhibit that same quality of soulfulness that inspires passion in their employees, supercharges growth, and sets them on the path to organizational success. But, given that most organizations are plagued by low levels of employee engagement and lackluster organizational performance, how do the leaders of high-performing organizations do it? How do they create organizational cultures that effectively ignite and sustain employee engagement and boost individual and overall organizational productivity? That is exactly the question that organizational expert David B. Zenoff sets out to answer in The Soul of the Organization. Based on the author's extensive experience consulting to some of the best-known companies in the world, The Soul of the Organization journeys into eleven soulful, high-performing organizations operating in both the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds to determine the underlying qualities and commitments that foster employee engagement at all levels. What Zenoff finds in his inquiry is that organizations as different as home goods retailer Williams-Sonoma and not-for-profit group Larkin Street Youth Services all share in common five key elements that, taken together, are considerably powerful forces for fostering employee engagement, satisfaction, and meaning. And he doesn't stop once he has identified the five core elements of an organization's soul. Instead, he proceeds by offering up both a conceptual framework and a practical primer on how to leverage these key ingredients to create, sustain, and nourish a soul in your organization. Organizations of all stripes and in all industries have difficulty motivating their best talent to work, compelling employees to express a strong pride in and identification with their workplaces, and encouraging their workers to demonstrate exceptional commitment to giving their all. As a result, these organizations' productivity and growth are compromised. If you find that your organization is one of the countless others struggling with sub par employee loyalty, commitment, and drive, you will find the guidance you need in The Soul of the Organization, a guide to infusing into your workplace that "special something" that engages employees, drives their productivity, and taps into their collective well of potential so that your organization can make its mark on the world. What you’ll learn The five essential ingredients that contribute so importantly to strong emotional and intellectual bonds between soulful organizations and their employees. How deep organizational connections between soulful organizations and their employees drive overall high performance. How organizations as different as Barclays Global Investors and the Sisters of Mercy manifest the five essential ingredients of soul in their workplaces. The best practices of organizations that have sustained and nourished their souls over many years despite leadership transitions and organizational adaptations to changing times. The many potential threats to the health of an organization's soul, as well as the various remedies that exemplary organizations have found to protect and preserve their souls. Who this book is for The Soul of the Organization is targeted to the thousands of leaders, managers, and human resources employees at both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations that want to know what they can do to turn their organizations into high-performing workplaces. The book will also appeal to the vast number of prospective employees who wish to link up with organizations that offer opportunities for career satisfaction and meaning.