Making Work Work: The Solution for Bringing Positive Change to Any Work Environment

by Shola Richards

In Making Work Work, internationally recognized leadership consultant Shola Richards offers solutions for creating a more positive professional environment using kindness and mutual respect.

Shola Richards had reached the end of his rope after nearly two years at a toxic job, he felt numb and suicidal. So he quit and focused on inspiring current and future leaders in all stages of their careers to start a workplace movement on the foundation of kindness and mutual respect. His goal in doing this is simple: to bring positive change to any work environment.

This empowering guide presents Richards’s strategies along with actionable plans. His keys to success include banishing blame and excuses, relentlessly respecting ourselves, maintaining work-life separation, recognizing the benefits of having true and lasting friends at work, taking the time to appreciate our colleagues, and dealing with the ABCs of the workplace (Agitators, Bullies and Complainers). To ensure the concepts are put into action, a series of exercises will help you move toward meaningful action.

This encouraging book is a call to action for anyone to create a more positive work environment, regardless of work title, experience or education.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Leadership, Professional Development, Management, Self Help, Unfinished

328 pages, Hardcover

First published March 8, 2016

About the author

Shola Richards is the CEO and Founder of Go Together Global®, the author of three books, and he is leading the movement to remind the world that we are defined by how we treat each other. Shola’s work has been featured on the Today Show, Forbes, Black Enterprise, Complete Wellbeing India, Business Insider Australia, and his tireless efforts to make the world a kinder place have earned him the well-deserved nickname, “Brother Teresa”.

As a speaker, Shola has shared his transformative message with Fortune 500 companies, top universities, leading healthcare organizations, the motion picture industry, on the TEDx stage, and in his greatest honor to date, in September 2021, he was invited to testify in front of the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill to share his expert recommendations on how to bring more civility to Congress. He’ll be the first to tell you that they could use a refresher course 😁.

Last, but certainly not least, Shola is a father, husband, identical twin, and a self-professed “kindness extremist” who will not rest until bullying and incivility is extinct from the American workplace.

Reviews

[Nirmala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dedicated an hour a day to read Shola’s book and ended up finishing it over the weekend so that I could immediately integrate his ideas and skills into my daily life. Yes, it is that good! While his ideas about work place positivity are not a hard sell (I am all in on this concept) or novel, what I truly appreciate is Shola’s framework, scaffolding and language. I now have a structured process and set of skills to measure and improve myself, to communicate respectfully and assertively, and to relentlessly respect myself and others. I feel less disregulated because I have more skills and tools that I can apply to make work work better.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work in Human Resources and Shola's book will become an invaluable tool in my belt as I work with managers and teams on improving workplace culture.

I love the prompt early on to avoid the phrase, "This is common sense," as you work through the book. Yes, some of the concepts in this book feel like they should be obvious, but I see breakdowns in respectful communication happen all the time by well-intentioned people with blind spots. The information in this book can equip us all to be great leaders (regardless of our job titles) in bringing about positive change in our work (and life!) environments.

[Connie Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of my work ties to people and culture and I found this book so grounded in the idea of start with kindness, end with kindness. It is an easy read, has moments that really make you laugh, as well as moments that really engage your mind about paths forward. We have a library of books for employees to check out in our main office and we will be adding this one to it. We are also starting a small book club around inclusive behavior and being a part of the solution in improving the culture. This book will be a strong read suggestion for that group as well.

[Matthew Hitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Shola Richards’s since I was forwarded one of his Monday morning emails a few years back. I had the pleasure of reading this new edition of his book on the American workplace.

Richards calls for a radical rethinking of work, with an aim towards ending toxic workplace cultures and behavior in our lifetimes. The audacious and hopeful nature of that mission carries through the book. I found the chapters on radical self-respect and boundaries, as well as the chapter on knowing when it’s finally time to quit a toxic environment, to be particularly well done. Richards has specific advice on how to consider requests on our time and energy (the L.I.N.E. Method as he calls it) which I found to be a clearer and more orderly way of enforcing healthy boundaries as opposed to “just say no.”

The book’s mission can feel daunting, which is why the last chapter, a call to collective action, ends the book on an importantly optimistic note.

Generally, as readers of Richards’s excellent Monday emails and his other work (Go Together) will expect, this work is infused with a spirit of human kindness and togetherness that is sorely missing from many corners of today’s world, especially in the workplace. The task Richards lays out is immense, but the potential for improving our own lives by bringing more kindness, respect, and healthy accountability to ourselves and our workplaces seems to me to be worth the effort.

