Ten Views by Ten Authors. Is Another Work Possible?
7 min read
Last week, Talentra provided recommendations to enhance business productivity, innovation, and freedom. In this blog post, we aim to delve deeper into our suggestions by incorporating ideas from various authors.
“The 4-Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss
Ferriss argues that the traditional 9 to 5 work culture is not efficient in today's world and reduces the quality of life of employees. He suggests that people need to switch to more flexible and effective ways of working to balance work and private life. Thus, with only 20% effort, 80% result can be achieved and employees will be able to make the best use of their time by focusing on the most valuable and effective tasks in their work.
According to Ferriss, switching to working methods independent of time and space is necessary by using the opportunities offered by digital technologies. Employees can reduce their workload and gain more free time by automating business operations and outsourcing tasks. Ferriss also suggests implementing a "mini-retirement" system, where employees take periodic breaks from work, to improve their quality of life and utilize their free time in a more meaningful manner.
“Maverick and The Seven Day Weekend” by Ricardo Semler
Ricardo Semler suggests several methods for establishing work environments where employees have more autonomy and decision-making power, based on his experience implementing them at Semco:
Implementing democratic business management, where employees have a greater role in shaping company policies through regular meetings and discussions.
Offering flexible working arrangements, such as allowing employees to choose their working hours and locations, fosters a more productive work environment.
Boosting work motivation and commitment by allowing employees to determine their salaries and holidays, creating a more transparent and fair work environment.
Semler advocates for a management approach that emphasizes teamwork and knowledge sharing by empowering employees with more responsibility and autonomy. He believes that managers should be receptive to learning from employees and valuing their ideas. Semler also suggests that experienced employees should share their knowledge and expertise through various training programs such as workshops, seminars, and mentoring initiatives within the company.
"The Age of Unreason" by Charles Handy
Charles Handy states that traditional business and management practices are obsolete in the modern era, and organizations must undergo a radical transformation that prioritizes flexibility, continuous learning, and adaptability.
Handy believes that offering flexible working hours and part-time options can help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance. He also suggests that workplaces that support continuous learning and self-development can increase employee satisfaction and contribute to corporate success. To bring about this transformation, Handy recommends managers delegate more responsibility and authority to employees, enabling them to enhance business processes and participate in decision-making. This approach can boost employee commitment and motivation to their work.
"Bullshit Jobs: A Theory" by David Graeber
In his book, Graeber claims that many jobs in society are unnecessary and devoid of meaning and he labels them as "bullshit jobs." According to Graeber, these jobs steal precious time from people's lives and can have a deeply damaging psychological impact on individuals and society as a whole.
To address this issue, Graeber suggests implementing a universal basic income, a benefit paid to everyone regardless of qualifications, which would allow individuals to pursue their interests and work in their spare time. Graeber believes that by freeing people from meaningless work, they would be able to engage in more creative and fulfilling activities, leading to a more meaningful and satisfying life.
"Utopia for Realists: How We Can Build the Ideal World" by Rutger Bregman
Bregman puts forth a practical plan for rebuilding modern society to promote a more productive and egalitarian life, based on three key ideas:
A universal and unconditional basic income is paid to all individuals, which would provide a safety net and allow people to pursue their passions and interests without financial stress.
A short fifteen-hour workweek would allow individuals to spend more time with family, engage in creative activities, and lead a more fulfilling life.
Open borders worldwide with free movement of citizens between all states, which would provide opportunities for people to find more suitable and satisfying jobs, while also contributing to a more balanced and fair global labor market.
Bregman believes that these measures can create a more equitable and prosperous society, where individuals have the freedom and resources to pursue their dreams and live fulfilling lives.
"The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" by Shoshana Zuboff
In this book, Zuboff expresses his concerns about the monitoring and commercialization of personal data. He argues that increased surveillance in the workplace and society can harm the freedom and privacy of employees.
Zuboff states that to protect employee freedom and autonomy, employers need to be more transparent and responsible about how they collect and use employee data. In addition, employers are required to respect the privacy of employees and not to restrict their freedom during their time outside of work.
"Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" by Dan Pink
Dan Pink explores the complexity of human motivation and its impact on work-life balance. Pink argues that for employees to be best motivated, their basic needs such as autonomy, competence, and connectivity must be met.
He argues that the application of the principle of autonomy in the workplace can contribute to work-life balance by allowing employees to determine their own working hours, projects, and tasks. According to Pink, people naturally have an intrinsic motivation to improve themselves and acquire new skills. A sense of efficacy enables individuals to become more confident in their achievements and more willing to cope with challenges and learn new skills. He states that employers can contribute to the work-life balance by providing opportunities for their employees to increase their qualifications.
The author also emphasizes that humans are social beings and are motivated by forming meaningful relationships with others. The principle of connection in work and private life balance attaches importance to the establishment of strong bonds with others in both work and private life. Employers' ability to provide a work environment that encourages employees to collaborate and form meaningful relationships with one another helps promote work-life balance.
"Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist" by Kate Raworth
Kate Raworth proposes a new approach to a sustainable economy and business. The author argues that businesses and economic policies need to be rethought to support work-life balance, taking into account the needs of people and the planet.
Raworth suggests that businesses and policymakers need a greater focus on the well-being of workers and the general health of society, along with factors such as working hours and working conditions. She also emphasizes that businesses and policymakers need to develop policies and practices that help employees achieve work-life balance to promote a sustainable and equitable economic system.
"Reinventing Organizations" by Frederic Laloux
Frederic Laloux, upon examining the organizations that led to major changes in the business world and towards more humane and effective management approaches, argues that their management approaches should be adopted.
In this transformation process, Laloux recommends the adoption of management approaches based on basic principles such as freedom and autonomy, goal orientation, and holistic perspective in workplaces.
The principle of freedom and autonomy helps employees to achieve work and private-life balance by making their own decisions and not being dependent on managers. Goal orientation enables employees to do meaningful and satisfying work by focusing business processes on value creation. The holistic perspective, on the other hand, emphasizes that people are valued in all aspects of the workplace and that their lives beyond work life are also considered important.
"The Craftsman" by Richard Sennett
By examining the concepts of craftsmanship and mastery, Sennett explores how people can add value and be successful in their work. Sennett argues that craftsmanship is not limited to handicrafts, but also applies to works based on thought and knowledge. According to Sennett, craftsmanship is based on qualities such as attention to detail, continuous learning, ingenuity, and practical knowledge based on experience.
Sennett points out that individuals' adopting an artisanal approach can increase creativity, learning process, and job satisfaction. This process encourages individuals to strive for continuous improvement and acquire the skills and knowledge needed to be personally successful. Also, this approach helps employees find more meaning and satisfaction in their work.
