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Whatever Works: The Small Cues That Make a Surprising Difference in Our Success at Work—and How to Create a Happier Office
An internationally renowned psychologist shows us how overlooked factors in our work days-our physical environments, our unconscious habits, and even traits like our faces and voices-have the power to make or break our careers.
In Whatever Works: The Small Cues That Make a Surprising Difference in our Success at Work—and How to Create a Happier Office, Thalma Lobel, one of the world's leading experts on human behavior, explores groundbreaking psychological research on job performance, satisfaction, and creativity. Lobel goes beyond obvious considerations like salary, title, and company culture to shed light on the hidden factors-often unrecognized, counterintuitive, or invisible-that have profound effects on how well we can do our jobs and how happy we are at work.
Did you know that just doodling in a certain way can increase your creativity? That looking at something green for forty seconds will improve your attention? That crossing your legs similarly to an interviewer could get you the job? That the mere presence of a smartphone on your desk can lessen your performance, even if it's turned off? That being in a warmer room makes you more likely to want to conform with the group, affecting your decision-making? These are the invisible factors that nudge our behavior on a daily basis, and combined, have a real and significant bearing on our success-or failure-at work.
In today's competitive market, where even tiny differences can be decisive, for both employees and organizations, exploiting such factors can make all the difference. The more you know about the subtle elements that can help or hinder you on the job, the better equipped you can be to take control and navigate today's competitive work world. Helpful for anyone from individual employees to managers to leaders of large organizations, Whatever Works shares valuable insights and practical takeaways to transform your professional life.
In Whatever Works: The Small Cues That Make a Surprising Difference in our Success at Work—and How to Create a Happier Office, Thalma Lobel, one of the world's leading experts on human behavior, explores groundbreaking psychological research on job performance, satisfaction, and creativity. Lobel goes beyond obvious considerations like salary, title, and company culture to shed light on the hidden factors-often unrecognized, counterintuitive, or invisible-that have profound effects on how well we can do our jobs and how happy we are at work.
Did you know that just doodling in a certain way can increase your creativity? That looking at something green for forty seconds will improve your attention? That crossing your legs similarly to an interviewer could get you the job? That the mere presence of a smartphone on your desk can lessen your performance, even if it's turned off? That being in a warmer room makes you more likely to want to conform with the group, affecting your decision-making? These are the invisible factors that nudge our behavior on a daily basis, and combined, have a real and significant bearing on our success-or failure-at work.
In today's competitive market, where even tiny differences can be decisive, for both employees and organizations, exploiting such factors can make all the difference. The more you know about the subtle elements that can help or hinder you on the job, the better equipped you can be to take control and navigate today's competitive work world. Helpful for anyone from individual employees to managers to leaders of large organizations, Whatever Works shares valuable insights and practical takeaways to transform your professional life.
- GenresSelf HelpNonfiction
ebook
Published July 14, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 13, 2020
Very useful book about how little things impact our working environment.
Well being, success and productivity at work are based on our habits, unconscious programs, room temperature, gestures etc. The more you know about these subtle cues and factors, more happy and content you'll be at work and therefore more successful.
Read it and transform your professional life.
Well being, success and productivity at work are based on our habits, unconscious programs, room temperature, gestures etc. The more you know about these subtle cues and factors, more happy and content you'll be at work and therefore more successful.
Read it and transform your professional life.
March 29, 2020
In this time of self-isolation and working from home, being productive at work can be quite challenging. Regular check-ins and video calls with supervisor and colleagues help keep us accountable, but productivity is very personal. My last week working from home got me thinking about what I could do to be productive in my office hours. When I found Whatever works on NetGalley, I hoped I had found some answers and indeed I had!
Whatever Works is a well researched book about the work place, covering topics of layout of offices, lighting in the room, how we work with other people, the advantages of diversity in a team as well as the habits that we have or can install in us to work better. Thalma answers a number a questions through this book like "should I listen to music while I work?", "What can I do to increase my creativity at work" as well as "Does classical music make one smarter?" Bringing research from around the world, this book presents ideas that are mostly actionable - it all depends on you as well as how much control you have on your workspace.
It was Part 3 of the book about personal habits that I found the most helpful. It was a good reminder about the little things that I can do in my work life to keep me on task. Whether it is keeping my phone away, out of site, for an hour when I am working on something that demands my attention, or immersing myself in nature sounds during breaks, or taking some time to clean my desk to clear some mental space, setting time aside for emails (and other social media that we are so tempted to check - that's my addition)... these are all little things we know we should do but we leave too often to the last minute. I also liked the reminder that dimness spurs creativity - my work office has dim lighting that I find quite productive but my home office has a lot of natural light which I am still adjusting to.
