Work Rules! A new book from Google's Laszlo Bock

A dazzling revelation: at once an all-access backstage pass to one of the smartest organizations on the planet, and also an immensely useful blueprint for creating a culture of creativity. It should be given to...every human being who wants to understand how to build a successful, cohesive, high-performing workplace.

Daniel Coyle author of The Talent Code

Laszlo Bock...topples pillar after pillar of conventional wisdom on hiring, training, assessing, and compensating the people who power your organization. If you're looking for forehead-smacking insights along with an array of savvy new practices, WORK RULES! is an essential read.

Dan Pink author of Drive and To Sell is Human

WORK RULES! offers a bold, inspiring, and actionable vision that will transform the future of work. It should be mandatory reading for everyone who leads, manages, or has a job.

Adam Grant author of Give and Take

WORK RULES! is spectacular. I spent weeks with it, because I wanted to take such careful, detailed notes. I plan to share it with our entire Quiet Revolution team – and I'm sure that all company founders will do the same.

Susan Cain co-founder of Quiet Revolution and author of Quiet

WORK RULES! is an exceptional book aimed at any manager who wants great ideas for encouraging success from their team . . . an instant classic for the management shelf.

Ram Charan coauthor of Execution and advisor to boards and CEOs

With a clear-eyed, data-driven look into today's workplace, Bock reveals the non-traditional practices that can fundamentally transform businesses of all kinds.

Indra K. Nooyi chairman and CEO, PepsiCo

The finest book on organizational culture that I have ever read. WORK RULES! is the essential playbook for creating high-performance cultures that liberate people to do their most important work.

Tom Gardner founder and CEO, Motley Fool

WORK RULES! is more than a must-read business book. It's a handbook for high-performance teams that win.

John Doerr managing director, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers

WORK RULES! is a surprising, unconventional book that is required reading for anyone looking for a job in the tech sector, and for every entrepreneur seeking new modes of innovative thinking.

Peter H. Diamandis chairman, XPRIZE; exec. chairman, Singularity

A riveting ringside view of people operations at Google. A deft marriage of research and practice that is full of practical tips. It is an indispensable book for all people managers.

Robert I. Sutton and Hayagreeva Rao co-authors of Scaling up Excellence

As a company renowned for questioning our assumptions, it should be no surprise that Google has developed unique and profoundly effective approaches to culture, talent and leadership. By debunking many accepted HR practices, WORK RULES! establishes itself as a new testament for managing talent in modern times.

Tim BrownCEO of IDEO and author of Change By Design

Laszlo Bock has done far more than codify Google's recipe for its high-freedom, high-performance workplace, he has created the essential guide for unleashing talent in the digital age. Intelligent, playful, and practical, WORK RULES! is for all leaders who want to inspire brilliance and bring out the best of humanity in their workforce.

Liz Wisemanauthor of Multipliers and Rookie Smarts

Clearly written, evidence-based, with practical guidance and a cogent underlying philosophy, WORK RULES! needs to rule the world of work.

Jeffrey Pfeffer author of Leadership B.S.

What’s happening now

Laszlo Bock

25 Feb 2016

First sighting of "Work Rules!" in the wild - this time in Germany! #workrules

http://www.amazon.de/Work-Rules-Google-arbeiten-ver%C3%A4ndert/dp/3800650932/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1456413416&sr=8-3&keywords=laszlo+bock
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +39 | 8 comments | 2 shares

Laszlo Bock

15 Dec 2015

Honored that "Work Rules!" was chosen as one of the top 10 books on creative leadership by +Forbes! #workrules
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +54 | 1 comments | 6 shares

Laszlo Bock

15 Dec 2015

Grateful to Canada's +The Globe and Mail for naming "Work Rules!" their management book of the year! #workrules
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +31 | 5 comments | 9 shares

Laszlo Bock

12 Aug 2015

+Washington Post's new offices: "At your new desk you’ll have space for a laptop, a phone, Laszlo Bock’s Work Rules!: Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead, and Katharine Graham’s Personal History." I'm sure it's just coincidence, but neat to see nonetheless! #workrules www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +36 | 3 comments | 4 shares

