Making Work Work

September 15, 2016

Who wouldn't want work to be their happy place? Corporate trainer, consultant, and creator of the Positivity Solution blog Richards is on a mission to help employees do just that. After a soul-sucking job left the author depressed and self-destructive, he charted a new course and here shares his positivity formula with readers. Citing statistics that demonstrate how unfulfilling and even unproductive the U.S. workplace can be for some, Richards describes how people at all levels of an organization can turn things around for themselves and others by treating one another with kindness, courtesy, and mutual respect. He offers practical advice for dealing with bullies and other problematic colleagues, and his approach to work-life separation (not balance) is a nice touch. Even for people who love their jobs, making the work environment even more positive is a worthwhile aspiration. VERDICT Most books about creating a better work climate center on the role of management (e.g., Bob Chapman & Raj Sisodia's Everybody Matters); Richard's focus on leading change from across title ranks will be appreciated by people at any stage of their careers who are seeking a more spirit-enriching workplace.--Carol Elsen, Univ. of Wisconsin, Whitewater Libs.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Consultant and trainer Richards gets right to the answer for why today's workplaces are so toxic and why employees are disengaged, disillusioned, and otherwise disgusted in one wordpositivity. Throughout his own stories and some head-nodding ideas and activities, convincing us to do something about positivity is his one unrelenting focus. From bullying to gossiping and all manner of disrespect, Richards documents incivility in the workplace with some astounding (and credible) statistics plus, of course, a goodly number of solutions and what-to-do's about it. The acronym REALrelentless respect, endless energy, addressing workplace negativity, and lasting leadership infuses every chapter. While he debunks myths (positivity will never work; our workplaces are way too broken to fix) and underscores the facts (excuses can destroy your career, kill you, and drive away business), he provides a powerful template to follow as he ranges from defining respect to leading a world change. Should he send a copy to all human resources officers in the U.S.?(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)