What do you think?
Rate this book
The Why of Work: How Great Leaders Build Abundant Organizations that Win
According to studies, we all work for the same thing—and it's not just money. It's meaning. Through our work, we seek a sense of purpose, contribution, connection, value, and hope. Digging down to the meaning of work taps our resilience in hard times and our passion in good times. That's the simple but profound premise behind this groundbreaking book by renowned management expert Dave Ulrich and psychologist Wendy Ulrich. They've talked to thousands of people—from rank-and-file workers to clients and customers to top-level executives—and synthesized major disciplines to identify the "why" behind our most successful experiences. Using the model of the "abundant organization," they provide you with the "how" to create meaning and value in your own workplace.
Learn how to:
Ask the seven questions that drive abundance Understand the needs of your customers and staff
Personalize the work to motivate your employees
Build and grow your business in any economy
By following the Ulrichs' step-by-step guidelines, you will set off a chain reaction of positive and enduring effects.
Employees who find meaning in their work are more competent, committed, and eager to contribute and their contribution will result in increased customer commitment, which delivers a winning performance on the bottom line. The Why of Work includes targeted checklists, questionnaires, and other useful tools to help you turn aspirations into action. Using the proven principles of abundance, you can coordinate your needs with those of your employers, your employees, and your customers—and create a vision that resonates for years to come. When you understand why we work, you know how to succeed.
Learn how to:
Ask the seven questions that drive abundance Understand the needs of your customers and staff
Personalize the work to motivate your employees
Build and grow your business in any economy
By following the Ulrichs' step-by-step guidelines, you will set off a chain reaction of positive and enduring effects.
Employees who find meaning in their work are more competent, committed, and eager to contribute and their contribution will result in increased customer commitment, which delivers a winning performance on the bottom line. The Why of Work includes targeted checklists, questionnaires, and other useful tools to help you turn aspirations into action. Using the proven principles of abundance, you can coordinate your needs with those of your employers, your employees, and your customers—and create a vision that resonates for years to come. When you understand why we work, you know how to succeed.
MP3 CD
First published May 10, 2010
59 people are currently reading
642 people want to read
About the author
Dave Ulrich
99 books104 followersDavid Olson Ulrich is a university professor, author, speaker, management coach, and management consultant. Ulrich is a professor of business at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan and co-founder of The RBL Group
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Read
May 26, 2023Different people have different motivations. I like this PDF - https://static1.squarespace.com/stati...
Insight – low interest in relationships & external accomplishment, high interest in self-awareness, the world of ideas, find beauty or wonder in small details, provide thoughtful reflection on opportunities, motivated by the inherent value of a good idea, let’s stop and think so that we can learn, suggestions about new ways to do business, honors the past, imagines the future, enjoyed the moment.
Achievement – find meaning and purpose in doing and accomplishing, get things done, athletes, artists, Chariots of Fire, hardworking, problem solvers, push the envelop of skill or design,
Connection – high focus on relationships but low focus on accomplishment, satisfaction and meaning through relating to others, meaning in sharing life with other people, people are the priority, peacemaking, compassion, cooperation, teamwork, empathy, listening, honesty, service. Form advocacy groups. Pay attention to the needs of people.
Empowerment – achievement through investment in people. Teachers.
https://insightssuccess.com/dave-ulri...
https://hbr.org/2010/06/getting-beyon...
Insight – low interest in relationships & external accomplishment, high interest in self-awareness, the world of ideas, find beauty or wonder in small details, provide thoughtful reflection on opportunities, motivated by the inherent value of a good idea, let’s stop and think so that we can learn, suggestions about new ways to do business, honors the past, imagines the future, enjoyed the moment.
Achievement – find meaning and purpose in doing and accomplishing, get things done, athletes, artists, Chariots of Fire, hardworking, problem solvers, push the envelop of skill or design,
Connection – high focus on relationships but low focus on accomplishment, satisfaction and meaning through relating to others, meaning in sharing life with other people, people are the priority, peacemaking, compassion, cooperation, teamwork, empathy, listening, honesty, service. Form advocacy groups. Pay attention to the needs of people.
