Organizational Health

Amidst the deluge of advice for businesspeople, there lies an overlooked tool, a key to thriving in today's fast-paced, unpredictable environment: improvisation. In Getting to "Yes And" veteran improv performer, university professor, CEO, and consultant Bob Kulhan unpacks a form of mental agility with powers far beyond the entertainment value of comedy troupes.

When Johnson went to work for the US Antarctic Program (devoted to scientific research and education in support of the national interest in the Antarctic), he figured he'd find adventure, beauty, penguins, and lofty-minded scientists. Instead he found boredom, alcohol, and bureaucracy. As a dishwasher and garbage man at McMurdo Station, Johnson quickly shed his illusions about Antarctica.

Trust is the basis for all that we do as leaders and as organizations. Employees who trust their employers are more productive and creative. Businesses that earn their customers' trust maintain better relationships and reap better results. Meanwhile, breaches of trust between companies and the public are becoming more frequent—and more costly. If you read (or listen to) nothing else on trust, listen to these ten articles.

Are you feeling overwhelmed and burnt out by your soul-crushing job and the demands of life? Are you struggling to find balance and fulfillment? It’s time to uncrush your soul and reclaim your passions for life and success!

The unprecedented access to other humans that technology provides has ironically freed us from engaging with them. According to social psychologist Adam Waytz, our increasingly human-free lives come with a serious cost that we’ve already begun to pay: the loss of our humanity. Humans have superpowers. More than any other psychological stimulus, our presence can make experiences feel significant, inspire moral behavior, and encourage action. The Power of Human shows us how to rehumanize and harness these unique abilities to improve our lives, beginning with our jobs.

In 2003, the Columbia Space Shuttle exploded on reentry, resulting in the loss of life for all seven astronauts and leaving NASA with a huge problem. But this problem wasn’t easily identified - the investigation revealed that the organizational culture was as much to blame for the explosion as technical difficulties. Enter Drs. Phillip Meade and Laura Gallaher - experts in the psychology of organizational culture and the owners of Gallaher Edge. Drs. Gallaher and Meade apply their vast expertise to map out the "missing links" between human nature and organizational culture.

To keep doing what you love, you need to maintain your own systems, not just the ones you write code for. Regular exercise and proper nutrition help you learn, remember, concentrate, and be creative - skills critical to doing your job well. Learn how to change your work habits, master exercises that make working at a computer more comfortable, and develop a plan to keep fit, healthy, and sharp for years to come.

Organizations and employees now spend an average of $18,000 dollars per year per employee for health costs. These are direct costs, but the hidden costs of time out of the office, distraction, disengagement, and turnover far exceed them. The Healthy Workplace Nudge explains the findings of research on 100 large organizations that have tackled the problems of employee health costs and disengagement in four fresh ways and explains how to create a workplace that is good for people, releases them to what they do best and enjoy most, and produces great and profitable work.

We've combed through the ideas, insights, and best practices from the past year of Harvard Business Review to help you get up to speed fast on the relevant concepts driving business today. Discover new ideas and sample the latest thinking of our vast array of management experts. Revisit these topics now to make sure your organization is incorporating the best, most up-to-date practices, or keep this book as a reference so you can turn to these memorable pieces when you need them the most.

Error Proofing Humans is the go-to source for all the latest research on human error and its causes. Learn from experts in the field as they discuss the theoretical background of human error and its consequences, as well as practical tools for analysis and prevention. This book covers a wide range of topics, from the most basic concepts of human error analysis to advanced techniques for dealing with complex systems. It is the perfect resource for business owners, safety professionals, and anyone who wants to learn more about the human factors involved in mistakes and accidents.

There used to be two teams in every workplace: management and labor. Now there's a third team: the linchpins. These people invent, lead (regardless of title), connect others, make things happen, and create order out of chaos. They figure out what to do when there's no rule book. They delight and challenge their customers and peers. They love their work, pour their best selves into it, and turn each day into a kind of art. Linchpins are the essential building blocks of great organizations.

To compete with today's increasing globalization and rapidly evolving technologies, individuals, and organizations must take their ability to learn - the foundation for continuous improvement, operational excellence, and innovation - to a much higher level.

This is the go-to guide on working with anyone in your office - from the difficult or negative to the toxic and destructive - whether they are your manager, a team member, or someone who’s just waiting out the clock. Chock-full of useful advice that will make your workday happier and more productive.

This helpful and compact guide will help you look at your organization with fresh eyes so you can spot any blocks and barriers that may interfere with the happiness of those who work for you. Part of a series of audiobooks looking at healthy work practices and strategies for success, Building an Organizational Well-Being Strategy will provide you with a range of powerful interventions that you can use to enhance well-being in your business and make it a healthier and happier pace to work.

Michael Brenner’s Mean People Suck uses real-life experience and proven research to show why, instead of blaming others, we can look inside ourselves and learn how to use empathy to defeat “mean” in every situation. This insightful guide shows leaders and employees how improving emotional communication increases profits and enhances lives.

For the past 50 years, popular culture has led us to believe in the left brain vs. right brain theory of personality types. It would be an illuminating theory if it did not have one major drawback: It is simply not supported by science. In contrast, the Top Brain, Bottom Brain theory is based on solid research that has stayed within the confines of labs all over the world—until now.

We made some incorrect assumptions about work, and those assumptions are killing us. We allowed a narrative that is solely about earnings to replace what we know to be true about human motivation. Human beings are hardwired to seek purpose, but according to data, most people don't feel a sense of purpose in their work. Work has become a grind, an endless series of tasks that lack meaning.

Authors Vivek Ranadive and Kevin Maney explore the world of human mastery and show how the ability to anticipate events before they occur can revolutionize business and offer a competitive edge in the marketplace.

CEO, executive wellness coach, and thought leader Naz Beheshti distills the most valuable lessons she learned from her first boss and mentor, Steve Jobs, into a holistic method to live your best life. Presenting the highly effective framework that Beheshti has used with clients for over a decade, this book empowers you to fulfill your highest business, personal, and social potential.

In a time when meaningful change is limited by error-filled practices, it’s time to rethink. Combining over four decades of Carol Sanford’s research and experience with rich traditions of Indigenous and lineage sources and quantum cosmologies, Indirect Work translates living systems understanding into a practical human technology for daily life. Through foundational wisdom and exercises for self-discovery, this guide will illuminate your understanding of the unlimited power of regenerative change and how we can become agents for a world that works for all alive.