The World's Best Book Summaries
How do you define failure at work? Does failure have value in the workplace? In The Fearless Organization, Amy C. Edmondson redefines the purpose of failure at work. This helps employees view their mistakes as opportunities to learn so the company can improve. Learn more about why failure at work isn’t such a bad thing.
Why is it increasingly harder to find career security? Which jobs offer the most career security? In Linchpin, Seth Godin argues that becoming a “linchpin” employee—a person with uniquely indispensable skills in an organization—is necessary for career security in today’s tumultuous job market. He further claims that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to earn a living with a non-linchpin job. Read on to learn more about linchpin jobs and why they offer career security, according to Godin.
Do your employees just nod and listen? How can you get employees to speak up? The Fearless Organization by Amy C. Edmondson says that leaders must create a safe space for employees to ask questions, engage in debate, and learn from one another. Building psychologically safe work cultures enables workers to tap into their creativity and innovate, which in turn improves their engagement and performance. Find out how to encourage employees to speak up below.
Why are care workers paid so little? How do cultural values contribute to underpaying care workers? Author and anthropologist David Graeber wrote Bullshit Jobs in part to explain how society undervalues care work. According to him, because care work doesn’t produce goods, society views it as less important and justifies paying care workers so little. Read on to learn more about why care workers are paid so little, according to Graeber.
Do you have the potential to become a leader at work? What does it take to be a role model for your co-workers? Managers are typically expected to create healthy work environments, but employees can contribute as well. In The Fearless Organization, Amy C. Edmondson says that despite what your role is at work, you too can make a difference. Here’s how to become a leader at work by making co-workers feel psychologically safe.
Why is it so hard to focus? What are you missing when you get distracted? How is attention like a muscle? Daniel Goleman believes that you can improve your attention—by strengthening it with training and restoring it when it’s fatigued. First, you must understand what weakens and disrupts your attention in the first place. Continue reading to learn why it’s so hard to focus, especially these days.
What’s fueling the social divide in education in the U.S.? How does education inequality affect society? David Graeber’s book Bullshit Jobs describes how jobs that serve no purpose in society create deep social divides. According to him, pointless jobs foster resentment between college-educated “white-collar” workers and non-college-educated “blue-collar” workers. Read on to learn about the social divide in education and its connection to pointless jobs, according to Graeber.
Are you feeling unhappy at work? What are the warning signs of a toxic job? What’s a “bullshit” job? In Bullshit Jobs, author David Graeber found that many jobs in contemporary societies are, in fact, pointless. He claims that pointless jobs proliferate because Western cultures traditionally understand work as something that’s supposed to be unpleasant, if not downright miserable. If you’re feeling unhappy at work, read on to learn the four warning signs of working a bullshit job, according to Graeber.
Are digital games good or bad for you? What’s an effective way to monitor your own thoughts? Focus can be trained. In his book Focus, Daniel Goleman discusses two practical (even enjoyable) ways to strengthen your various attention skills. In particular, he shows how digital games and meditation can lead to sharper focus. Continue reading for some practical advice on how to train your focus.
Is universal basic income (UBI) a good idea for ending pointless jobs? Why are pointless jobs harmful? David Graeber wrote Bullshit Jobs to explain how jobs that don’t serve a purpose are not only inefficient, but are also harmful to society and workers. According to him, we can combat the proliferation of pointless jobs in society by introducing a universal basic income program. Read on to learn why universal basic income is a good idea to end pointless jobs, according to Graeber.