The Soul of the Organization

Given the opportunity to describe Apple as a company in just a word or two, most would respond with adjectives like: Innovative. Design-conscious. Iconic. Some would probably even say: Secretive. But here's another: Soulful. Yes, Apple has a soul, and it is not alone in that respect. A select few organizations can similarly be said to exhibit similar qualities of soul that inspire passion in their employees and set them on the path to high levels of sustained organizational performance. But, given that most organizations are plagued by low levels of employee engagement and lackluster organizational performance, how do high-performing organizations do it? How do they ignite and sustain employee engagement and boost individual and overall organizational productivity? That is exactly the question that organizational expert David B. Zenoff sets out to answer in The Soul of the Organization.  

Based on the author's extensive experience consulting to and observing some of the best-known organizations in the world, The Soul of the Organization (www.souloftheorganization.com) journeys into eleven high-performing organizations operating in both the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds to determine the underlying elements of soul that foster strong employee engagement at all levels. What Zenoff finds in his inquiry is that organizations as different as home goods retailer Williams-Sonoma and not-for-profit group Larkin Street Youth Services all share in common five key elements of soul that, taken together, are powerful forces for fostering employee engagement, satisfaction, and meaning. And he doesn't stop once he has identified the five core elements of an organization's soul. Instead, he goes on to offer both a conceptual framework and a practical primer on how to leverage these key ingredients to create, sustain, and nourish a soul in your organization.  

Organizations of all stripes and in all industries and domains have great difficulty motivating their workforces to demonstrate a strong commitment to giving their all in the workplace. As a result, these organizations' overall productivity and growth are compromised, and their employees cannot find meaning or satisfaction in their work. If your organization struggles with sub-par employee loyalty, commitment, and drive, you will find the guidance you need in The Soul of the Organization, a guide to infusing into your workplace that "special something" that engages employees, drives their productivity, and taps into their collective well of potential so that your organization can make its mark on the world.  

David B. Zenoff advises CEOs, senior executives, and Boards of Directors on organizational renewal, leadership and general management practices, Board-CEO relationships, top executive team functioning, implementing important organizational change, and strategy formulation. During the past 43 years, he has consulted in more than 31 countries for more than 90 organizations, ranging from large, complex, multinational companies to young startups operating in many different industries. His clients have also included not-for-profit organizations working in several different domains. He has also worked in various advisory and board capacities for public and private companies and not-for-profit organizations. In most instances, Zenoff's assistance is requested when organizational leaders are challenged by important changes and transitions and/or low levels of employee engagement and overall organizational performance. Earlier in his career, Zenoff taught at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Columbia Graduate School of Business, and IMEDE (now IMD) in Switzerland. He was also a Harvard Business School research assistant in the Philippines. He holds a B.A. degree from Stanford University and M.B.A. and D.B.A. degrees from Harvard Business School.