Otherwise Engaged: How Leaders Can Get A Firmer Grip on Employee Engagement and Other Key Intangibles

by: John Guaspari

Ask leaders what their biggest challenge is, and they’re likely to say: “It’s the people part of the job . . . the soft stuff . . . the so-called intangibles.” Otherwise Engaged shines a bright light on the cause of this challenge: a fundamental misunderstanding of the true nature of intangibles, like engagement, empowerment, respect. The book focuses on the too-often overlooked first step in any such effort: How to stop doing the things that cause people to dis-engage. Once you gain a better, deeper understanding of the true nature of the intangibles, you’ll discover that you already know what to do in order to be more effective in this domain.

Through a story told in a light, humorous style, the author helps you discover what the problem is. You’ll learn why good faith efforts to promulgate values throughout an organization can be ineffectual and, in some cases, even damaging. In the process, you’ll develop a felt need to challenge the assumptions under which you’ve been working and to become more open to the possibility of considering a different way.

Nominated for The Book Review Company’s 2016 Leadership Book of the Year.

CLICK HERE TO BUY FROM AMAZON

Meet the Author

John Guaspari

For the past thirty years, John Guaspari has helped leaders take on the challenge of being more effective at attending to the so-called “soft stuff.” His newest book is "Otherwise Engaged: How Leaders Can Get a Firmer Grip on Employee Engagement and Other Key Intangibles" (Maven House Press). He is the author of six previous books on the topic, including the best-selling "I Know It When I See It", "The Customer Connection", and "The Value Effect", seven best-selling training videos, including "Time: The Next Dimension of Quality", and hundreds of articles and columns. He has worked with and made presentations for hundreds of corporate clients in scores of industries, and he has delivered some 1500 intangibles-related presentations, seminars, and workshops. As a result, John has gained an enviable reputation for his ability to unravel complex subject matter and communicate it in the kind of accessible and engaging way that leads to real learning. Said another way, he knows how to be engaging about engagement. http://www.johnguaspari.com/

Books of John Guaspari

Otherwise Engaged: How Leaders Can Get A Firmer Grip on Employee Engagement and Other Key Intangibles 2015

Details

ISBN: 978-1938548338
Publisher: Maven House Press
Publish Date: 2015
Page Count: 143

Guaspari offers brilliant analogies and real-world examples to illustrate concretely his methods and principles and principles in a way that is entertaining and engaging . . . If your organization is looking to start or re-tool your employee relations or engagement efforts, Otherwise Engaged will point your conversation in the right direction. - SMALL BUSINESS TRENDS (Charles Franklin) An engagingly funny fable that John Guaspari uses to guide the reader to answer the profoundly serious question posed by the book - Why do employee engagement activities often fail? . . . Thought-provoking and charming. - JIM KOUZES, Dean's Executive Fellow of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University, and coauthor of the bestselling book, The Leadership Challenge In this very readable (and yes, engaging) book, John Guaspari reminds us that great leaders create an environment which connects people to what is important for them as well as the company. Using a simple metaphor and providing clear, specific actions which a new or experienced leader can take, Guaspari shows us that, in the PowerPoint world of analysis and logic that permeates most organizations, it is really our humanity, and feelings of trust, respect, and safety that generate commitment and therefore performance. Pick up this book. You will learn that a wise leader doesn't try to motivate people but rather understands 'the intangibles' that motivate us all. - DAVID DOTLICH, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO, Pivot Leadership, and author of The Unfinished Leader and 10 other leadership books Otherwise Engaged is vintage Guaspari: clever and entertaining while also substantive, thought provoking, and wise. - DAN CIAMPA, coauthor of Right From The Start Having worked with John Guaspari in a previous life, I can unequivocally say that he practices what he preaches. Anyone in a position of leadership at any level would be well advised to take the advice John provides in Otherwise Engaged. - GEN. JAMES B. SMITH, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Employee engagement has been the elusive holy grail for companies and leadership since surveys revealed there is a serious gap between what we believe creates engagement and reality. This is a story that has been ongoing with no conclusion. Guaspari tells the story that needed telling, and he does it using humor and metaphor like only he can. This is a fun book that packs a powerful message all business leaders must hear to finally engage their people. - DAVID CASULLO, President, Bates Communications, and author of Leading the High Energy Culture John Guaspari's latest book, Otherwise Engaged, is a must-read in today's highly packaged, productized, and transactional business environment. It reminds anyone who aspires to fully lead others that they must genuinely unleash (rather than pay lip service to) the vital intangibles of engagement and respect. - PAUL ALLEN, Chairman, Allen & Gerritsen Multiple Awardee: "One of the Best Places to Work in Boston" An insightful and fresh perspective on contemporary talent and organizational effectiveness topics - engagement, empowerment, values, trust - in a useful and practical narrative . . . it will challenge you to think differently as you implement solutions to human capital issues. - JOE BONITO, Senior Vice President, Ledership Development Executive, Global Human Resources, Bank of America John Guaspari takes the vagaries of intangibles and serves up a hilarious how-to with his latest avatars, the Wilson family. Otherwise Engaged provides a solid approach to the elusive topic of employee engagement. Guaspari's brilliance is his airtight logic, but lucky for us each "aha!" is paired with a "ha ha!" - a business book rarity. I'll take it! - ELISABETH SWAN, President, Swan Consulting & Associates, Inc. Otherwise Engaged should be required reading for anyone in a leadership position in any type of organization. You'll come away understanding how critically important employee engagement is to the achievement of personal and business objectives. And John Guaspari's writing style and wit make it an easy and enjoyable read. - WALTER J. FLAHERTY, COO and CFO, New England Aquarium (Ret.)