Indeed, Laszlo pushes you to think about reshaping your organization as a “high-freedom environment.” A perfect example is surfaced when on the topic of “code health.” As an engineering company, Google has thousands of engineers and millions of lines of software code. The word “freedom” is arguably the subliminal message hidden within the book. More importantly, perhaps, Bock asserts throughout the book that when employees are given freedom, “they will surprise, delight and amaze you.” “This is why we (Google),” he writes, “take as much power away from managers as we can.” Laszlo (and Google) believe employees will seek out organizations that provide an open, collaborative and innovative environment, so why not make the organizational culture one where “power” is held by the masses versus the few. Employees are smart and they need not be coddled, commanded or controlled by power monger managers. Laszlo defends the rights of employees, arguing persuasively that they deserve to “run the asylum” – a place of refuge, as he reminds us. These two paragraphs encapsulate the overarching thought leadership found throughout the book. And leaders who build the right kind of environments will be magnets for the most talented people on the planet. This global cadre want to be in high-freedom companies, and talent will flow to those companies.
I was increasingly enjoying my new book purchase. The most talented people on the planet are increasingly physically mobile, increasingly connected through technology, and–importantly– increasingly discoverable by employers. Google has won just about every award imaginable when it comes to “great places to work” and if there was one book that might help everyone understand why, I was hoping it would be Laszlo Bock’s. Did it measure up? Was the book a playbook of sorts for others to learn from, and follow? My wait was over, and it was now time to sink my teeth into the book that Daniel Coyle calls, “an all-access backstage pass to one of the smartest organizations on the planet.” High praise indeed. Nine days ago, Laszlo’s book, Work Rules! Insights From Inside Google, was delivered to my home by a man clad entirely in brown. Nine years ago, Laszlo Bock became head of People Operations at Google. No, I’m referring to my anticipation in a more figurative way. After all, Amazon delivered a hardcopy version to my front door in what must have been 37 seconds. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book for some time.