[Kathy Perevosnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first introduced to Shola through his Monday morning emails. I look forward to his weekly gems. I am not sure what I was expecting from this book, but an introduction into the darkness of suicidal ideation from a horrible work environment was not it. Thankfully, Shola ugly cried past those feelings and wrote a book for the “solutionist” in each of us to use to combat the green skinned aliens who invade the modern workplace (which made me laugh out loud). There are some hard hitting challenges and tests throughout the book, and I’ve flagged more pages and highlighted more quotes than I have since college - because I know this is a book that will require multiple reads in order to implement the skills necessary for me to be part of the positive change needed in the world. I can honestly say I’m no longer in a toxic workplace, but I have definitely worked in some, and I want to do my part to make sure I’m leaving the world better, by reducing the toxicity! Thanks to Shola, I’ve got some great tips for how to be REAL, and be kind.

[Kelly Hendershot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Shola's since he spoke at my organization's Annual Leadership Conference in 2020. Since my organization is currently working on strategic planning, it seemed a perfect time to read "Making Work Work." I found myself not only applying the learnings to my current job, but to toxic situations from past jobs as well. The mix of quotes from respected sources to start each chapter and Shola's vulnerability throughout the book made me think, "this is a movement I want and NEED to get behind." It's a book that all leaders - those in title and those in action - should read. I also really appreciated the discussion guide at the end and intend to use some of the prompts during an upcoming team building day.

[Amy Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was motivational, relatable, humorous, and insightful. I enjoyed the mental exercise of placing myself inside some of these examples, relating to different points in my career. I have so many yellow highlights and folded corners to refer back to down the road when I need a positivity reminder. Can’t wait to share this book with work friends!

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are literally pissed off regarding your work and work place and need to blow some steam off, this book will definitely serve as your bestie.

The writing is very basic and quite easy to read. You will find the different aspects of positivity to make your current unhappy situation lot better in helping you find what’s actually making you unhappy and what you can do about it.

The book is short but yes, it’s like I am talking with my best friend over a cup of coffee and discuss what we can do about our current situation instead of becoming more and more negative.

I would say the book is best for those who are not hard core nonfiction readers. It’s best fit for beginners and those who do not read nonfiction self help books most days.

Thank you, Advantage Media Group - ForbesBooks, for the advance reading copy.

[J Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only wished I had this book as a guide and reference decades ago. It would have both equipped and empowered me to navigate those dark professional spaces "led" by cowardly, calculating, and controlling "leaders" with much more courage, confidence, and self-compassion.

If you are ready to do the HARD work AND the HEART work necessary to bring positive and lasting change to your work environments, and beyond, this is a must-have "for life" book!

Thank you, Shola!

[Valerie Oak Leathercraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became acquainted with Shola last summer at the International Association of Administrative Professionals annual meeting. He spoke during an open session and his story resonated deeply with me. His transparency about the difficulties he experienced in the corporate world and how deeply they wounded him was truly inspiring. When I found out Shola had written this book, I got truly excited because the 50 minutes I got to listen to his thoughts at conference weren't nearly enough. At the same time, I wondered would it just be an extensive re-hashing of what he'd shared at conference. Thankfully, that wasn't the case at all! While one of the illustrations he gave during the conference was shared in the book, and the general concept of positivity that he'd brought to light during his speech was the same, the book provides a depth to his ideas that it is simply impossible to share during a brief conference experience.

Making Work Work is the first time I've read anything in secular literature that not only discusses the sub-human culture created by the lack of civility in the workplace (and our culture-at-large) but also presents simple and clear instructions about how to remedy the problem. This isn't just a book of mindless platitudes and vapid self-help suggestions; it's a well-constructed, appropriately researched and thoughtful discussion meant to challenge the reader as they begin to move forward into a new lifestyle.

Mr. Richards is very clear - those seriously reading his book have a tremendous amount of work ahead. Just like those serious about their physical health must change their physical lifestyles, so must the reader change their mental lifestyles. Each section discusses a particular component of this workforce culture challenge - laying out the problem(s) American workers face, the effects upon our national workforce, as well as the challenges and potential resistance we will face as we navigate through this new way of thinking and behaving. He also provides meaningful encouragement using illustrations of others' efforts as well as highlighting shared heroes who have spent their lives creating change - from Mother Teresa to Elie Wiesel. Shola reminds us that a life worth living requires we be purposeful, thoughtful and deliberate while also being nimble, flexible and vulnerable. There's a LOT to process, quite frankly, and in addition to all the reading, there are exercises at the end of each chapter designed to pull you deeper into yourself, requiring intimate reflection and honesty. Truthfully, I did not do all the exercises (yet) because this was a much deeper read than I expected. I'll be re-reading the book starting next week, with a notepad alongside so I can do the exercises, annotate important areas and invest myself in this process.

