Transforming Work: The Five Keys to Achieving Trust, Commitment, & Passion in the Workplace

This is a book about passion; the transforming effect of passion indulging, passion affirming, and passion compelling, work (called Occupational Intimacy in the book), which draws individuals (and thus the organization collectively) into performance, growth and learning. Throughout the book, the authors are clearly trying to convey the value of passion in the workplace, not only as an individual benefit, but as an organizational performance benefit... "Organizations that tap into their employee's deepest sense of personal purpose and values will harvest a wealth of passion focused on reaching mutual goals." Although, I would not describe this book as an easy read - the writing is dense and the material comprehensive - by reading this book your will gain an appreciation for these benefits and for some of the steps necessary to invoke passion in your work and/or your workplace. Dennis DeWilde, author of "The Performance Connection"

This book is one of a series on New Perspectives in Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change. The series is designed to showcase current theory and practice in human resources and organizational development. While there are practitioners on the editorial board, this looks like more of an academic series. I'd describe this publication as one for professionals, but a volume that individuals can benefit from, as well.The focus of this book is passionate work. This concept will be difficult for many readers, since passion is emotion and emotion and work are usually considered incongruent. The authors point out, early in the book, that "Passion is at the root of creative genius, personal transformation, and notable events. Passion is emotional energy; it stimulates life and energizes individuals to work toward goals. ...New products, new ideas, creative ways to deliver services, inventions, an scientific discoveries are produced because someone or some organization is passionate." OK. Passion seems to be consistent with what we're striving to accomplish in employment organizations today.How might we approach this? The authors explain that they've done some research that connects learning with passion. Put the concepts together and you get meaningfulness, and there are a lot of people looking for opportunities to feel a greater sense of meaning in what they do. Readers will be guided through an interesting study into passion, what it is, how it fits, and what to do with it. Individuals will gain, but trainers and organizational development professionals will find it most thought-provoking and stimulating.The book is organized into eight chapters: Introduction to Passion and Work, The Foundations of Passionate Work, Passion Transformation Process and Cycle, Occupational Intimacy, The Discovering Process, The Designing Process, The Developing Process, and Transforming Work---the five keys to achieving trust, commitment, and passion in the workplace. An index will help you find your way back to those things you want to work with again. A number of exercises are included to stimulate your thinking and help you gain some sense of measurement in the emergence of passion in your personal and corporate life.The book may seem a bit pricey for only a couple hundred pages, but there is a lot packed into those pages. The book is set mostly in 11 point type, so find a nice quiet place with good light to absorb all the authors have to share.

They say work is the hardest way to earn money. Michael Kroth and Patricia Boverie have zeroed in what we need to easy up the hard. "Transforming Work" for me hit the core of what is needed in all aspects of life --passion. This is not just a business book, I found myself connecting the dots with the rest of my life. While TW is a bit pricy try, living a life with unconnected dots.Tom PayneAuthorA Company of One: The Power of Independence in the Workplace