
The Way We're Working Isn't Working

absorbed focus “flow” and defined it simply as “the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter.” The
Tony Schwartz, Jean Gomes, Catherine McCarthy • The Way We're Working Isn't Working
No career automatically provides a purpose, but no job precludes our finding a purpose in it, either. It isn’t the role we fill that prompts a sense of purpose but how we choose to approach whatever work we do. As
Tony Schwartz, Jean Gomes, Catherine McCarthy • The Way We're Working Isn't Working
Frightening as it may be to acknowledge our shortcomings and admit our mistakes, the irony is that doing so tends to inspire greater respect from others, not less.
Tony Schwartz, Jean Gomes, Catherine McCarthy • The Way We're Working Isn't Working
The more we feel our value is at risk, the more energy we spend defending it and the less energy we have available to create value.
Tony Schwartz, Jean Gomes, Catherine McCarthy • The Way We're Working Isn't Working
describe the qualities of a leader they’ve especially admired or viewed as a role model or a mentor. Think
Tony Schwartz, Jean Gomes, Catherine McCarthy • The Way We're Working Isn't Working
A second more spacious way of viewing the world is through the Reverse Lens. That simply means looking at a given situation through the eyes of your perceived antagonist. It doesn’t mean sacrificing your own point of view but rather widening your lens. Almost
Tony Schwartz, Jean Gomes, Catherine McCarthy • The Way We're Working Isn't Working
The next key to successfully establishing rituals is to enlist the support of others. When
Tony Schwartz, Jean Gomes, Catherine McCarthy • The Way We're Working Isn't Working
Leaders who rely on negative emotions may get the short-term results they’re seeking, but the costs accrue over time. A harsh leader begets not just fear but also resentment, and those feelings are likely to influence people’s performance and their loyalty in the long run.
Tony Schwartz, Jean Gomes, Catherine McCarthy • The Way We're Working Isn't Working
“The fact is that negative events do affect us,” explains Gilbert, “but they generally don’t affect us as much or for as long as we expect them to.”