Work Smart Now: How to Jump Start Productivity, Empower Employees, and Achieve More

by Richard Polak

From one of the top HR specialists in the world comes this much-needed guide to help people maximize productivity and increase revenue. Whether it’s in corporate America or in our own living rooms, people are wasting time. From the minute we wake up and check our Facebook page or emails—before we even crawl out of bed—to late at night when we stay up longer than we should, watching our favorite show. There’s a precise moment that falls between working enough hours to be productive and working too many hours, yielding a diminishing marginal return. The difference between the person able to master this and most Americans that fail miserably at it is quality of life! If one continues to work past this moment, a negative return will ensue, and that negative return produces guilt. It lowers the amount of time for recreational activities and spending time with family. We’ve siloed productivity to our work life, however; the impact on our personal life is often loss. An alarming 39% of workers in high-tech companies believe they are depressed, as reported by PC Magazine in December 2018. 72% of people who have daily stress and anxiety say it interferes with their lives—anxiety and stress alone have reduced productivity by 56%. More than 80% of people have experienced some form of anxiety, stress, or depression in the workplace. People are spending more time at work than at home or with their loved ones; or, if they are at home, they are working. They are always “on.” As a result of this disparity, people are not fully living their lives. And the “work-life balance” marketed by some HR consulting firms and employers simply does not work. It’s all work and no life! Studies have also proven that when people are unhappy in their personal lives or careers, their productivity goes down and everything and everyone around them suffers. This causes a domino effect, which trickles into every area of their lives. Previous generations used to say, “Work harder,” but we’ve now learned we must “work smarter.” Polak has practiced and tested his methods in hundreds of opportunities and has been paid millions by the largest corporations in the world to share these tools. He feels that every individual and business should have these tools, and will share them with us here.

Genres: Nonfiction, Productivity, Drama, Business, Contemporary, Book Club, Self Help

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 20, 2021

About the author

Over a 40-year span, Richard Polak has been recognized in more than 90 countries around the globe for creating and structuring world-class wellness and HR programs. His research, presentations, articles, subject expertise, and training program with IBIS Academy--the world's longest-running international HR conference for education and networking, targeting executives in the global benefits space. In 2012, Polak merged his company, IBIS Advisors, and his conference, IBIS Academy, in a deal with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co (AJG). This created the role of Executive VP, Multinational Benefits & HR Consulting Services, a position he held for 6 years before deciding to reenter entrepreneurship. Today, Richard is a global advisor for dozens of companies and organizations around the world. He advises on productivity by working smarter, not harder. His book Work Smart Now will be released in April 2021. His entire career has centered around people and what makes them happy and engaged in the workplace.

Reviews

[Mariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Work Smart Now: How to Jump-Start Productivity, Empower Employees, and Achieve More by Richard Polak


I received a copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.


Having over 40 years experience advising organisations worldwide as well as owning and operating his own company Richard Polak has written this descriptive book, sharing his secrets to empower the whole workspace. Easy to read and understand, although aimed at CEO's or executives, it also makes sense for any employee to read and comprehend the everyday function and goal of a successful business.

Each chapter begins with a light-hearted dialogue scenario which brings an interesting feature, making total sense to encourage compassionate productivity rather than pressure the “ work harder “ theory. Investing in employees, putting into practice considering human needs and emotions seems to be common sense but as the author has actually had to put this into words proves that it is definitely lacking in the workplace. Work Smart Now brings to the readers attention the importance of recognising staff as having their own individuality and that caring for them in a professional manner works twofold, creating an atmosphere of home and family among colleagues. The result brings a huge difference in engaged employees who sense their employers genuinely have their best interest at heart, wanting them to succeed, therefore allowing the business to also.

I know many of us throughout our working lives have experienced stress, apathy and even burnout in our careers, I know that I have, being directly linked to performance pressure and the overall result is the opposite of what we are endeavouring to achieve. This book is a great help not only in a work environment but also is extremely useful in organising or lives in general with a goal on time saving, better life management and personal optimism.
“ You can have all the time in the world, but without integrity you have nothing. “

I rate Work Smart Now 5 out of 5 stars.

[H Habbitak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Polak’s experience spans more than thirty-five years, including having advised over 300 of the world’s most innovative multinational organizations in global expansion. His specialty is in Global Human Resources and Labor. He works with firms in selecting locations, increasing productivity, global benefits, along with other solutions to meet the demands of international organizations undergoing rapid global change.

Richard decided to write this book in order to share his experiences, which will empower any business, organisation or employee to increase their own knowledge and productivity. Expertly written, Work Smart Now brings to light the importance of putting individual employee’s needs to the forefront of any successful business, creating a caring and professional atmosphere within the workplace that ensures employees feel like a part of the organisation and not just a replaceable employee.