Empowerment – achievement through investment in people. Teachers.
https://insightssuccess.com/dave-ulri...
https://hbr.org/2010/06/getting-beyon...
July 1, 2020
An extremely well articulated book about designing work for the workplace to build an abundant organizations.
The authors use a pleasant conversation style and ensure that they clearly explain their concepts, using clear examples. What I find interesting is that while this book was published in 2010, reading it today in 2020 made me realize that some of the ideas in the book have been lifted and are being talked about as current wisdom.
This book could also have been titled "So you want to start a business". It provides excellent inputs on this aspect, and it could be considered as a key thread of the book.
Worth a read for every HR professional and leader.
The authors use a pleasant conversation style and ensure that they clearly explain their concepts, using clear examples. What I find interesting is that while this book was published in 2010, reading it today in 2020 made me realize that some of the ideas in the book have been lifted and are being talked about as current wisdom.
This book could also have been titled "So you want to start a business". It provides excellent inputs on this aspect, and it could be considered as a key thread of the book.
Worth a read for every HR professional and leader.
December 2, 2019
I didn't get to finish it but I read the first chapter and liked what the author had to say and I agree with him, "We really should have a reason for why we work."
September 18, 2020
Am not convinced. I try to Avoid work, to be honest. Especially after business school...
September 3, 2010
getAbstract Book Review: The Why of Work
Dave and Wendy Ulrich’s book about abundance is itself an example of abundance. Dave, a business writer, and Wendy, a psychologist, sweep you up in a tide of leadership ideas, processes, quotations and stories that hammer home a thesis so right and true you might mistake it for common sense: Workers who care about their jobs and understand why they work will exceed your expectations and break the boundaries of their job descriptions. They will better serve customers who, in turn, will bind themselves to the thoughtful firm that produced such an enlightened staff. If this sounds like the yellow brick road, the authors cobble together ample gold paving stones to build a solid path toward fulfilling your firm’s potential. They explain how every person and organization can change for the good, while earning a profit. Along with positive psychology and happiness research, you will find useful grids, summaries and assessment tools to help you shift staid cultures and motivate stale staffers. Some of the advice is soft and general; the authors acknowledge that they skim the surface of various disciplines. Yet when the Ulrichs become specific about how to build relationships or cultivate creativity, they show you concretely how to nurture a firm where business results and human development work together. getAbstract recommends this book to executives, managers and human resources personnel who hope to serve their customers and the world through deeper service to their employees.
Read more about this book in the online summary:
http://www.getabstract.com/summary/13...
Dave and Wendy Ulrich’s book about abundance is itself an example of abundance. Dave, a business writer, and Wendy, a psychologist, sweep you up in a tide of leadership ideas, processes, quotations and stories that hammer home a thesis so right and true you might mistake it for common sense: Workers who care about their jobs and understand why they work will exceed your expectations and break the boundaries of their job descriptions. They will better serve customers who, in turn, will bind themselves to the thoughtful firm that produced such an enlightened staff. If this sounds like the yellow brick road, the authors cobble together ample gold paving stones to build a solid path toward fulfilling your firm’s potential. They explain how every person and organization can change for the good, while earning a profit. Along with positive psychology and happiness research, you will find useful grids, summaries and assessment tools to help you shift staid cultures and motivate stale staffers. Some of the advice is soft and general; the authors acknowledge that they skim the surface of various disciplines. Yet when the Ulrichs become specific about how to build relationships or cultivate creativity, they show you concretely how to nurture a firm where business results and human development work together. getAbstract recommends this book to executives, managers and human resources personnel who hope to serve their customers and the world through deeper service to their employees.
Read more about this book in the online summary:
http://www.getabstract.com/summary/13...
September 2, 2010
Very few things are guaranteed in life ... but a recommendation from Marci Nickell is always worth pursuing. The Ulrichs were former clients of Marci's, as was I.
