Alive at Work: The Neuroscience of Helping Your People Love What They Do

by Daniel M. Cable

Overview

Poll after poll has confirmed that an astonishing number of workers are disengaged from their work. Why is this happening? And how can we fix the problem?

In this bold, enlightening book, social psychologist and professor Daniel M. Cable takes leaders into the minds of workers and reveals the surprising secret to restoring their zest for work.

Disengagement isn't a motivational problem, it's a biological one. Humans aren't built for routine and repetition. We're designed to crave exploration, experimentation, and learning--in fact, there's a part of our brains, which scientists have coined "the seeking system," that rewards us for taking part in these activities. But the way organizations are run prevents many of us from following our innate impulses. As a result, we shut down.

Things need to change. More than ever before, employee creativity and engagement are needed to win. Fortunately, it won't take an extensive overhaul of your organizational culture to get started. With small nudges, you can personally help people reach their fullest potential.

Alive at Work reveals:

• How to encourage people to bring their best selves to work and use their greatest strengths to help your organization flourish
• How to build creative environments that motivate people to share ideas, work smarter, and embrace change
• How to enhance people's connection to their work and your customers
• How to create personalized experiences that help people feel a deeper sense of purpose

Filled with fascinating stories from the author's extensive research, Alive at Work is the inspirational guide that you need to tap into the passion, creativity, and purpose fizzing beneath the surface of every person who falls under your leadership.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633694255
Publisher:	Harvard Business Review Press
Publication date:	03/27/2018
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Daniel M. Cable (@DanCable1) is a Professor of Organizational Behavior at London Business School. He is a two-time winner of the “Best Article in Organizational Behavior” from the Academy of Management and has been ranked among the top 25 most influential management scholars in the world.

Table of Contents

Part I The Seeking System

Introduction: Our Organizations Are Letting Us Down 3

1 The Way Things Ought to Be 11

2 The Way Things Are-and How to Make Them Better 29

Part II Self-Expression

3 Encouraging People to Bring Their Best Selves to Work 53

4 Promoting Self-Expression 67

Part III Experimentation

5 Encouraging Serious Play 83

6 Expanding on Freedom and Creativity 97

7 Humble Leadership and Employees' Seeking Systems 115

Part IV Purpose

8 Helping Employees Experience the Impact of Their Work 139

9 Crafting Narratives about Purpose 153

Notes 175

Index 187

Acknowledgments 201

About the Author 203

Editorial Reviews

"In his book, Cable shows how organizations have constrained seeking systems since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, how to activate employees' seeking systems, and how leaders can use this change to help employees (and organizations) reach their full potential." -- TD magazine (Association for Talent Development)

"In this lively book, the organisational behavioural expert suggests small changes and interventions by leaders to encourage employees to experiment and gain a sense of purpose to make Sunday nights happy again." -- Financial Times

Advance Praise for Alive at Work:

Adam Grant, New York Times--bestselling author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B (with Sheryl Sandberg)--
"If you care about improving the quality of life at work, you'll enjoy this lively book. Daniel Cable presents a bold vision and practical ideas for breathing life into every organization."

Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and To Sell Is Human--
"In this smart, insightful book, Daniel Cable argues that too many organizations suppress our innate, biological drive to learn and grow--and thereby leave us feeling listless and unproductive. The solution, Cable says, is a set of small redesigns to bring organizations into harmony with our true selves. Well-researched and eminently practical, Alive at Work is an essential read for leaders at every level."

Bruce Daisley, Vice President, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Twitter--
"Once every ten years a book comes along that lights the way for us. Not since Daniel Pink's Drive has a book so clearly illuminated what the future of leadership should look like."

Gary Hamel, author of The Future of Management and What Matters Now--
"Daniel Cable lends an energetic and inspirational voice to a problem that nags leaders: How do we encourage people to inject more passion into what they do? Dan's deep insights will make you think about engagement and motivation in an entirely new way."

William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman, The Estee Lauder Companies--
"Alive at Work offers an illuminating look into our minds and emotions--what inspires us, what lights a fire inside of us, and what drives us to achieve more at work and in our lives. Daniel Cable's eye-opening insights will help leaders unleash the passion and purpose inside of others."

David Fairhurst, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, McDonald’s Corporation--
"The principles of managing people have changed little since the Industrial Revolution. Daniel Cable has blown those principles apart to create a playbook for the next revolution--the People Revolution."

From the Publisher