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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Widgets summary
Rodd Wagner
The 12 New Rules for Managing Your Employees As If They’re Real People.
16 mins
Brief summary
Widgets by Rodd Wagner is a business book that explains the power of employee engagement and how it impacts company success. The author provides research-based insights and examples of how to create a strong culture that attracts, motivates, and retains top talent.
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Widgets
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Key idea 1 of 8
The way employees are incentivized affects their energy levels.
Are you a morning person who tends to wake up energized and excited at the thought of going to work? Or do you dread hearing your alarm clock in the morning?
Either way, you’re certainly not alone. When it comes to energy levels at work, most of us fall under one of the four different types of employees.
The first group, comprising 19 percent of the US workforce, is called the demoralized group. People like this don’t like their jobs whatsoever and tend to feel that their bosses never give them positive feedback.
The second type is called the frustrated group. Accounting for 23 percent of the working population, they sometimes receive positive reinforcement from their bosses, but often have a neutral or negative opinion of their work.
Third is the encouraged group, which makes up 29 percent of all US workers. These employees see their jobs as good, but not great.
And finally, the energized group is the 29 percent of the US working population with the highest level of energy on the job. They tend to report extremely high levels of job satisfaction.
But why are so many workers unmotivated and tired on the job?
It’s in part due to the widespread view of humans as homo economicus rather than homo reciprocans.
Homo economicus is believed to be rational and motivated by money. So, if you want homo economicus to do something, you simply threaten him – with dismissal, for instance – and he’ll do as he’s told. This method sees humans as cogs in a machine that can be controlled with proverbial carrots and sticks.
The homo reciprocans, however, is defined by his tendency toward reciprocity. So, if you scratch his back, he’ll do the same for you – but will also reciprocate poor treatment. This style of management is more in line with true human behavior.
So, when employers wonder about why their employees aren’t engaging with their work, it often has to do with the way a boss treats his workers. If you don’t treat employees like individuals, they’re bound to become frustrated.
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What is Widgets about?
Widgets (2015) is a guide to improving employees’ performance, regardless of the field they work in. These blinks outline the fundamental principles, based on scientific research, that will help any company improve its efficiency, profitability and worker satisfaction.
Widgets Review
Widgets (2019) by Rodd Wagner offers fresh insights into the power of harnessing a collective mindset. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Discover how collaboration, teamwork, and diversity can lead to innovative solutions and improved performance.
- Explore real-world examples and case studies that illustrate the benefits of fostering a collaborative culture.
- Understand the strategies and practices that can help organizations unlock the full potential of their teams.
By delving into the world of widgets, Wagner presents a compelling argument for the power of collective intelligence and why it can be a game-changer for organizations.
Best quote from Widgets
The choice of what kinds of attitudes your employees bring to work is yours.
—Rodd Wagner
Who should read Widgets?
- Every entrepreneur or manager interested in improving employee performance
- Anyone working in human resources
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Widgets FAQs
What is the main message of Widgets?
Widgets explores the power of culture and the importance of employee engagement in driving organizational success.
How long does it take to read Widgets?
The reading time for Widgets varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Widgets a good book? Is it worth reading?
Widgets is a must-read for anyone interested in improving workplace culture and employee satisfaction. It offers practical insights and actionable strategies. Highly recommended!
Who is the author of Widgets?
The author of Widgets is Rodd Wagner.
What to read after Widgets?
If you're wondering what to read next after Widgets, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Science of Rapid Skill Acquisition by Peter Hollins
- Winning Now, Winning Later by David M. Cote
- Think Small by Owain Service and Rory Gallagher
- Leading with Gratitude by Adrian Gostick
- How to be F*cking Awesome by Dan Meredith
- The World's Worst Bet by David J. Lynch
- The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills by Paul Sloane
- A World Without Work by Daniel Susskind
- The Overthinker's Guide to Making Decisions by Joseph Nguyen
- Read Your Mind by Oz Pearlman