Their book, "The Way of Work," has application well beyond the corporation. Anyone trying to achieve something great knows that the starting point is to give meaning and value to that achievement. For it is the depth of meaning that correlates to the strength of resolve to accomplish the goal. Francis Ford Coppola is quoted as saying that the only difference between a good movie and a bad movie is when making a good movie, everyone is making the same movie. Its making has a shared meaning.
The Ulrichs ground their emphasis on individual meaning with Viktor Frankl -- "Man's Search for Meaning." They then transition us from the privation of a Nazi Death Camp to the contemporary vessel of shared meaning: the abundant organization. Their seven principles of abundant organizations serve as "assessments" and "how to" frames for the bulk of the book.
A powerful reminder -- even in the face of Google's possible straying -- that the best human organization is one dedicated to meaning and doing no evil.
Their book, "The Way of Work," has application well beyond the corporation. Anyone trying to achieve something great knows that the starting point is to give meaning and value to that achievement. For it is the depth of meaning that correlates to the strength of resolve to accomplish the goal. Francis Ford Coppola is quoted as saying that the only difference between a good movie and a bad movie is when making a good movie, everyone is making the same movie. Its making has a shared meaning.
The Ulrichs ground their emphasis on individual meaning with Viktor Frankl -- "Man's Search for Meaning." They then transition us from the privation of a Nazi Death Camp to the contemporary vessel of shared meaning: the abundant organization. Their seven principles of abundant organizations serve as "assessments" and "how to" frames for the bulk of the book.
A powerful reminder -- even in the face of Google's possible straying -- that the best human organization is one dedicated to meaning and doing no evil.
October 28, 2020
Human beings need meaning to be happiest and most productive. And while this has been known individually and collectively for a long time, leaders often struggle trying to help people – and entire organizations – capture, create or find meaning in their work.
The Why of WorkThat is the focus of this book written by a married couple – Dave, a professor of business, author and more, and Wendy, a practicing psychologist. This “marriage” brings a unique and valuable perspective to a book on an important topic.
- See more at: http://blog.kevineikenberry.com/leade...
The Why of WorkThat is the focus of this book written by a married couple – Dave, a professor of business, author and more, and Wendy, a practicing psychologist. This “marriage” brings a unique and valuable perspective to a book on an important topic.
- See more at: http://blog.kevineikenberry.com/leade...
February 17, 2015
First a confession that I HEARD this book on audio in my car. Having said that, listening to it could be excruciating. The "see chapter 7" and "as explained in list 2, 3 and four below" don't work, but also sounded like a recipe rather than a book. Like many books on business advice, this could have been a 10 page monograph rather than an 11 chapter book as it has to bring in 10 examples for every concept.
The subject and principles mostly ring true, but one or two examples seem so pat as to being made up for the book. I could never recommend an employee of my company read the whole book, but some sections of chapters would do well to read.
The subject and principles mostly ring true, but one or two examples seem so pat as to being made up for the book. I could never recommend an employee of my company read the whole book, but some sections of chapters would do well to read.
January 26, 2016
A book that gets in to the meaning of work and how leaders can create abundant organisations with abundant individuals therein. It draws on the significant qualifications and experience of the authors as well as the material of others I have read such as Martin Seligman on Happiness, William Bridges on Transitions and Robert Eichinger and Michael Lombardo (Lominger combined) on competencies. It also relates some interesting lessons from historical figures and events such as President Abraham Lincoln (particularly his resilience and empathy) and Thomas Watson of IBM.
October 8, 2010
The Why of Work is a compelling look at adding meaning to any job. Working a career-building job myself, I enjoy the 'work' I do, but I do not like having a 'job'; not out of laziness or sloth or despising work, but working full-time is not what I want to do all my life. That said, I found many useful insights into helping me find more joy and meaning in my 'job,' even though I am not the direct audience of this book.
July 26, 2011
Every c- suite executive, manager, and team lead should read & understand.
September 17, 2011
Pretty good book.
November 20, 2013
This had some interesting concepts and probably would have been more interesting to me if I liked business genre books. I tried to apply the principles to my family setting, but kind of a stretch.
Read
April 24, 2018Oh my goodness... so bored...
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews