The Way We Are Working Isn’t Working Anymore

Published on 23. Jun, 2010 by Thomas Herold in Working

“The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working Anymore: The Four Forgotten Needs that Energize Great Performance” By Tony Schwartz

While this book reads like a self-help book, it gives the necessary information to create a successful business. Whether the reader is a low-ranking employee or top dog in the company, there are valuable lessons between the pages of Tony Schwartz’s latest book. Even though they seem profound, they are relatively simple answers as to how to get by in such a complex, fast-paced, money-driven society.

Many people will pick up this book and feel as though it does not apply to them. Before they put it back down, they should ask themselves a few questions:

Do I always feel as though I am behind in my work?
Do I want myself and my team to be more productive?
Do I need to find a balance between work and home?
Do my team members shirk from responsibility?
Do I struggle with distractions?
Do I work for a business with frequent turnaround of employees?

If someone can answer “yes” to even one of these questions, for the small fee of a book, they can turn their live around.

Part One: A New Way of Working
The first part of Schwartz’s “The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working” is not a lesson on how to reach the enlightenment he is offering. What would parts two through five have to offer? Instead, the section entitled “A New Way of Working” takes a look at the way the working world has evolved over the years, decade, and centuries.

There are so many things that are new to the business world that we do not even notice, and what we don’t notice, we can’t change. Because we are such creatures of habit, we need to acknowledge that some of the actions we take on a daily basis for no other reason than “that’s just how it’s done” may add to the stress and headache. Think for a second: How many times a day do you check your email? Schwartz wants his readers to understand the working life before he embarks on his “Four Forgotten Needs.”

Part Two: Sustainability/Physical
Part Two begins with the first forgotten need. Sustainability is the need that is often never overlooked. Everybody is concerned with their next paycheck to sustain themselves. However, people often overlook the physical aspect of their job. Some readers may be thinking, “I work in an office. It doesn’t get physical until the copier has a paper jam.” That is not the kind of physical Schwartz is referring to. Even if a job means never leaving a desk, there should be that moment that makes the worker’s heart start pumping out of excitement or adrenaline. A job that does not captivate in body and mind needs to be altered. Schwartz explains how to create this union that most people lack.

Part Three: Security/Emotional
Most workers understand the concept of security. Unfortunately, most do not actually get to experience it in the financial sense. While Schwartz is a highly intelligent man, he does not have the capability to get his readers a raise overnight. So, if someone cannot be financially secure, they should at least be emotionally secure in their position.

A big point that Schwartz makes is the distinction between facts and stories that people tell themselves. For example, someone can tell the “story” of how fulfilling their career is while the “fact” is that they count down seconds until five o’clock. This simple example is just the tip of the iceberg. In his book, Schwartz helps the readers find a sense of emotional security in a job that may merely be a means of financial security, if even that.

Part Four: Self-Expression/Mental
It’s the American dream. When someone loves a job and can use it to express their natural talents, their self-expression becomes a source of income. If this was the case for everyone, Schwartz would have nothing to write about. He does not recommend quitting the long-established career life to pursue a passion for juggling.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “When you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.” In this case, it has nothing to do with romance. Employees cannot change their bosses to suit their needs, but they can make minor adjustments in their own life that will have a substantial difference on their mind. It’s not about engaging the brain more; it’s about using it effectively, which just so happens to mean sometimes using it less.

Part Five: Significance/Spiritual
Spirituality is often separated from the workplace. This helps to keep office drama to minimum and avoid unnecessary conflicts. While it is not the place to hold a daily service or pass out pamphlets, there is a bit of spirituality that is welcomed and essential in the office. It is more of a personal spirituality.

It is important to ask yourself what you really want. In extreme cases, combining every idea, tip, and guideline that Schwartz has to offer will still leave some in a miserable situation with hopeful coping mechanisms. Schwartz can help his readers figure out whether it is the attitude toward the job or the job itself that is causing stress and frustration.

Significance and spirituality has another purpose in the office. When employees must work together on a project, they need to embody the same relative feelings toward it. If a few are working hard, a few are staring at the clock, and the middle ground is keeping themselves occupied with meaningless “busy work,” there is bound to be tension and unproductivity. Schwartz can help readers learn how to provoke some purpose into their coworkers who have not yet gotten to his book. It is not a cure-all for them, but it can help make your life easier if only for the few hours of collaboration.

Not Just for Suits and Ties
Schwartz’s book may appeal to the businessmen and businesswomen of society, but the help he gives can apply to much more. Parents, teachers, and spouses can use the profound information in their relationships to ease tension and create a peaceful environment in the classroom or home. Schwartz’s book is an all-encompassing, non-exclusive key to happiness and satisfaction.