Highly recommended to everyone out there. A definite 5 stars from me.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant book for managers and leaders in business organizations. Even if you’re just an employee looking to move up in the company, I’d recommend this book. It’s broken down into easy to digest pieces that can be read at your own pace. I liked how the chapters were set up, with examples given. I highly recommend this for anyone trying to increase productivity without increasing stress. Also, a great tool for learning how to make your employees feel more included in the process of improving your organization. A must-read for those looking to get the most out of their workdays.

[Pegboard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Work Smart Now: How to Jump Start Productivity, Empower Employees, and Achieve More by Richard Polak has a unique twist to managing business and personal efficiency. He starts out with a dialog between a CEO and leaders in their business to show how to start compassionate productivity. There has to be a happy medium to get the most profitable work from your employees with the least amount of stress.    

Let me paraphrase Richard Polak to show you the backbone of his book; Work Smart Now, “Time is our second-greatest asset. Integrity is the first, you can have all the time in the world, but without integrity you have nothing.” Wow! I found the author an engaging writer that draws your attention and keeps you reading without the heaviness you often get from business management books. I finished thinking I would love to work for this author. He motivates me to give and do more.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book written by someone with vast experience in the workplace with great chapters they even have one on working at all which pertain to me and I liked. A lot of books about helping you in the workplace usually don’t include that and I really appreciated it. I was so happy to get this book and couldn’t wait to read it and now I have an I highly highly recommend it. Richard Palok seems to have remembered everything. Understanding your company and its goals will help you better define your work goals and how to become an employee that benefits the company at large and one they want to keep.although you would think that would be common sense it’s something I had never thought of before. I really love this book and like I said I totally highly recommend it!

[Grymm Gevierre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this book caters to everyone who is/has been employed and how to be successful, it really seems to fit with support, management, and roles that involve you working with other employees rather than customers. It’s a great book, and really delivers a perspective on managing yourself in a work environment. Polak covers a lot of ground, but the real center of the book (as the title implies) is efficiency and productivity with a dash of professionalism. Aligning one's mindset to match the values and direction of a company and gearing every work action toward that and/or bettering that objective is a fantastic approach covered in this book…but it’s not all about work. It’s about managing the stress and employee/employer relationship to get the best employee and work frame of mind possible. This book presents research from a top/down approach rather than a bottom-up approach, and that kind of mentality can help a workplace flourish, big or small. Great book, highly recommend.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technical but not difficult to read...

This book is a bit more technical than other books in this genre. Overall, it is designed to help business owners, managers, or team leaders learn how to make the best use of their time, their employees, and their employee's time. There is much information associated with this principle. If this is something that needs to be addressed in your life, read this book. It isn't hard to understand or get through and there are many additional resources to check out. You can tell a lot of research went into this one, which comes across.

[Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Time is our second-greatest asset. We all run out of it eventually, so we need
to use it wisely.”
Author Richard Polak delves deeply into what it really means to work smarter. His book touches on the need to rethink the idea of working harder into creating balance and quality of life. His research explores the high rates of depression that exist within the workforce and seeks to present methods to maintain productivity and success but allow for a happy and balanced life as a whole.
His book pushes for a better understanding of time and how we use it as individuals as well as companies. I found his take to be an incredibly refreshing and helpful one. I do not normally see people include mental health and happiness in their productivity/entrepreneurial/business books. I found Polak’s voice to be informative, practical, and motivational.

[M Minata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Richard Polak is one of the top HR specialists in the world and his book “Work Smart Now” is a guide to help people magnify productivity, enhance revenue and create a fantastic working practice for employees.

Polak introduces the “inverted pyramid method” to enhance this by putting employees first, the clients second and making money third, this is a fantastic idea and think every company out there would do well to adopt this strategy. There are so many employees out there in the world suffering with stress and unhappiness resulting from their work life, whether it be working long hours and never getting to see family, or poor pay and very little reward, or acknowledgement that things need to change.

This book was such a positive read, it was full of great ideas and principles and insights that I personally think could make the world of difference to someones life, I think it really will for me. If you are a business owner, manager, employee or leader then give this book a read. Highly recommended.

[Sebastian Sanio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book depicts several topics related to improving work productivity ranging from employees wellness to technology.
There are a lot of references and bibliography at the end of the book that back the author's recommendations.
Even though I felt it repetitive sometimes, I got a few useful ideas that I am willing to implement.

[Rosalyn A. Polak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific book, I recommend. Great writing, easy to read and informative. Very help in today’s work environment.