I Don't Just Work Here: The New Purpose of Workplace Culture

I Don’t Just Work Here is a field guide that equips business leaders with what to say and do as they face the new expectations of workplace culture because, after all, work isn’t what it used to be. Changes in society have created a world where many employees now show up for work not just to do their jobs but also to discover, debate, and digest important social issues.

A growing number of workers want to have an impact in the world and their preferences are a prompt for employers to be more mindful of the role of business in driving change, starting with what people experience at work. In this context, people managers are now being asked to operate as both business leaders and community leaders within the workplace―and the latter skillset is new to many. Insights in this book can help managers replace anxiety with confidence to lead with greater purpose, provide the space and support for employees to develop and, ultimately, leverage culture to bolster business.

In I Don’t Just Work Here, Felicia Joy and Elena Grotto, experts on behavioral science, business strategy, and organizational culture, share practical guidance to help organizations rise to these new standards by advancing seven behaviors, including the surprising―and perhaps most important―new business skill for high-performing cultures: forgiveness. Organizations that take heed and elevate people managers, invest in building a meaningful culture, and lead with clear values and behaviors, are more likely to have a decisive competitive advantage for years to come.

About the Authors

Felicia Joy is an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an executive vice president of business transformation and U.S. head of behavioral science at Edelman. She advises Fortune 500 CEOs and leaders when they are facing risky business challenges or opportunities. Felicia earned a master's degree in behavioral science from Harvard and undergraduate degrees in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Georgia. 

Elena Grotto is an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an executive vice president and head of the Chicago business transformation practice at Edelman. Elena manages culture and change programs that impact all phases of the employee journey—from attraction and onboarding to leadership development and retention. She earned an MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, an MA from the Art Institute of Chicago and a BS from Skidmore College. 

Dimensions: 16.03 x 2.24 x 23.65 cm