Laszlo Bock

24 Jun 2015

When it comes to interviewing, don't trust your gut. More often than not, your gut reaction isn't a product of hidden wisdom. Rather, it's a result of unacknowledged biases that can lead you to overlook strong candidates who might not line up with your expectations. Instead, aim to create an interview process that's as structured and consistent as possible so that people can showcase their skills and highlight their experiences. Then, let the data help you decide how to move forward. #workrules #hiring #decisionmaking More advice at workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +71 | 7 comments | 17 shares

Laszlo Bock

18 Jun 2015

Had a lot of fun sharing interview tips on the +TODAY show earlier this week. If there’s one piece of advice I can’t emphasize enough, it’s to know your own flaws. If people ask about your weaknesses (and they almost always do), be honest, but use it as an opportunity to show the steps you’ve taken to improve. You’ll come off as thoughtful, honest and action-oriented, a great way to stand out from the pack. #workrules #interviewing #tips More advice at www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +45 | 5 comments | 6 shares

Laszlo Bock

11 Jun 2015

Meaningful feedback shouldn’t be something that comes around once a year. In fact, one of the worst times to share it is during a performance review. Why? Because studies have shown that when you introduce extrinsic motivators (like the ratings and comp typically shared in performance reviews), you reduce people’s intrinsic motivation to develop and improve. Instead, make sure your development is an ongoing conversation between you and your manager, turning your performance review into just another check-in rather than an annual surprise. #workrules #performance #feedback #development More advice at www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +78 | 8 comments | 11 shares

Laszlo Bock

10 Jun 2015

Don’t overlook unconventional candidates when hiring. Resilience and the ability to overcome hardship can say just as much about a person’s potential as a perfect pedigree. #workrules #hiring www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +154 | 12 comments | 53 shares

Laszlo Bock

05 Jun 2015

You spend a ton of time and energy trying to hire great people, so make sure to trust them once they join you. People will surprise you (and almost always for the better) when you treat them like owners and have faith they’ll do what’s best. #workrules #freedom #trust #ownership

www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +157 | 6 comments | 110 shares

Laszlo Bock

04 Jun 2015

A few weeks back I shared advice for new managers, but there’s just as much that new hires can do to make sure they get started on the right foot. At Google, we found that the single best thing new people can do is be proactive. We nudged them to encourage this behavior during new hire orientation and sent a follow-up email a few weeks later. The result? Those who saw the message became productive 25% faster than those who didn’t, and those less naturally inclined to be proactive got an especially big boost. So if you’re starting a new role, or know someone who is, hang on to these five simple steps to get off to a great start! #workrules #newhires #newjob

Much more at www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +80 | 7 comments | 25 shares

Laszlo Bock

30 May 2015

Great synthesis and awesome graphics about #workrules . In fact, it's worth checking out just for the great images. Thanks to Mr. Porter in London!
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +27 | 8 comments | 6 shares

Laszlo Bock

29 May 2015

Disinterest. Not exactly the first thing you look for in an interviewer, right? Actually, bringing in a cross-functional interviewer with no skin in the game for the role in question is an excellent way to get impartial feedback. They won’t be concerned about the particular job being filled, but will be very concerned about keeping the quality bar at your company high. Considering that most people you hire will grow into different roles over time, that’s really the most important measure. #workrules #hiring

More at www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +38 | 3 comments | 6 shares

Laszlo Bock

28 May 2015

Everyone loves focusing on the top performers. The bottom need just as much attention. Most struggling employees aren't bad people, and want to get better. Invest in them. Help them build the skills they need to become stronger. Even if they only end up average, you’ll get a large boost in overall productivity. Going from #9 out of 10 to #5 out of 10 is a huge change.

And by being transparent and supportive early on, you’ll be able to help those that can't improve see that, and make the right transition. #workrules #management

More tips at: www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +131 | 13 comments | 24 shares

Laszlo Bock

27 May 2015

There’s so much we can all do to make work a better experience, and I’m excited to share a few tips in my keynote at #Atmosphere15, a +Google for Work digital event. I’ll cover advice on how to bring together teams of different generations and with different work styles, provide insights from high-performing managers on how to create happy, engaged workers, and much more.

