4 out of 4 stars
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Vitalize Your Workforce: Conquering the Crisis of Employee Stagnation is an exceptional book. Authored by Margot Murphy and James A. Robertson, it has exceeded my expectations. Consisting of seven sections and 28 short and to the point chapters, the content is presented in simple language that will be understandable to the average reader. This book has a unique style because every chapter has a summary and is followed by a page for the reader to write notes.
I have worked for several years in a Fortune 500 company that often ranks among the top 20 in the list. It is the best employer I have ever experienced in the corporate world. After reading this book, I wonder whether the excellent quality of its management is due to Murphy’s influence because she has been a consultant for many such organizations. The writer begins with a quotation: “Vitality is the creative energy of life. Does your company have it?” It is the key to her management approach. While strategy experts may suggest organizational strategies, the main problem they encounter is lack of implementation due to employee stagnation. This is where Murphy’s method is significant. In this book, she explains what is to be done to solve this problem.
Employee stagnation has reached epidemic proportions. The author applies a multidisciplinary approach to address it and offers tools and techniques for dealing with it at the leadership and operations’ levels. By introducing the profile of a Chief Vitality Officer, she helps organizations to bring a transformation. This is further facilitated by the Vitality Assessment Software and shared learning programs which are tailor-made by her to enhance creativity and productivity. Energized by this system, employees’ potential is activated. They are happy to work and dedicate themselves to the vision and mission of the company.
Vitalize Your Workforce provides a detailed explanation of key terms like “vitality” and “stagnation.” Vitality is seen as a way of thinking and being. The causes of stagnation are explored. I appreciate how the author perceives people’s problems in relation to process problems and treats them from the core. A superficial approach is avoided by vitalizing communication at all levels. Negativity is confronted head-on!
I am most impressed by the idea of having a Chief Vitality Officer, but I wonder whether it is possible in smaller organizations, unless combined with other roles. The manuscript has been edited by several individuals with excellence, and I found only a few typos. I encountered only one problem while reading. As soon as I began savoring the contents of a chapter and was eager to read more on the topic, it ended abruptly, leaving loose ends.
I won’t give out more details in this review because that would spoil the delight of reading the book in the author’s own words. It is worth the time and money you spend on it. I have seen Murphy’s strategy in action and personally gained a lot from her outlook; for work as well as personal life. For all these reasons, this book deserves nothing less than 4 out of 4 stars. Presidents, CEOs, other levels of management, and employees will all find it thought-provoking, and the suggestions are very practical. I enthusiastically recommend it for men and women involved in any kind of network that develops problems like stagnation. They will all be vitalized by the strategies proposed in this handbook.
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Vitalize Your Workforce
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