The underling idea of the book is to present strategies and research that have worked, while at the same time, highlighting the caveat that we have to find something that works best for us. I don't listen to classical music but I will take coffee store music anyway. In these times when a lot of us are working from home, understanding the environments that we work best in as well as setting ourselves up for successful work hours is important for our success.
Thank you to the publisher for making this book available to me for review. It comes at a good time.
Whatever Works is a well researched book about the work place, covering topics of layout of offices, lighting in the room, how we work with other people, the advantages of diversity in a team as well as the habits that we have or can install in us to work better. Thalma answers a number a questions through this book like "should I listen to music while I work?", "What can I do to increase my creativity at work" as well as "Does classical music make one smarter?" Bringing research from around the world, this book presents ideas that are mostly actionable - it all depends on you as well as how much control you have on your workspace.
It was Part 3 of the book about personal habits that I found the most helpful. It was a good reminder about the little things that I can do in my work life to keep me on task. Whether it is keeping my phone away, out of site, for an hour when I am working on something that demands my attention, or immersing myself in nature sounds during breaks, or taking some time to clean my desk to clear some mental space, setting time aside for emails (and other social media that we are so tempted to check - that's my addition)... these are all little things we know we should do but we leave too often to the last minute. I also liked the reminder that dimness spurs creativity - my work office has dim lighting that I find quite productive but my home office has a lot of natural light which I am still adjusting to.
The underling idea of the book is to present strategies and research that have worked, while at the same time, highlighting the caveat that we have to find something that works best for us. I don't listen to classical music but I will take coffee store music anyway. In these times when a lot of us are working from home, understanding the environments that we work best in as well as setting ourselves up for successful work hours is important for our success.
Thank you to the publisher for making this book available to me for review. It comes at a good time.
July 26, 2020
This is really a great book that will benefit everybody who works, whether at home or in
the office. Whatever Works gives practical advice on how to succeed at work, but it's not
just another how-to book. It demonstrates through numerous experiments published in top
psychological journals, how we are influenced by subtle factors that are often right under
our noses. The first part of the book deals with the influence of our physical environment on
performance and wellbeing, with some surprising findings on the influence of factors such as
temperature, light, and office layout. The second part deals with factors such as gestures,
dress and nonverbal communication that can influence our interactions with others in
teamwork, negotiations, and interviews. The last part focuses on the individual, and the
influence of factors such as personal order and neatness, smartphones and music on our
performance and wellbeing, and suggests many great ways to boost creativity such as
looking at the color blue for a few minutes. I really loved this book.
the office. Whatever Works gives practical advice on how to succeed at work, but it's not
just another how-to book. It demonstrates through numerous experiments published in top
psychological journals, how we are influenced by subtle factors that are often right under
our noses. The first part of the book deals with the influence of our physical environment on
performance and wellbeing, with some surprising findings on the influence of factors such as
temperature, light, and office layout. The second part deals with factors such as gestures,
dress and nonverbal communication that can influence our interactions with others in
teamwork, negotiations, and interviews. The last part focuses on the individual, and the
influence of factors such as personal order and neatness, smartphones and music on our
performance and wellbeing, and suggests many great ways to boost creativity such as
looking at the color blue for a few minutes. I really loved this book.
June 23, 2020
Thalma Lobel’s second book "Whatever Works: The Small Cues that Make a Surprising Difference in Our Success at Work – and How to Create a Happier Office" adopts a three-part fourteen-chapter framework for exploring the title’s promise. Lobel’s professional reputation rests on her global notoriety as an expert on human behavior and a respected psychologist. She is the onetime director of the Adler Center for Child Development and a visiting professor at a number of upper echelon universities. This pedigree assigns a level of credibility to her observations she might not have otherwise enjoyed but she never comes off as conceited or smug in her presumed rightness.
Lobel breaks down her vision of workplace happiness in systematic fashion. The first part examines the changes individuals can make in their environment to maximize productivity. She addresses concerns like temperature, color, and layout, among other ideas, and makes her case in a credible way. Part Two of the book looks at what changes you can make in those you work directly with each day. Dress, the nuances of interpersonal communication, and an exploration of office ethics, among other subjects, comprise this section. The final section of "Whatever Works" turns its attention to ourselves. It is briefer than earlier parts and focuses on how an orderly space encourages out creativity, responsible use of technology, and how music can affect us during the workday. She ends the book with some of the same practical observations present throughout the entirety of the book and an inspiring tone that puts a clear exclamation point on the book’s conclusion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: https://english.m.tau.ac.il/profile/t...
