Lead the Work

A detailed look at the evolution of employment and its far-reaching implications

Lead the Work takes an incisive look at the evolving nature of work, and how it's affecting management and productivity at the organizational level. Where getting things done once meant assigning it to an employee, today's leaders are increasingly at risk if they fail to recognize that talent can float into and out of an organization. Long-term employment has given way to medium- or short-term employment, marking the first step in severing the bond that once fixed an individual inside an organization. Getting work done by means other than an employee was once considered a fringe event, but now leading organizations are accepting and taking advantage of the notion that talent has shown itself to be mutable. This book explores this phenomenon in detail and provides a new roadmap to help managers navigate this new environment.

The workplace has undergone many changes over the years, but the emerging trend away from traditional employment represents a massive shift that has profound implications for the business model of every organization, large or small. This book describes how management is changing, and how managers must adapt to survive.

• Examine the dispersed organization and the changing nature of employment
• Learn how work is becoming impermanent and individualized
• Find new strategies for managing and leading
• Get up to speed on the decision science for the new era

Workplaces evolve like biological beings; only the strong survive, and it's the competitive edge that ensures continued success. Lead the Work describes the new landscape, and shows you how to adapt and thrive.

JOHN BOUDREAU is research director at the Center for Effective Organizations and professor of management and organization in the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.

RAVIN JESUTHASAN, CFA, is a managing director and global practice leader at Towers Watson, and has been recognized as one of the top 25 most influential consultants in the world.

DAVID CREELMAN is CEO of Creelman Research. He writes, researches, and speaks on the most critical issues in human capital management.

"If you are a corporate officer, investor or manager, read this book to understand how to lead and engage the new workforce. Share the book with your HR leaders, and discuss how you can work with them to optimize the opportunities, and avoid the pitfalls, of the new global workplace." --From the Foreword by Diane Gherson, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, IBM "The workplace is undergoing a profound transformation. John, Ravin, and David demonstrate how work is evolving, and detail what managers need to do differently to win the war for talent. This book is a practical map for managers and employees." --Maynard Webb, Founder of the Webb Investment Network and Chairman of the Board at Yahoo! " Lead the Work offers a thoughtful framework for understanding and managing the rapidly evolving nature of how work gets done. While forward looking in its approach, it captures important and practical insights for CEOs operating in today's environment as well." --Douglas A. Milroy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, G&K Services, Inc. "Free Agent Nation is fast becoming Free Agent World. And in this smart, compelling book, a trio of sharp minds provides the intellectual GPS you'll need to find your way. If you're interested in the future of work, this book is an essential read." --Daniel H. Pink, author of Free Agent Nation and Drive "The world of work is changing in just about every way. There are big obvious shifts like globalization and the impact of technology and emerging trends around value and purpose that make us rethink what we are trying to accomplish. Lead the Work is a wonderful combination of theory and practice that explores these changes. It helps us understand what is happening and the 'new choices' we have to innovate and execute. How do we use partners and customers? How can technology source skills from within our own organization? How can work be dissected to be more responsive and fast? John, Ravin, and David help us all be more aware of these fundamental changes and more prepared to make informed and deliberate decisions in this new world of work." --Scott Pitasky, Executive Vice President and Chief Partner (Human) Resources Officer, Starbucks "Leadership has become more collective, boundaryless and democratic. A big reason is that work is no longer done only by your employees, but by a vast global community that works in very different ways, and expects very different things. Lead the Work describes a pivotal change in how organizations and workers will engage, a shift as tectonic as past evolutions like online commerce, the sharing economy, and social media. The book draws on engaging stories, scholarly evidence, and best practices from leading organizations, and the decades of experience of its authors. If this evolution in work hasn't reached your organization yet, it will, and its progress will be exponential. This book will help you get ahead of the curve to navigate this new world." --Adam Grant, Professor, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, and New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take

"If you are a corporate officer, investor or manager, read this book to understand how to lead and engage the new workforce. Share the book with your HR leaders, and discuss how you can work with them to optimize the opportunities, and avoid the pitfalls, of the new global workplace." From the Foreword by Diane Gherson, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, IBM "The workplace is undergoing a profound transformation. John, Ravin, and David demonstrate how work is evolving, and detail what managers need to do differently to win the war for talent. This book is a practical map for managers and employees." Maynard Webb, Founder of the Webb Investment Network and Chairman of the Board at Yahoo! " Lead the Work offers a thoughtful framework for understanding and managing the rapidly evolving nature of how work gets done. While forward looking in its approach, it captures important and practical insights for CEOs operating in today's environment as well." Douglas A. Milroy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, G&K Services, Inc. "Free Agent Nation is fast becoming Free Agent World. And in this smart, compelling book, a trio of sharp minds provides the intellectual GPS you'll need to find your way. If you're interested in the future of work, this book is an essential read." Daniel H. Pink, author of Free Agent Nation and Drive "The world of work is changing in just about every way. There are big obvious shifts like globalization and the impact of technology and emerging trends around value and purpose that make us rethink what we are trying to accomplish. Lead the Work is a wonderful combination of theory and practice that explores these changes. It helps us understand what is happening and the 'new choices' we have to innovate and execute. How do we use partners and customers? How can technology source skills from within our own organization? How can work be dissected to be more responsive and fast? John, Ravin, and David help us all be more aware of these fundamental changes and more prepared to make informed and deliberate decisions in this new world of work." Scott Pitasky, Executive Vice President and Chief Partner (Human) Resources Officer, Starbucks "Leadership has become more collective, boundaryless and democratic. A big reason is that work is no longer done only by your employees, but by a vast global community that works in very different ways, and expects very different things. Lead the Work describes a pivotal change in how organizations and workers will engage, a shift as tectonic as past evolutions like online commerce, the sharing economy, and social media. The book draws on engaging stories, scholarly evidence, and best practices from leading organizations, and the decades of experience of its authors. If this evolution in work hasn't reached your organization yet, it will, and its progress will be exponential. This book will help you get ahead of the curve to navigate this new world." Adam Grant, Professor, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, and New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take

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