Review of Human Beings First

[Seetha E]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Human Beings First" by Paul E. Wolfe.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Paul's book starts with a reference to research conducted by the Wisconsin School of Business on the chemicals of leadership and their biological impacts. He then delves into the Great Resignation of 2021, where 40 million people quit their jobs. According to the MIT Sloan Management Review, the primary reason behind these resignations was a toxic work culture where leaders were abusive and a work culture where employees viewed each other as mere competitors. The same research suggested that employees prioritize workplace culture over salary earned. It is also a well-known fact that constant stress and anxiety can lead to PTSD and other disorders.

Despite being ready to resign during the chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul realized the need to be a part of the Great Reassessment. With over twenty years of experience as an HR executive at well-known multinational companies, he implemented his ideas, focusing on leadership practices. Paul E. Wolfe then authored Human Beings First: Practices for Empathetic, Expressive Leadership, detailing these leadership practices intended to create better workplaces.

Paul believes that the key to becoming a better leader is to acknowledge that all individuals are human beings first rather than mere task-doers and treat everyone with kindness and respect. By embracing one's true self and utilizing empathy and personal experiences, leaders can build better employee relationships. This approach can help to create a compassionate, harmonious, and inspiring workplace. When employees feel valued, they are more likely to be productive and engaged, leading to positive outcomes for the company.

I was touched reading through numerous real-life examples that explain the importance of leaders to reflect, share, see, listen, care, connect, help, and protect. For instance, the author outlines how reflecting on our experiences can help us gain perspective while enhancing our work culture and leadership philosophy. Reflection leads to fewer mistakes and an increase in emotional intelligence.

At the end of each chapter in "An Empathetic, Expressive Leader's Playbook," readers will find insights from dynamic leaders who share their thoughts on the same topics covered in the chapter. These leaders share stories about experiences that impacted their leadership style and offer practical tips that have worked for them. The anecdotes from Irene Brank, Nolan Farris, Maureen Lippe, Greg Morley, Irina Soriano, and Ekta Vyas are thought-provoking. As you read, you will realize that these practices are highly effective and extremely simple, such as the story about the candy dish, handwritten notes, and sharing vulnerabilities. The author explains how the entire workforce and companies can benefit from the positive effects of endorphins, dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and cortisol, as discussed by the Wisconsin School of Business, and create a win-win situation for both parties involved. All you need to do is be thoughtful and kind.

The book is well-structured and engaging throughout. It tackled an intense and important topic, which is often disregarded, in a straightforward manner with plenty of practical examples. I have nothing negative to say about the content or layout of the book. I commend the editors for the wonderful job they did. Considering all the listed aspects, I rate this thought-provoking book five out of five stars.

Overall, the book focuses on leadership and how to become a more compassionate and humane leader. I highly recommend this book to anyone in a leadership role or studying human resource management. While the content mainly focuses on workspaces, the practices described in the book apply to any setting that involves human interaction. It is worth noting, however, that the book contains profanity, which makes it unsuitable for younger readers. 

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Human Beings First
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[Anozie Stephanie]

40 million people quit their jobs in 2021? Wow this is surprising to me. I do know about the toxicity on work places but I didn't know people were this fed up.