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One Foot Out the Door: How to Combat the Psychological Recession That's Alienating Employees and Hurting American Business

by: Judith M. Bardwick
en

0814480586  9780814480588  9780814409503 

 


One Foot Out the Door: How to Combat the Psychological Recession That's Alienating Employees and Hurting American Business
By Judith M. Bardwick


 


Book Description:

As many as two-thirds of our employees are either actively looking for new jobs or merely going through the motions at their current jobs. Fearful and feeling vulnerable after years of watching friends get laid off, they expect the worst to happen, and they see no reason to give it their all. This phenomenon, identified by renowned author Judith M. Bardwick as "the psychological recession," can have a devastating effect on a company’s financial health.

Based on extensive research showing how costly bad management really is, this eye-opening book offers concrete prescriptions for combating alarming trends such as high turnover, low productivity, and lackluster performance, including techniques for:

* strengthening the bonds of trust and respect between managers and employees

* customizing working conditions and rewards for individual employees

* hiring for the "best fit" between the organization’s core culture and the personal qualities and priorities of the individual

Using hard numbers and current studies that prove the direct connection between a company’s financial performance and its employees’ commitment, this book is a wake-up call to organizations desperately needing to restore the broken spirits at the heart of their companies, and enhance their bottom lines.



Summary: How to respond to "a crippling psychological condition"
Rating: 5


Bardwick's purpose is to examine what she characterizes as "a widespread sense of vulnerability in the American workplace...After many decades of being fat, dumb, and happy, American businesses and American workers have been forced into a change. In a relatively short time, fat has morphed into thin and happy into frightened. Prolonged fear does not bode well for future success." Throughout her rigorous and lively narrative, she examines the causes, effects, and implications of what she characterizes as "the psychological recession that's alienating employees and hurting American business."

How bad is it? According to research conducted by The Gallup organization, only 25% of employees are engaged in their jobs, 55% of them are just going through the motions, and 20% of them are working against their employers' interests. There is another study of 50,000 employees at 59 global companies conducted by the Corporate Executive Board. One of its most significant revelations is that "emotional factors were four times more effective in increasing employee engagement rather than rational ones." It is no coincidence that many of the companies listed on Fortune magazine annual list of those "most admired" are also on its annual list of those most profitable and many of them are #1 in their respective industries. There is indeed a direct, indeed compelling link between employee productivity to organizational performance.

For these and other reasons, I think that some of the most valuable material is provided in Chapter 6 ("Commitment and Engagement - Not Morale or Satisfaction") because without full engagement by everyone involved in the given enterprise, it will be difficult (if not impossible) to achieve its objectives, whatever they may be. Barwick stresses the importance of asking the right questions, hiring and then retaining the right people, and measuring the right attributes; otherwise, employee "morale" and "satisfaction" are meaningless terms. She also provides a wealth of information and counsel that explains how to formulate and then implement initiatives that will help any organization to avoid or recover from the current "psychological recession."

I wholeheartedly agree with Judith Bardwick that we need "to regain our traditional spirit of optimism and fierce [but principled] competitiveness that makes us internally as well as externally competitive" because organizations "cannot flourish and fulfill their possibilities when their leaders and their labor force are chronically scared. Fear destroys energy, trust, teamwork, innovation, and courage."

In this context, I am reminded of Henry Ford's observation, "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right."

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out The New American Workplace co-authored by James O'Toole and Edward E. Lawler, Marshall Goldsmith's What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful!, Phil Rosenzweig's The Halo Effect...and Eight Other Business Delusions That Deceive Managers, Michael Ray's The Highest Goal: The Secret That Sustains You in Every Moment, Paul Spiegelman's Why is Everyone Smiling?: The Secret Behind Passion, Productivity, and Profit, and finally, Human Sigma: Managing the Employee-Customer Encounter co-authored by John H. Fleming and Jim Asplund.



Summary: A must read book for everyone in business
Rating: 5

I found myself literally nodding in agreement through most of the first half of this book as it described exactly my own experience and the experience of many others I know in the post 1980's business bust. It felt validating to have the difficulty and trickle down effects of downsizing, outsourcing, and poor management choices so accurately described and explained. I found the 2nd half of the book inspiring with really good solutions, even though I did not agree with 100% of them. I could see a brighter future, if all our nations's CEOs read this book. I actually bought a copy for the CEO of my own company.



Summary: So-So
Rating: 2

This book started out great. The first few chapters provided a timely and factual overview of where we are and how we got here. I have personally witnessed the author's examples of the psychological side of this dilemma in my own workplace. The recommendations she made were interesting and useful. Then came the second half of the book...

The author veered off into a discussion of conservative vs. liberal politics and how certain issues should/would be resolved. These issues were at times tangential to the book's premise (like healthcare) but added little value to the other arguments she makes in the book. I didn't get it...I actually found myself staring at the book with a quizzical look wondering why she included some of the chapters.

In any event, I will leverage the information from the first few chapters, but cannot recommend the book to others.



Summary: Chapters do more than document the trend: they provide managers and collections catering to administrators
Rating: 5

Until recently the most important stakeholders in any company were employees who worked with loyalty and passion, giving the job their all. With the advent of a global economy such commitment has faded, and Judith M. Bardwick, Ph.D.'s ONE FOOT OUT THE DOOR: HOW TO COMBAT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL RECESSION THAT'S ALIENATING EMPLOYEES AND HURTING AMERICAN BUSINESS charts this tendency of modern employees to 'sleepwalk' through jobs without any commitment. Chapters do more than document the trend: they provide managers and collections catering to administrators with the tools for combating this tendency.



Summary: Recommended for managers everywhere
Rating: 5

An excellent analysis of the personnel retention problems facing businesses in the U.S., I highly recommend this to executives and management.