Book Review June 2006
There is No Place Like Work: Seven Leadership Insights for Creating a Workplace to Call Home
Authors: Sheila L. Margolis, PhD and Ava S. Wilensky, PhD
Pages: 135
Publisher: Gibbs Smith, Publisher {publisher is part of name}
ISBN: 1-58685-883-1
Reviewed by Soroya Brantley
Most of us know the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and of Dorothy’s adventures as she follows the yellow brick road in an attempt to make her way home. Inspired by this story, Drs. Sheila L. Margolis and Ava S. Wilensky developed their own story of Dot and the adventures she experiences as she tries to save her company from financial ruin. In There is No Place Like Work: Seven Leadership Insights for Creating a Workplace to Call Home, we follow Dot as she travels down the Golden Highway in search of Reflection City and Mr. Insite, the one man who can help save her company.
While this may seem like child’s play or some crazy gimmick, the story actually serves as a backdrop for some very interesting and insightful business advice. Margolis and Wilensky have developed a process called CORE Culture Management, which works around the “Five Ps”— purpose, philosophy, priorities, practices, projections. In telling Dot’s story, they are also showing how Dot effectively uses the CORE Culture to get her business back on track and create a comfortable working environment.
Dot learns about “Purpose,” which goes to the very core of the company and examines why it was created. Employees are happier and more fulfilled when they feel a personal connection to that purpose and feel like they are making a difference. It is important that employees have a clear understanding of a company’s purpose so that they realize that their contribution counts and they are a part of a larger effort.
Next, Dot learns that each organization has a distinctive flavor and character that sets it apart from others—its “Philosophy.” Philosophy is the reason why two companies can offer identical services and yet be entirely different. It “gives an organization’s purpose its spirit and affects how you do your work,” the writers explain. Philosophy is the central character of a company and determines the primary values of that company. This is what sets that company apart from its competition and what it will be known for.
As she continues her journey, Dot learns about “Priorities,” an organization’s key values that guide daily activities. Priorities support a company’s purpose and philosophy and ensure that the company continues to stay true to them. However, priorities can change over time as a company grows. It is also important to concentrate on the few main or central priorities and not get bogged down trying to address every minute issue.
After learning and understand-ing the first three Ps, Dot hears about “Practices” and “Projec-tions.” Practices refers to both internal practices, which determine how employees interact and what they accomplish, and external practices, which define how a company interacts with people outside that company. Projections are the images of an organization that the public sees and they should accurately reflect what that organization does and why.
While the first portion of the book tells Dot’s story, the second part explains the CORE Culture in detail and how the Five Ps can be used to connect employees to their job and make them feel at home while at work. In the section, “Minding Your Five Ps,” Margolis and Wilensky emphasize the importance of recognizing and using the Ps. Their thinking is simple—in order for a company to thrive, there must be a clear purpose that manifests itself in that company’s philosophy and determines its priorities. Once these three Ps have been established, practices and projections become fairly simple because there would already be a strong foundation.
There is No Place Like Work: Seven Leadership Insights for Creating a Workplace to Call Home is a refreshing and easy read. The authors’ decision to tell a story is a pleasant and interesting change. There is no difficulty understanding the principles and Margolis and Wilensky effectively use charts to reinforce points and eliminate any confusion.
As founding partners of their own management consulting firm, Margolis and Wilensky have had ample opportunity to perfect their concept of CORE Culture as they work with clients to improve their organizational culture and teach them how to use human resources strategically. They have also had their work published in several academic and professional journals and magazines and have been featured speakers at professional events.
Certainly, the concept of employees being more effective if they are happy and feel that they are truly a part of the company is a sound one. This book is an opportunity for every business owner or CEO to be exposed to the CORE Culture and determine whether it can possibly work for that company.