I’d love for you to join me. If you’re interested, sign up here: https://goo.gl/jXPsdW #workrules
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +34 | 4 comments | 1 shares

Laszlo Bock

26 May 2015

Soliciting referrals from employees is a useful tool, and one we leaned on heavily in Google's early days. But most people only have a few referrals top of mind, reducing a potential torrent of candidates to a trickle.

The good news is, people know more great people than they think, and there’s an easy way to jog their memories. Instead of asking for referrals generally, use questions like: “Who's the best salesperson you’ve ever worked with?” to get recommendations for particular roles. At Google, just making this switch increased our referral volume by 1/3 and helped incredible people get hired. #workrules #google #hiring # referrals

More hiring tips at workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +30 | 3 comments | 7 shares

Laszlo Bock

21 May 2015

It can be scary to be transparent, but the benefits make it worth it. In fact, just by sharing information, results improve. When New York state started requiring hospitals to post death rates from coronary bypass surgery, those rates fell by 41% over four years. Just by making performance transparent, patients received better outcomes.

So even if the idea of opening up makes you nervous, it’s worth it to find places where you can start. Even seemingly small things can have a big impact. #workrules #transparency

More advice at www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +62 | 7 comments | 14 shares

Laszlo Bock

19 May 2015

What’s more clever than a good brainteaser? Letting people show their skills and accomplishments. The best interview questions aren’t clever at all. “Tell me about a time your behavior had a positive impact on your team” and “Tell me about a time you had difficulty working with someone” are a few of my favorites. They may be bland, but if you use them consistently they make it easy to separate superb candidates from the rest since the best people have such better examples to share. What are some of your favorite questions?
#workrules #interviews #hiring #justsaynotobrainteasers

More tips at www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +76 | 13 comments | 24 shares

Laszlo Bock

15 May 2015

Summer is nearly here, which for many of us means it’s almost intern season! If you’re expecting an intern or any other new hire for that matter, and wondering how best to welcome them, we’ve found five things that make a big difference on how successful new folks are. How big? When we shared this advice with managers, those who followed it saw their new hires become effective 25% faster than their peers, saving a full month of learning time. So hang onto this as a reminder and share it with anyone who’ll be managing someone new. I guarantee they’ll appreciate it!

More advice for new managers and new hires at workrules.net

#workrules #hiring #newhires #advice
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +46 | 3 comments | 20 shares

Laszlo Bock

14 May 2015

One of the best ways to demonstrate trust in your employees is through transparency. After all, if you believe people are good, you shouldn’t be afraid to share information with them.

At Google, everything from product roadmaps to launch plans are visible to employees via our intranet. Likewise, almost our entire code base is available to engineers from their first day at work. This openness keeps everyone informed of what’s going on, reducing redundant work and empowering people to be effective guardians of the company’s core values.

What the right level of transparency looks like will be different for each company. But the bottom line is that if you believe your people are your greatest asset, you owe it to them to be open. #workrules #open #transparency #culture #google

See more work rules here: http://goo.gl/XFD9U4 or learn more at www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +57 | 1 comments | 18 shares

Laszlo Bock

13 May 2015

Everyone would like their work to be meaningful, but not all jobs make that possible, right? Turns out, it’s all in how you think about it. By connecting your work to how it benefits others, you can find meaning in just about anything.

A prime example is Chhapte Sherpa Pinasha, a former Everest guide who now works in a New York deli. According to Pinasha, “the two jobs are not really different,” since “both involve helping people.” Instead of seeing his job as merely slicing lox, he’s found the deeper meaning in what he does, motivating him to do his best work.

No matter what you do, there’s someone benefitting from it. Figure out who and use them as inspiration.