One final note, which will resonate with those who've heard Shola speak. I'm a very short, disabled, middle-aged lady living in the Deep South. I frequently struggle with daily living tasks like putting on my shoes or bending to pick up something that has fallen on the floor, so it's easy to feel I can't make a difference. However, going forward, my new motto is "BE THE MOSQUITO," which is absolutely hysterical because around here, we joke it's our state bird (and facing one is scarier than hurricanes and the humidity combined). Blessings to you Shola - for challenging us to walk this path for change.

[petra mcbride · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first encounter with Shola was at my organization's all-staff day. Shola was our keynote speaker and left such an impression on me I quickly signed up for his Monday morning positivity emails. When I learned of this book, I was intrigued. Not because I'm feeling any of my own negative emotions at work, but because there is work to be done on our culture and I feel responsible to gain perspective if I want to be a leader who inspires change. I came away with several nuggets from his R.E.A.L. Work Assignments that I will be practicing and sharing with my team. Thank you, Shola, for leading the movement to make our workplaces better. I'm picking up a few extra copies to strategically place in our staff break rooms and to personally share with those who come to me seeking advice or guidance with the struggles they encounter. Well done!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shola Richards spoke at our staff day a few years back. His speech didn't really work for me then. I can't tell you why at this point, other than I'm not much of an audio learner. But I won this book then and decided to read it as part of my learning plan at work.

And it's great! It's also one of those books where I probably don't need what it says right now and when I DID need it, it wouldn't have done anything for me, you know? I'm pretty positive at work these days. But I don't think I could've heard this message when things were bad. (Actually, maybe that was the problem back then, when he spoke. We were still sort of recovering from bad things.)

[Eileen Eickner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shola Richards provides positive ways to see the workplace in a different light. He is authentic and gives great advice. His style of writing is easy to read. I took many notes on his great ideas. I enjoyed reading a chapter a day before work to put me in a more positive mindset. The change truly does start with us. I highly recommend this book for everyone, even if you LOVE your workplace. We spend such a large amount of time there so these tools Mr. Richards provide really help.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful kickstart to creating a kinder workplace. I do not have high hopes for anything that focuses on "positivity," since that's often just code for "ignoring/being afraid to discuss the bad stuff," but this book promotes real, actionable ways to foster the kind of environment where no one dreads coming to work. I think even just the acknowledgement that some people are going to be jerks, and you have to find ways to work around that and band together with the people who DO want improvement was helpful. The call to action to do something every day, even if it's small, to promote positive change was genuinely inspiring. I have been feeling somewhat defeated in certain circumstances over the past year, and this book was a push to not let the bad stuff rule my life. I'd recommend this to anyone in any kind of supervisory role, but also to anyone who feels stuck in a less than ideal situation. While the book focuses on work, it could definitely be applied to any number of personal situations, or even to standing up for important causes.

[Joel Ratcliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good workplace resource, suitable for any workplace lacking civility.

[Kim]

This book is very touching and motivational. I’ve stopped regularly rating books I read. I don’t want the stress of making that judgement about other people’s work. But I do wish to thank the author for his courage and grace in putting this one out into the world.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did enjoy this book quite a bit.
I have also went back and forth with myself between 4 and 5 stars.
I finally came to 4 stars because it all of sounds great, spectacular and I honestly
believe it would work however to implement this all time, I would fail.
I am still human, I will forget to be assertive and I will come off as a asshat sometimes.
Sometimes it's hard to be all that I want to be and or my hire self everyday.
I know Shola says we will make mistakes and we won't be perfect however
I still believe I will forget and still live among those that aren't practicing and
it is going to be so easy to slip into the Norm or the ways of the majority.
I don't want to be a negative nancy and or shit all over what Shola is trying to
do and suggest we all try to do but, that is the key word "Strive to Do."
I don't want to be a asshat or be disrespectful, or blow my lid and or treat
my co workers with disrespect or unkindness but some days I honestly have
no energy to say hello and or help others feel important when I can't even help
myself feel important some days and it has nothing to do with the job or being there.
All In All Shola did a amazing job and I will strive to implement his book, ideas and
wonderful positivity into my life and work place however so you all know I will fail
and I am sorry ahead of time but, I will continue to refer back to this book time and time again.

