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.

Does your organization have soul? Are you passionate about a higher purpose? Do you engage in meaningful dialogue? Are you caring and compassionate? Do you spend time reflecting on critical issues? People in soulful organizations are able to say they demonstrate these behaviors everyday. You can become one of those people by following the advice and guidance in this innovative book. Creating Organizational Soul makes a compelling case for the strong connection between organizational soul and productivity, innovation and results. The intent of the book is to get leaders to take a hard look at where they are and look for ways to get better. The author demonstrates how to create soul in business, social service agencies and education. Included are many examples of exemplary fast-growing companies, large companies, small businesses, not-for-profit organizations and universities that are stepping up and making a difference. You'll learn: The principles of a soulful organization; What a soulless organization looks like; The conditions necessary for creating organizational soul; Success stories of people who have created soul in their organizations; How to get people and organizations to do what they need to do to create organizational soul and achieve extraordinary results. You'll also get tools to help you measure the soul health and sickness of your organization, assess your leadership ability and measure soulful conditions. Of special interest to leaders are the conversation templates that can be used in goal-setting sessions, mid-year and end-of-year reviews with employees.

'Bill Pollard speaks with a voice of experience. His book deals with the practice of leadership- over time, under pressure, living with reality, getting the desired results. The Soul of the Firm tells how ServiceMaster has successfully grapple with the key issues of leadership. That is why it is so worthwhile.' -Max De Pree 'Bill Pollard demonstrates in great detail ServiceMaster's value system, a system that emphasizes the importance of the dignity of the individual. Readers will benefit greatly from Bill's wisdom. This is an important book that should be widely read.' -W. Earl Sasser, James L. Heskett, and Leonard A. Schlesinger 'Rarely are we given an open and generous look inside the corporate leader who is the embodiment of the mission and values of the enterprise. . . A powerful book.' -Frances Hesselbein 'A fascinating story about servant leadership and an extraordinary culture at ServiceMaster.' -Richard L. Thomas 'A remarkable book. . . . ServiceMaster invented 'lea production' for the service sector by listening to and empowering its employees on the front line. This book is the moving story of the wellspring of that culture and philosophy, told by a reflective, modest corporate leader.' -Elmer Johnson

"Soul in the workplace is not a theological abstraction, but a way of being and doing. Each of the organizations Benefiel profiles...describes the profound role that awareness of soul, or spirituality, can play in leadership and organizational life." -- P. [4] of cover.

Strategy, Leadership and the Soul presents a new paradigm for organizations. In building their case, the authors present a unique analysis of the dynamics of organizational evolution since 1850 to the present day, reflecting on how the context of the changing nature of society over time has informed the necessary adjustments in structure and leadership, and in what way these have been vital to the sustainability of those organizations.

Large and successful organizations seem to emulate the trajectory of a skipping stone. First they slow, and then they sink. Why does this happen over and over again? Most organizations come to believe that their problems stem from doing the wrong things. They are unfortunately looking in the wrong place. The problem with the demise of large and successful organizations is not related to what they are doing. The problem is rather in what they have actually become. And they simply fail to see it. It is only in understanding "who we are" that the sinking trajectory of large and successful organizations can be reversed. Mind-Head Soul-Head addresses this insidious situation and provides a "human prescription" as the cure.

Leanna Burns, who writes about the soul and the ?letting go? process, is at it again. Only this time, it is not about letting go of the weight (?From A to Z: Feed Your Soul and Lose the Weight?), nor is it about letting go of society's mythical standard of physical beauty (?Soul Beautiful, Naturally). ?Living the Soul Dolce Vita? is about letting go of your ?stuff? -- the stuff that gets in the way of soul communication, acknowledgment and recognition. This book is not just about having a garage sale and releasing a few household items that no longer interest you. It is about getting interested in your soul, and making room for it in your crowded and busy life. When your soul defines who you are versus the trappings of your life doing so, then you will be truly ?Living the Soul Dolce Vita.?