The Soul at Work: Listen, Respond, Let Go

I have read over two dozens books on complexity science and its applications to organizations of all types. Clearly, The Soul At Work is the best of those books. If you already know something about complexity science and its business applications and want to learn more or simply want to get started on the subject, this is the book you should read. Here's why. First, the authors are very fine writers. They also seem to have had outstanding editing. The book is by far the best written of any that I have read on this subject, and is among the best written of any business books I have read as well. This quality particularly shows up in clarifying ideas that can be hard to grasp (complexity science), explaining very interesting examples, and connecting the ideas to the examples in very useful ways. Second, most of the examples are fresh, so you will learn something new by reading these cases. Most business books choose the same examples over and over (do IBM and Coca-Cola seem familiar?), and it gets a little tiring for the reader. The one example in The Soul at Work that I was familiar with was Verifone, and the authors developed lots of new material there that substantially added to my understanding. Third, the cases have a lot of variety in them (as to type of organization, size of organization, the people profiled, the cultural background of the organization, and so forth) which provides a multidimensional perspective that is very helpful. Fourth, the authors successfully contrast their ideas with the humanistic approach to management and the engineering approach, which is a useful backdrop for understanding what they have to say. Anyone who does prefer the humanistic approach will like this book, and will get many new ideas for employing that direction. Fifth, and most importantly, the central theme of the book rings very true to me based on my over 30 years of consulting experience with organizations of all kinds. Trust-based relationships are an essential element of how organizations become more effective. Improve the trust, and any organization works better. The main reason is that trust helps overcome the stalls of poor communication, procrastination, bureaucracy, tradition, disbelief, and avoiding unattractiveness. Although others have made this point, The Soul at Work makes the point better. If you think about the new electronically-connected world, you can see that its main limitation is establishing trust before we can each feel comfortable extending ourselves and our connections in new directions. If you only read one business book this year, this is my recommendation. It's the best business book I have read since The Living Company by Arie de Geus.

This is the best business book I have read since Arie de Geus's, The Living Company. THE SOUL AT WORK is beautifully written, delightfully edited, and full of useful advice for how to benefit from complexity science in your organization. Many books on this subject are very turgid, focus mostly on explaining complexity science, and have few examples and little specific advice. If you only want to read one book on complexity science, this is the one for you. If you like a humanist approach to management (people come first), this is also a book you'll be glad you read. The authors do a very nice job of comparing the humanistic tradition in management and complexity science as bases for putting human relationships in the forefront of what needs to be accomplished. I especially enjoyed the many case histories of organizations applying complexity science, which included the thorns along with the roses. Only one case was familiar to me, that of Vodafone, and that one included a lot of material that I had not read or heard before. Obviously, a lot of careful research went into the work. The conclusion, that trust is essential, is one that other authors of books on complexity science agree with. I think the basis of that conclusion is explained better in this book. If I may expand on what the authors wrote, the reason that trust is so important is that it serves as a mediator to overcome the many sources of stalled progress in organizations. For example, trust helps straighten out miscommunications by encouraging dialogue rather than misinterpretation of motives, reduces misconceptions by increasing communications, softens the repugance that the ugly and repulsive can inspire (hiding us from what we need to focus on), assists in overcoming mindless following of traditional ways, inspires people to overcome procrastination, makes people open to new ideas which allows them to overcome disbelief about the new, and encourages flexible solutions that are normally stifled by bureaucratic processes. I hope the authors will write a sequel that has detailed directions about how to surpass the state of the art in using complexity science in organizations. I would read that book as well. I strongly urge you to read this book because its basic conclusions are very important for the type of virtual communications-driven organizations that will be everywhere in the future. You'll feel better about the new technology if you see, hear and feel how human relationships become even more important in this context. If you have friends or family members who are overwhelmed by the rate of change today, you should share this book with them as well.

I recently heard Margaret Wheatley say it's difficult to dislike someone whose story you know. How powerful. What I love about this book is its emphasis on stories. Not only do Roger and Birute tell the stories of those who have listened to their intuition regarding the world, they encourage each of us to tell our own story and listen to the stories of those around us. It is through our stories that we find genuine connection, and through genuine connection that we find community. I LOVE these ideas and am thankful for this thoughtful and generous reminder.I enjoyed this book from the first to the last page. I leave with many thoughts and ideas on how to move into the rest of my life. I do intend to buy multiple copies, send them as gifts to key leaders in the community where I live and then invite them to join me in discussing the implications for our children and grandchildren.This is a wonderful companion to the work of Margaret Wheatley, Myron Kellner-Rogers, Tom Petzinger, Dee Hock, Stuart Kauffman, Per Bak, and so many others. Thank you Roger Lewin and Birute Regine.

It is simple, the book is about what counts. "The Soul at Work" is about people, the most important aspect of business. The writing is seamless and the book is a true joy to read. Filled with vivid images, and powerful stories it covers a key aspect of business that is usually misunderstood. The book centers on complexity theory and it's connections to adaptive systems. It focuses on what matters to people and instead of using gimmicks and tricks to motivate people, it stresses genuine concern. The ideas of the book unleash the strengths of people and thus making them more creative, adaptive, and effective. In my own experience as a leader I have seen the effects of the ideas. I have seen people become innovative and fiercely determined to succeed. This came from a group of people that these traits were not present in the same intensity as I see them now. This is a result of principle application. It is not a guide, or manual. The ideas are a way of thought and behavior, always bringing out the best in people.

The first thing I'll say about this book is, it's exceptionally readable. Thank God for that. I've slogged through way too many business books that are dull, dull, DULL; this one is engaging, anecdotal, relaxed and fun. (Speaking as a professional freelance writer, I know how much labor is required to make prose that's relaxed and fun.) Second thing is, the ideas presented here are intensely valuable. The book offers a splendid model for managing, based on "complexity science," specifically the study of "complex adaptive systems" - a fairly new way of looking at complex systems (like companies) and scoping out how they behave. The authors, Lewin & Regine, bring these vital concepts into the real world. If you're new to these terms, you owe it to yourself to get acquainted with them here. If you're familiar with the terms, you're probably intrigued, as I am, and ya gotta get this book! I'm reminded as I read Lewin & Regine of the work of Margaret J. Wheatley & Myron Kellner-Rogers. These people are on to something big.