[Peggy Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of hearing Shola speak a couple years ago and was immediately captivated with his style, sense of humor, and engaging demeanor. Reading his book provided that same feeling and I found so many useful “nuggets” to make work really “work” for all of us. The bottom line is kindness and mutual respect.
I want to be part of Shola’s workplace movement that demonstrates that a person can hold others accountable for their actions and still be kind. The book explores how holding other people accountable is actually an act of kindness. Simple things work.
I loved when he discusses work life balance – instead we should think of it as work-life separation. That thought process allows you to give 100% to both, without comparing the percentage of time given to either one.
Shola states that people who are ready for this workplace revolution are “Solutionists” and, after reading his book, I certainly want to be one! He provides us the detailed plans to accomplish meaningful actions. His view is that everyone is important, everyone can have a profound impact, and everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and valued.
Thank you, Shola!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterpiece! If you are miserable at your place of employment, you MUST read this.....but proceed with caution. If you are not a teachable person, or have absolutely NO intention of changing, then don't bother. I have always stood by the fact that I can only effect change in myself. I CANNOT change or control other people. I can only control *my* reaction to how others behave. So, if I desire something different, then the place to start is with myself. This book reinforces that philosophy and gives solid advice on how to be happier at work REGARDLESS of the circumstances.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands-down the best self-help book I have ever read. Whether you consider your workplace difficult or not, you will get insight into how to make the workplace and the world a better place, not just for you, but for everyone. This book gave me the opportunity to really look at myself and think about who I am as an employee, and what I can do better. It also reinforced or pointed out lessons that I have seen in action in many workplaces through the years.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably should have read this after the pandemic and the financial fallout since that will be my work focus for the foreseeable future. If you listen to the audio version, also get the book so you can complete the tasks at the end of the chapters. Good ideas but poorly timed for me to act on them.

[Henzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apabila ingin “menyulap” tempat kerja, lebih baik beraksi dengan melakukan kebaikan daripada tidak melakukan apa-apa.

Berdasarkan penelitian di Amerika, sekitar dua pertiga pekerja menjalani pekerjaan mereka dengan acuh tak acuh (model survivor) yang bergelut dengan banyak hal-hal negatif (perlakuan toksik, less communication, penderitaan, dan lain sebagainya). Banyak orang harus menghadapi kenyataan pahit selama bekerja seperti turunnya standar kesehatan tubuh baik mental dan fisik, stress, hingga menyebabkan post-trauma yang tak berkesudahan. Hal ini disebabkan karena pekerja tidak diapresiasi, diperlakukan dengan semena-mena, tidak dimanusiakan oleh sesama pekerja, pelanggan, bahkan atasan. Pokoknya miris.

Sebagai gambaran atas tindakan negatif tersebut, berikut adalah daftar BIG NO alias red flag yang perlu kita ketahui dalam dunia kerja, in case ada sebagian di antara kita tidak menyadarinya bahwa justru kita sendiri adalah pelakunya. Di antaranya adalah sebagai berikut:
- Meremehkan hasil pekerjaan sejawat
- Membuat gosip yang tidak perlu bahkan yang sifatnya fitnah
- Mempraktikkan email yang tidak etis seperti penyampaian pesan tanpa salam, menggunakan capslock alias huruf besar semua, serta melakukan cc terhadap orang-orang yg bahkan sebetulnya tidak perlu
- Hampir tidak pernah mengucapkan “halo” atau “selamat pagi”
- Mengabaikan pendapat pekerja lain
- Membuat masalah kemudian membiarkan pekerja lain menyelesaikannya
- Mencuri ide pekerja lain
- Dan lain sebagainya, masih banyak banget

Atas dasar kondisi tersebut, maka penulis mengusung misi “kebaikan” dan “mutual respek” yang sifatnya terus-menerus untuk menciptakan lingkungan kerja yang positif sehingga bisa meminimalisir, hingga menghilangkan kebiasaan buruk yang sudah membabi buta.

Mutual respek, yang merupakan salah satu aspek yang ditekankan, adalah sebuah aksi konsistensi yang menunjukkan cara kamu menghargai pikiran, ide, perasaan, dan kebahagiaan sesamamu. Ada pun mutual respek ini sering disalahartikan dan dipetakan dalam hal yang tidak perlu, seperti yang dijabarkan berikut ini:
1. Respek tak terhentikan yang tidak akan dibedakan berdasarkan level penilaian, seperti jabatan seseorang.
2. Respek tak terhentikan bukan merupakan hal yang baru akan diberikan apabila seseorang mencapai level tertentu. Semua orang berhak mendapatkannya.
3. Respek tak terhentikan bukanlah didapatkan dengan mengintimidasi orang lain, seperti atasan yang menekan bawahannya supaya mendapatkan respek.
Respek ini harus diberikan secara merata tanpa membeda-bedakan dan sudah merupakan suatu keharusan untuk menciptakan lingkungan kerja yang positif. Dengan adanya respek di antara sesama, jalan-jalan keluar dalam dunia pekerjaan akan semakin terbuka untuk dapat diselesaikan karena masing-masing merasa dihargai dan dapat bekerja sesuai dengan bagiannya dengan baik.

