Why should anyone work here? : what it takes to create an authentic organization

244 Pages·2015·1.37 MB·English

by  Goffee

“Goffee and Jones have taught us much in the last two decades about how to be
outstanding leaders. And it is our job as leaders to create the distinctive cultures
that will attract and foster talent and leadership. In this book, they show us how
to do this, clearly demonstrating, as no one has before, the key importance of a
few simple cultural traits in order for companies to be great.”
—BELMIRO DE AZEVEDO, former Chairman and CEO, Sonae
“More than ever, the challenge for leaders is to build organizations that maximize the creative power of
their people in a sustainable way. In this extremely relevant and practical book, Goffee and Jones challenge
long-held assumptions and provide a framework and principles for bringing the ideal organization closer to
reality.”
—CECILE FROT-COUTAZ, CEO, FremantleMedia Ltd.
“The combination of the right products with the right people drives a brand’s success. After showing that
leadership is not given but earned in Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?, Goffee and Jones now
demonstrate that to complete the equation, a leader must build and shape the right organizational culture to
stimulate creativity and ensure long-term success.”
—CHANTAL GAEMPERLE, LVMH Group Executive Vice President, Human
Resources and Synergies
“A great sequel to Why Should Anyone Be Led by You? This book lifts the discussions about authentic
leadership and what makes for the best possible organization to a new level. A must-read for all CEOs.”
—FRANZ HUMER, Chairman, Diageo; former Chairman, F. Hoffmann-LaRoche
“A thoroughly enjoyable and enriching book. There is something profound and thought provoking on every
page. I was left inspired to strive to make my company an even better place to work.”
—HELEN HYDE, Personnel Director, Waitrose
“Goffee and Jones have a knack for asking the right questions at the right time. The workplace as we know
it is broken, and no amount of personal, ‘authentic’ leadership is going to fix it. A primer on what it will
take to build organizations where people can truly be their best, this book is a must-read for anyone
concerned with attracting the best talent and fostering their creativity.”
—HERMINIA IBARRA, professor, INSEAD; author, Act Like a Leader, Think
Like a Leader
“If you were to design the best workplace on earth, what would it look like? You can find the answers to
this question in this wonderful book. Why Should Anyone Work Here? is full of inspiring examples,
intellectual wisdom, and practical advice on how to design an organization that brings out the best in its
people. It is bound to become required reading for any senior executive.”
—COSTAS MARKIDES, professor, London Business School
Why
should
anyone
work
here?
Why
should
anyone
work
here?
WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE
AN AUTHENTIC ORGANIZATION
Rob Goffee / Gareth Jones
HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW
PRESS
Boston, Massachusetts
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Copyright 2015 Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise),
without the prior permission of the publisher. Requests for permission should be directed to
[email protected], or mailed to Permissions, Harvard Business School Publishing, 60 Harvard
Way, Boston, Massachusetts 02163.
The web addresses referenced in this book were live and correct at the time of the book’s publication but
may be subject to change.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Goffee, Robert.
Why should anyone work here?: what it takes to create an authentic organization / Rob Goffee and
Gareth Jones.
 pages cm.
ISBN 978-1-62527-509-7 (hardback) 1. Corporate culture. 2. Organizational behavior. 3. 
Leadership.
I. Jones, Gareth, 1951 August 21-II. Title.
HD58.7.G64155 2015
658.3—dc23 2015017103
The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the American National Standard for
Permanence of Paper for Publications and Documents in Libraries and Archives Z39.48-1992.
Dedicated to Professor John W. Hunt
A great teacher, mentor, and friend
Contents
Introduction
Why Should Anyone Work Here?
Chapter 1
Let People Be Themselves
Amplifying Difference Instead of Minimizing It
Chapter 2
Practice Radical Honesty
Communicating What’s Really Going On
Chapter 3
Build on People’s Strengths and Interests
Creating Extra Value for Everyone
Chapter 4
Stand for Something Real
Putting Authenticity at the Core
Chapter 5
Make It Meaningful
Ensuring the Daily Work Is Intrinsically
Satisfying
Chapter 6
Simplify the Rules
Reducing the Clutter and Increasing Clarity
and Fairness
Chapter 7
Creating and Sustaining the Authentic
Organization
Trade-Offs and Challenges
Conclusion
Toward More Authentic Organizations
Appendix: Methods and Diagnostic Instrument
Notes
Index
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Why
should
anyone
work
here?