Jody Thompson is one half of a dynamic duo with her partner Cali Ressler. They are trying to change the way work is done in organizations. They are behind the concept of ROWE – Results Only Work Environment – something they first introduced as internal consultants at Best Buy and which they’re now taking out to the world. You get a sense of their style and approach by the title of their book – Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It. The connection with Great Work is pretty clear – and in this conversation, Jody and I discuss:
- How their first attempt to introduce ROWE almost got them fired
- How “being mediocre” proved to be a powerful strategy (at least for a while)
- Why measuring how much time you spend working is a useless metric, and how busy-ness can end up being a death spiral
- Sludge – what it is, and why it needs to be shifted
Dr Sivasailam Thiagarajan – known to the world as Thiagi – is (and these are his own words) the resident mad scientist at the Thiagi Group, an organization with a mission of helping people improve their performance effectively and enjoyably. What I find most marvelous about his work, is not just his gift for creating and leading powerful training within organizations, but the sense of lightness, fun and playfulness he brings to his work. Thiagi is revered in the training community, and in this interview we talk about:
Marshall Goldsmith has been acclaimed by many organizations and institutions as one of the great thinkers in business and in HR. His 2007 book, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There was a New York Times bestseller and the Wall Street Journal’s number one business book in 2007, and his most recent book Succession looks like it will have the same level of success. I’m constantly struck by his generosity of spirit as well as his wisdom, and he demonstrates both in this interview.
