Elizabeth Whitworth

Senior SEO Writer

Elizabeth has a lifelong love of books. She devours nonfiction, especially in the areas of history, theology, and philosophy. A switch to audiobooks has kindled her enjoyment of well-narrated fiction, particularly Victorian and early 20th-century works. She appreciates idea-driven books—and a classic murder mystery now and then. Elizabeth has a Substack and is writing a book about what the Bible says about death and hell.

Expertise

History, Theology, Government

Awards

Contributions to joint task force efforts (FBI), Contributions to Special Operations Division (DOJ & DEA), Efforts to fight the war on drugs (NSA), Contributions to Operation Storm Front (US Customs Service)

The Big Four Tech Companies: The Secrets to Their Success

Just how big are the big four tech companies? What are the four deep human desires that these companies appeal to? The Four—Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google—are among the largest companies in the U.S., and their products and services infiltrate every aspect of American life. In The Four, Scott Galloway takes a hard look at these technology companies that dominate the modern marketplace. Keep reading for an explanation of just how pervasive these companies are and the two factors that are major contributors to their continuing success.

Create a Teal Company (or Transform Your Business Into One)

Would you like your company to put purpose above profit? Are you eager to lead self-directed employees? In Reinventing Organizations, Frédéric Laloux identifies an emerging breed of company that operates from a new set of rules. These visionary organizations (“Teal companies”) embody principles of self-direction and individual authenticity while following a collective higher purpose. Keep reading to learn how to create a Teal company of your own.

Organizational Trust and Transparency: Treat Employees as Adults

Does your company operate on a “need to know” basis? Does management wield all of the power? Visionary companies eliminate the compartmentalization of information, and they distribute power. This transparency leads to trust. Employees feel respected, and performance increases. Read on to learn more about organizational trust and transparency.

Authenticity at Work: You’re Not a Cog in a Machine

Does your organization treat employees as adults or children? Do people feel as though they can be themselves at work? In Reinventing Organizations, business consultant Frédéric Laloux identifies many commonalities among the companies included in his research. These include encouraging all employees to be their authentic selves at work. Continue reading to learn the difference that authenticity at work can make.

Shortform Reads: How Speculative Fiction Opens Your Eyes

What author’s predictions for humanity are shockingly accurate? What’s wrong with John Green’s romance novels? Why should everyone read the controversial book, Lolita? Blair could tell you. She’s a book guide writer at Shortform, and we interviewed her recently to learn what she reads and what she loves (or doesn’t love) about these books.

3 Elements of Organizational Culture That Set Companies Apart

Do organizations have callings just as individuals do? Does your company allow you to be yourself? In Reinventing Organizations, Frédéric Laloux discusses three common elements of organizational culture within visionary companies: purpose, authenticity, and trust. Only this kind of organizational culture can foster the practices that set these exceptional companies apart from the rest. Keep reading to learn about three elements of organizational culture that are present in visionary companies.

Organizational Performance Measures: Put the Focus on Teams

What if your organization focused on team performance rather than individual performance? How would that impact feedback, conflicts, and compensation? When everyone is free to act as a self-regulated agent in an organization, it might be hard to imagine how individual performance is measured. For the most part, it isn’t. Business consultant Frédéric Laloux explains this in his book Reinventing Organizations. Keep reading to learn how organizational performance measures work in visionary companies.

Decision-Making in Organizations: Seek Advice, Not Consensus

Who should hold the decision-making power in an organization? What’s the trend in this arena? Some emerging organizations operate from a new set of rules that veer away from hierarchical structures based on power and achievement. The most counterintuitive aspect of these visionary organizations is their approach to making decisions. Continue reading to learn about this revolutionary approach to decision-making in organizations.

Job Role vs. Job Description: Which Is Better?

In the debate regarding job role vs. job description, where do the most visionary companies come down? What difference does it make to an organization’s flexibility and overall performance? In Reinventing Organizations, Frédéric Laloux identifies an emerging breed of company that operates from a new set of rules. One new rule they’ve adopted is exchanging job descriptions for job roles. This change serves both the employee and the organization. Continue reading to understand Laloux’s findings about job roles.

Autonomy in the Workplace: Trust Unleashes Potential

How much control from above do workers need? Which is more effective for performance—regulations or trust? Frédéric Laloux surveyed successful companies that embody the mindset he believes will epitomize the next stage of human evolution. He identified a common thread of practices and philosophies. These include new assumptions about how people work—and how they’re motivated to work. Read more to learn Laloux’s findings on autonomy in the workplace.