She supplements her ideas with ample and documented research. This isn’t a case of Lobel cherry-picking facts or half-truths serving her argument, but instead she reveals the strong academic element of her character. That academic influence never steers her, however, into stilted or obtuse prose. She writes with great skill from beginning to end and maintains conversational interplay with readers rather than writing at a step removed throughout the entirety of the book. Her goal is assisting professionals build a more effective workplace structure so that it fully realizes their potential
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Whatever-Works...
Unlike many similar books, Lobel never relies on graphs or illustrations of other types to make her point to the audience. Her prose and the insights contained therein are more than enough to carry the day. This is a book that may seem, on initial reading or inspection, written for a narrow audience, but it takes little heavy lifting retrofit its principles for other arenas in life. The elastic usefulness of the book is one of its chief strengths. Lobel has written a comprehensive yet never exhaustive account of the qualities that define a forward-thinking and moving office environment, but she’s also laid a roadmap you can adopt for many situations in life. "Whatever Works: The Small Cues that Make a Surprising Difference in Our Success at Work – and How to Create a Happier Office" is a fantastic sophomore effort for this writer and intellect. It will likely make a positive impression on many readers.
Lobel breaks down her vision of workplace happiness in systematic fashion. The first part examines the changes individuals can make in their environment to maximize productivity. She addresses concerns like temperature, color, and layout, among other ideas, and makes her case in a credible way. Part Two of the book looks at what changes you can make in those you work directly with each day. Dress, the nuances of interpersonal communication, and an exploration of office ethics, among other subjects, comprise this section. The final section of "Whatever Works" turns its attention to ourselves. It is briefer than earlier parts and focuses on how an orderly space encourages out creativity, responsible use of technology, and how music can affect us during the workday. She ends the book with some of the same practical observations present throughout the entirety of the book and an inspiring tone that puts a clear exclamation point on the book’s conclusion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: https://english.m.tau.ac.il/profile/t...
She supplements her ideas with ample and documented research. This isn’t a case of Lobel cherry-picking facts or half-truths serving her argument, but instead she reveals the strong academic element of her character. That academic influence never steers her, however, into stilted or obtuse prose. She writes with great skill from beginning to end and maintains conversational interplay with readers rather than writing at a step removed throughout the entirety of the book. Her goal is assisting professionals build a more effective workplace structure so that it fully realizes their potential
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Whatever-Works...
Unlike many similar books, Lobel never relies on graphs or illustrations of other types to make her point to the audience. Her prose and the insights contained therein are more than enough to carry the day. This is a book that may seem, on initial reading or inspection, written for a narrow audience, but it takes little heavy lifting retrofit its principles for other arenas in life. The elastic usefulness of the book is one of its chief strengths. Lobel has written a comprehensive yet never exhaustive account of the qualities that define a forward-thinking and moving office environment, but she’s also laid a roadmap you can adopt for many situations in life. "Whatever Works: The Small Cues that Make a Surprising Difference in Our Success at Work – and How to Create a Happier Office" is a fantastic sophomore effort for this writer and intellect. It will likely make a positive impression on many readers.
July 30, 2020
Intelligent, Interesting and Insightful. A fascinating study of the unexpected variables that effect our work life. Especially relevant in today's changing work environment, "Whatever Works" is well researched and highly engaging. Strongly recommend.
July 25, 2020
I read her previous book and found it scholarly and yet enjoyable. This one did not disappoint.
Practical application of many studies of all the variables that effect productivity and satisfaction.
It is particularly applicable to today’s changing at home work environment.
Practical application of many studies of all the variables that effect productivity and satisfaction.
It is particularly applicable to today’s changing at home work environment.
May 20, 2020
4.25/5 stars!
"The only time a disorganized office can be an advantage is when you are working on a problem that demands creativity."
This book contains: dim and intense lights, privacy, creativity, colours, emotions, nature, walks, music, negotiations, handshakes, open spaces, and messy desks.
By the time quarantine started I'd already started working remotely. At first I had a hard time defining a healthy daily routine for myself, creating a good working environment, and most importantly, defining the fine line between my personal life and work. And even though I’ve finally found my balance, I’m always willing to improve my working conditions and make the most out of it. So I decided to pick up this book because I thought it would be perfect for my current situation.
The book is divided into three sections: the first part is dedicated to how your environment affects you and how you can use it for your advantage; the second part focuses on how relationships and communication with your co-workers affect our work; and the third part how our personal habits have power over our performance and creativity.
