Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It, Book Review

Why Work Sucks and How to Fix ItLet me list the ways in which I’ve complained about my past jobs:

 

  • I hate waking up early to come in to work.

  • No freedom.

  • My boss is a micro-manager.

  • I have to take an hour for lunch, even when I only need a half hour.

  • My co-workers never get their work done on time.

 

The list can go on and on, but I’ll stop my whining right here. Work doesn’t have to suck, and Cali and Jody of “Why Work Sucks and How to Fix it” have proven their success at Best Buy. They understood the most important point to being a successful business: Get things done and whatever else gets in the way should be eliminated. They figured out the best way to create an environment that accomplishes great work and also makes the employees happy was to focus on results and nothing else.

 

  • No need to attend a meeting (Yes that’s right)

  • No boss waiting for you to arrive late and ready to chew you out

  • No worry about trying to look busy

 

Just produce and we will appreciate your hard work.

 

They overcame many difficulties when developing this concept, but it seems to be worth the effort. In their book they describe the hardest part, sludge. Sludge is the snide comments made by bosses and co-workers that undercut the culture of Results Only Work Environment (ROWE).

 

We’ve all heard those pesky comments by co-workers, “You going home already?” or “It must be nice to be able to take such a long lunch.” In ROWE those comments are outlawed. If you are producing good work that’s all that matters.

 

When I finished the book I felt like I wanted more. I would have liked to see Best Buy’s sales figures from before ROWE to the book’s final draft. It would have also been interesting to see how they could apply the concept to different types of company cultures. Both complaints are small for such a powerful concept.

 

The ROWE system is based on trust. That’s what I really like, trusting others to do good work. When we allow other people to get their work done at any time of day, wherever they want, and any way that allows them to do a good job, that’s all that matters.

 

Tomorrow I will post a short interview with Cali and Jody, the authors of the ROWE based work environment. If you aren’t subscribed to the Work Happy Now RSS feed then now is the time to join, so you don’t miss any more great work happiness tips and ideas.

 

 

Check out their blog or buy their book on Amazon.com, I highly recommend managers and business owners to check both out.

 

Why do you think your company could or couldn’t implement the Results Only Work Environment?

 

Other Book Reviews and Related Articles:

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Image courtesy of Cali and Joy’s Blog

 

8 Responses to “Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It, Book Review”

  1. Barbara Swafford Says:
    August 6th, 2008 at 12:23 am

    Hi Karl,

    I’ve never heard it being sludge before, but those underhanded comments can definitely affect employee morale.

    When employees know you trust them to do a great job, they do.

    Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Interview With Lorelle VanFossen - Part 8 - The Future of Blogging

  2. Karl Staib - The Work Happy Guy Says:
    August 6th, 2008 at 6:30 am

    Hey Barbara, trust is the most important part to any relationship. It allows the employee to be creative and solve their own problems without having to go to the boss, who will hopefully save the day.

  3. Marc and Angel Hack Life Says:
    August 6th, 2008 at 9:05 am

    I agree. Trust is not only important… it is the foundation of a relationship. A relationship cannot exist without trust.

    Marc and Angel Hack Life’s last blog post..The Art of Spending Minutes to Save Hours

  4. Louisa Says:
    August 6th, 2008 at 11:40 am

    Hi Karl,

    Thank you for another great post. I have read the book that you just wrote about and think it’s great. I work for a local staffing agency in Boston, Hollister Staffing (www.hollisterstaff.com) and have shared this book with many of the candidates I have placed. Very helpful.

    Thanks,
    Louisa

  5. John Roy Says:
    August 6th, 2008 at 12:33 pm

    I have been looking for a job for a while now that i will be happy at, can anyone recommend a staffing firm that can point me in the right direction?

  6. Karl Staib - The Work Happy Guy Says:
    August 6th, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    Hey John, I would contact Louisa. She may know a company or person in your area who can help.

    *If anyone was wondering how they will contact each other. I emailed Louisa John’s email. Hopefully John doesn’t mind.

  7. Urban Panther Says:
    August 6th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    Hmmm….sometimes, if I was allowed to come and go as my workload allowed, I wouldn’t be at work for very long. Yet, what I produce is a quality product, so I should be free to go? Interesting concept, but I work in a union shop. Put in those 7.5 hours even if you are staring at the ceiling. At least, where I work, I can arrive anywhere from 7 - 8:30 a.m. as long as I then put in my 7.5 hours of work, or ceiling staring, before I go home.

    Urban Panther’s last blog post..Please don’t make me eat that

  8. Rajaie AlKorani Says:
    August 6th, 2008 at 4:37 pm

    I once saw a video on YouTube where this company said it didn’t care where it’s employees worked, as long as they got the job done. And I agree with Barbara, trust is extremely important for an employees morale

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