In an exploration of how individuals (the fleas) relate to multi-national conglomerates (the elephants), Charles Handy addresses how and why we work today, covering a range of preoccupations and issues including the increasing fear of big business: ‘it is easy to see why many observers… worry that these new corporate states are accountable to no-one – that their financial clout makes governments beholden to them … The elephants, people feel, are out of control.’

A must for architects, designers, managers, employees, business owners, CEOs and the self-employed everywhere, this book takes readers behind closed doors into the creative soul of more than forty successful firms, offering a rare and intimate look at work environments that contribute to the bottom line. From Paris to New York to Beijing, from the home studio to the office cubical to corporate headquarters, this book shows readers how to set the stage for creativity.

During his years serving in the US army, Stanley McChrystal worked with countless leaders and pondered an ancient question: “What makes a leader great?”, coming to the realisation that there is no simple answer. In this book, McChrystal profiles thirteen of history’s great leaders to show that leadership is not what you think it is—and never was. He uses their stories to explore how leadership works in practice and to challenge the myths that complicate our thinking about this critical topic.

Charles Handy and his wife Elizabeth, portray a new generation of practical philanthropists, men and women who have made their own fortunes and decided to move on from financial success to try to help those in need. They are doing so not simply by giving their money away to charities and agencies but by helping actively, working on the spot with the very people who need their aid, ensuring that the initiatives are sustainable in the longer term.

When General Stanley McChrystal took command of the Joint Special Operations Task Force in Iraq in 2003, he quickly realized that conventional military tactics were failing, forcing him and his colleagues to discard a century of conventional wisdom in favour of a ‘team of teams’ that combined extremely transparent communication with decentralized decision-making authority. In this powerful book, McChrystal and his colleagues show how the challenges they faced in Iraq can be relevant to any leader.

Do you tolerate a mediocre, uninspiring and dysfunctional environment, because that’s the way it’s always been? It doesn’t have to be. Everyone deserves a fantastic workplace in which to live, learn, grow, share and contribute. Yet it need not be difficult to create if you follow this simple and intuitive framework. An Elemental Workplace is a standard that everyone can attain; a book intended for all, offering a practical and accessible approach that will stand the test of time.

Despite decades of predictions that the office is on the verge of extinction, it is surviving and thriving. Of course, things are changing. Digital technologies are transforming not only the work we do, but also the ways our workplaces are designed, built and operated. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this book discusses the impacts of these changes on the future of work and workplace, exploring latest technologies, from voice and digital twins, to new materials such as graphene and battery-powered buildings.

The old way of treating people at work has failed. Only 30% of employees are engaged in their jobs, and in this fast-paced world that’s just not enough. The world’s best companies understand this and have been quietly treating people differently for nearly two decades. Now you can learn their secrets and discover The Engagement Bridge™ model, proven to build bottom line value for companies through sustainable employee engagement.

This book offers a potent set of neuroscience-based tools to empower your team in uncertain times. Whether it’s diminished sales, increased competition, or corporate restructuring, change is a natural part of doing business in today’s high-speed, information-overload, instant-response environment. But inherent in human nature is resistance to change. In this ground-breaking guide, top leadership consultant and employee engagement expert Christine Comaford shows you how to bring your tribe together to tackle any challenge head-on.