The Human Workplace

You may be confused about this book’s title, since surely humans are the core of the workplace, as the machines have not yet fully taken over! Yet, it is quite prescient, as far too many companies tend to forget they benefit from an engaged, focussed and cooperative people-centric organization and that this structure needs developing just like any other resource. Basic maintenance and renewal in other words.

Many companies do a reasonable job at developing their employees (but many need help here too!), but they are less attentive to the position of these employees and the structure, culture and processes that they inhabit. A bit of the equation can be missing, and this book will help fill in any missing links and optimise existing structures. It is a practical book, designed for doing, although of course you get a good amount of theory and practical real-world research data too, accompanying the advice, case studies and practitioner interviews that fill this deceptively small but powerful book.

The changes need not be that drastic or costly either. A possible refocus of thought can be sufficient, benefitting from design thinking to optimise the structure (a ‘tune-up’ for the business). The book will see change for both individual, team, department and organisation-at-large, oiling the connections and streamlining processes. Rest assured, it should not be a traumatic, controversial or courageous process. Quite the reverse, it might start to fall into place as things proceed. The book is aimed more towards the human resources professional, but it would not hurt other senior operational executives to cast an eye over it and understand the value of truly ‘seeing the bigger picture’. After all, it should be in everybody’s interest to have the corporate machine running at peak operational efficiency, shouldn’t it? If you let it, the book will have you thinking outside of the HR-mandated function.

A refreshing read, aided by clear, accessible text that will surely grab your attention. Where change is needed, it can be a great companion, and for those companies that believe they already have everything running well it can be a great checklist and verification aid. Just in case something could still be refined, as is quite likely as the people-centric organization shouldn’t be cast in concrete in any case.

The Human Workplace, written by Andy Swann and published by Kogan Page. ISBN 9780749481223. YYYYY

Nonfiction books, especially books about the workplace can get a little dry. This book was very readable and eminently pragmatic. Definitely a British book, I think there are still applications for those of us in America. My personal takeaway was that you need to have the right person in the right place doing the right actions to make a successful workplace. This is a little more touchy-feely than most of the work-related books I've read and a little bit more than I really wanted in a workplace book but overall a nice read.



Four stars

This book comes out October 3

When it comes to business books I always like to understand what the author is trying to help you with. Is it a practical book with actionable items? A research paper crammed into a book or a review of theory? Or is it their own ideas put on a page for you to pick what works for you?
In this book it is mostly Swann putting his ideas, based on his experiences, together and allowing you to try and synthesise them into how it may work for you. For some people I'm sure this is fine, but I'm always interested in a bit more of a deep dive. -What Experiences? Why? What's the alternative?- and I felt he was quite light on in that department.
I did like the definition of a human workplace and why it matters and I think for many people this may be an eye-opener, especially if they have businesses which have grown quickly or where they have been more focused on numbers than people. So if the point of the book is for you to "reframe your perspective" then it may just do that.
The biggest take-away for me was that a human workplace considers employees as end-users. They can have the same characteristics as customers (e.g. loyalty, brand ambassadors), but only if you set up a workplace that understands and nurtures them as you would a customer.
I would recommend this book for small business owners or anyone that wonders how they can develop and grow their business while bringing their people along in a positive way.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.