Hal di atas merupakan satu di antaranya yang perlu diperhatikan dalam membangun positivity dalam dunia pekerjaan. Banyak hal yang bisa diselesaikan dengan baik-baik tentunya jika tidak ada drama yang diciptakan antar sesama pekerja apa pun levelnya. Tentunya, opsi untuk “get out” juga BOLEH dilakukan apabila positivity itu tidak dapat dilakukan. Tidak serta merta kita harus menjadi pahlawan di semua tempat untuk memulai pergerakan kebaikan, apalagi kondisinya sudah tidak memungkinkan. Bahkan, di dalam sini pun ada daftar yang disajikan penulis sebelum kita get out dalam lingkungan tempat kita berada. Dan tentunya masih banyak hal menarik lainnya!

Tidak hanya pengajaran secara teori, dalam setiap bab buku ini juga menawarkan REAL WORK assignment, yang dapat digunakan untuk langsung mempraktikkan apa telah dibahas dalam bab tersebut.

Note: sebenarnya saya ingin membahas buku ini lebih rinci lagi, tapi mungkin tunggu mood lebih bagus, ya. 😄

[Jan Gnida · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book after hearing Shola speak at a conference. He was a very engaging speaker, and I was curious if that would translate to the page. For the most part, it does, and I have enjoyed spending more time with him in this way.

BUT, the thing to know about this book is that it is written for someone who needs to take action. For me, I feel lucky to say that workplace bullying is NOT part of my experience, and this book helped me recognize and acknowledge some really great things about my workplace.

If you ARE the person who needs guidance in how to deal with these situations, my advice for this book is...GO SLOW. Or maybe read the book, then go back and read it again, spending time with each chapter. The book has very practical takeaways and reflection prompts, and it is only going to be effective for you if you give each of the steps some time.

And if you have the opportunity to hear Shola speak in person, do it!

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really wanted to like this book, and was hoping for some inspiration. Instead expect preachy fluff. If you want to hear a rally cry with no substance, please continue and purchase this book. I give it two stars only because there was a word of wisdom catch phase in the first chapter or two ....the rest is time I cannot get back in my life and nothing noteworthy that will actually impact change. This author wouldn't inspire anyone needing change. The quizzes are the worst and so useless. If you scored a ten or higher, you're the problem. How about if you scored one depending on severity you're the problem. And so what, you think anyone listens based on how he approached the conversation. Yikes.

[Andy Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shola Richards was a speaker at the recent Public Library Association (PLA) Conference in Columbus, Ohio, and before he was finished speaking I committed to tracking down and reading this book. With it freshly in the rear view mirror, I can say that it's an absolute gem or a book, imparting several integral lessons, my favorite of which was "Relentless Respect."

If you enjoy audiobooks, I recommend picking this up through Hoopla or elsewhere. Shola narrates his own material and does an outstanding job.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of hearing Shola speak a few years ago and was immediately struck by his ability to get right to the heart of the matter, often with a workplace scenario I completely related with. This book does the same. As with anything worthwhile, experiencing positive outcomes absolutely requires mindful effort and the relentless respect Shola describes toward ourselves and those we meet in and outside of work. I hope this book motivates the change this world and each of us needs!

[Justin Heilman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The delivery of this book was excellent. It touches on many issues with our work place. However, some of the resolutions he came up with seems more divisive than inclusive and that is strictly opinion. You will learn about bullying and all of that but simply getting a group created at work to create change didn’t seem practical if you work in a hostile environment. Average read for me.

[Samuel · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the introduction, the author recounts surviving a suicide attempt. Later, he starts off chapter 15 with a few paragraphs exhorting the reader to kill themself, because “our deaths will need to come at our own hands.”

This book might have some good advice for refusing to put up with harassment and bullying, but a suicide survivor should know better than to joke about it for the sake of dramatic irony that felt entirely out of place and juvenile. Which this book already had too much of.

[Brenda Chamness Biggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic book to redefine workplace culture starting in the mirror. I'm so glad I read this book and it really help frame some key work challenges in a different light for me. This should be required reading for onboarding new employees at organizations!

[Kacper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good, and I liked it. It's important to be think about values and how our work-place performance affects others. However, the author is a little scary, calling people "asshats" and telling the reader to "kill yourself" -- figuratively, but still!