For more work rules, check out this quick guide: http://goo.gl/XFD9U4

Even more at: www.workrules.net

#workrules #google #meaning #inspiration
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +26 | 5 comments | 12 shares

Laszlo Bock

12 May 2015

My 10-minute keynote from Google's Education on Air Hangout last week starts at 2:36:15. Some thoughts on how what we've learned at Google and in writing "Work Rules!" can apply to education.
http://bit.ly/1FheHpT #workrules www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +22 | 0 comments | 5 shares

Laszlo Bock

12 May 2015

Since I first started working, I’ve amassed a random walk of jobs that can best be described as a guidance counselor’s nightmare. Yet in too many of them, the one constant seemed to be that people weren’t being treated the way they deserved to be. In fact, for most people, work was just a means to an end, or worse, a downright miserable experience. We spend more time working than doing anything else in the world. It’s not right that the experience of work, even at some of the best employers, should be so demotivating and dehumanizing.

"Work Rules!" is my attempt to make things better. By sharing experiences from companies that have been successful by putting their people first and the academic research that backs up this approach, my hope is to arm you with the tools you need to improve work everywhere.

To help you get started, I’ve put together this brief guide with what I believe to be the ten most important rules for developing a healthy, happy and productive workplace. If you find it inspiring, there’s much more in the book at www.workrules.net. Hope you enjoy! #workrules
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +40 | 3 comments | 30 shares

Laszlo Bock

07 May 2015

Delighted and honored to share a few things I’ve learned about improving work with some of the most important workers there are – educators! Catch me at Google’s Education On Air conference tomorrow at 8:25am PDT for a quick session on how educators can put some of the #workrules I’ve shared into practice. If you’re interested in this or any of the other great sessions, you can register and watch here (it’s free): https://goo.gl/9T3oi0

In the meantime, here are a few more thoughts about how educators can make their workplaces rule: http://goo.gl/HYbUiO #workrules
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +61 | 4 comments | 16 shares

Laszlo Bock

01 May 2015

Interviews should be challenging, but never brutal. Candidates are evaluating you as much as you are them, so it’s important to treat them well. Simple things like office tours and saving time for questions in interviews show people they're valued, regardless of whether they get the job.

It’s amazing what a difference this can make. At Google, we’ve gone from people telling horror stories about our interview process, to 80% of people we DIDN'T hire saying they'd recommend that a friend apply. (Working on getting it to 100%) All it took was taking the time to put ourselves in the candidate's shoes! #workrules #hiring #google

www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +47 | 7 comments | 17 shares

Laszlo Bock

30 Apr 2015

When it comes to finding the best people, there’s no such thing as too many interviews, right? Thankfully, for all parties involved, that’s actually not the case. After studying candidates and their outcomes at Google, we discovered that you could tell with 86% confidence whether or not someone should be hired after four interviews by averaging their interview scores. We only gained 1% of additional confidence with each added interview, making them a waste of both the candidate and the interviewer’s time. We also discovered that with the exception of one engineer in a highly specific role, no single interviewer, no matter how experienced, was more accurate than four interviewers combined. So the next time you’re thinking about bringing a candidate back in for one more round of conversations with the team, think about whether that’s really necessary. You might already have all the info you need! #workrules #hiring #interviewing

www.workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +73 | 22 comments | 47 shares

Laszlo Bock

28 Apr 2015

Wondering how to nail your next interview? The secret to providing great perks for your people at low or even no cost? How about the craziest things people have done to try to get a job at Google?

Join me today at 12pm PDT on Reddit for my first ever Ask Me Anything! You can check out www.workrules.net to get a sense of what’s on my mind – can’t wait to hear what’s on yours! http://goo.gl/w8ZNEr #workrules #ama
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +39 | 10 comments | 13 shares

Laszlo Bock

27 Apr 2015

I wrote "Work Rules!" because I believe everyone deserves meaningful work and that there are tangible things we can do to help get there. Of course, one book can only ever be part of the solution, and there are lots of great organizations already tackling this in different ways. To support them, I’ve decided to donate my proceeds from "Work Rules!" to nonprofits either directly focused on improving work or on improving children’s access to education.

But I need your help deciding which ones to support. Tell me about the amazing organizations in this space that inspire you, and I'll select a few to be among those receiving grants! #workrules

workrules.net
VIEW ON GOOGLE+ +61 | 17 comments | 7 shares

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