First of all, I was very surprised to see that this is not a book only based on the author’s experience and opinions, but it’s mostly based on scientific studies. Each chapter focuses on a specific topic - such as light, open areas, music, temperature - and several studies and results that were made on that subject are presented to the reader. The cool part is that in the end of each chapter - and sometimes in the middle - there is a small note in a post-it format with a conclusion and tips on how we can apply what we learn after reading the chapter.
I applaud the author for all the research made and commitment to write such a complete guide on improving your work. I would say this is a book more focused on ways of increasing performance and have better communication and relationships with your co-workers. The second part unfortunately will only be useful when I return to the office, but I found the first and third parts very helpful for the times we are living in right now.
I didn’t know what to expect at first, but I found some useful information that I will definitely apply in my daily life. If you are interested in learning how your environment affects your productivity and how to use small simple ways of increasing your productivity, this is the book for you!
***A big thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review***
More reviews and book related content on my blog: Sprayed Edges Blog.
"The only time a disorganized office can be an advantage is when you are working on a problem that demands creativity."
This book contains: dim and intense lights, privacy, creativity, colours, emotions, nature, walks, music, negotiations, handshakes, open spaces, and messy desks.
By the time quarantine started I'd already started working remotely. At first I had a hard time defining a healthy daily routine for myself, creating a good working environment, and most importantly, defining the fine line between my personal life and work. And even though I’ve finally found my balance, I’m always willing to improve my working conditions and make the most out of it. So I decided to pick up this book because I thought it would be perfect for my current situation.
The book is divided into three sections: the first part is dedicated to how your environment affects you and how you can use it for your advantage; the second part focuses on how relationships and communication with your co-workers affect our work; and the third part how our personal habits have power over our performance and creativity.
First of all, I was very surprised to see that this is not a book only based on the author’s experience and opinions, but it’s mostly based on scientific studies. Each chapter focuses on a specific topic - such as light, open areas, music, temperature - and several studies and results that were made on that subject are presented to the reader. The cool part is that in the end of each chapter - and sometimes in the middle - there is a small note in a post-it format with a conclusion and tips on how we can apply what we learn after reading the chapter.
I applaud the author for all the research made and commitment to write such a complete guide on improving your work. I would say this is a book more focused on ways of increasing performance and have better communication and relationships with your co-workers. The second part unfortunately will only be useful when I return to the office, but I found the first and third parts very helpful for the times we are living in right now.
I didn’t know what to expect at first, but I found some useful information that I will definitely apply in my daily life. If you are interested in learning how your environment affects your productivity and how to use small simple ways of increasing your productivity, this is the book for you!
***A big thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review***
More reviews and book related content on my blog: Sprayed Edges Blog.
Read
July 23, 2020Amazing follow-up to her previous book "Sensation." All sorts of advice to boost productivity and creativity that I found were equally important in both an office and work-at-home environment.
June 6, 2020
When science based theory is mixed with the authors own experience and their belief on how to make things better it makes for an interesting read. I received an advance copy of this book via netgallery and am whole heartedly endorsing this book for all professionals.
The book has beautifully taken us through each stages of personalization and changes which when done improves the overall efficiency and wellbeing leading to greater productivity and a happier mindset. Change in workplace lighting, alteration of tone when asking questions, imparting information, effect of open space, all the nuances have been covered with her insightful advice on cause and effect.
I would not have any hesitation in recommending this book to all work professionals, employee and employer.
#WhateverWorks #NetGalley
The book has beautifully taken us through each stages of personalization and changes which when done improves the overall efficiency and wellbeing leading to greater productivity and a happier mindset. Change in workplace lighting, alteration of tone when asking questions, imparting information, effect of open space, all the nuances have been covered with her insightful advice on cause and effect.
I would not have any hesitation in recommending this book to all work professionals, employee and employer.
#WhateverWorks #NetGalley
April 25, 2020
Lobel, "hoped to deliver science-based findings that can make us happier, more satisfied, and more successful at work" and does exactly that!
This book is not completely opinion based yet not completely research based. It's a great mix of both, science with a touch of opinion and thought. The careful blend of the two makes it a great read.
That being said, there a few times when the research presented doesn't always align perfectly with the topic being discussed but it is still insightful information.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC.
This book is not completely opinion based yet not completely research based. It's a great mix of both, science with a touch of opinion and thought. The careful blend of the two makes it a great read.
That being said, there a few times when the research presented doesn't always align perfectly with the topic being discussed but it is still insightful information.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC.
September 4, 2022
The most prominent question when we meet: What do you do?
The most prominent question when we meet: What do you do?
Environment
Ambient (nature) background noise promotes work (like in a coffeeshop), halfalogues detract from work.
Hedonic or utilitarian choices.
○ Dim room supports hedonic and selfish behaviour
○ Well-lit room promotes utilitarian, and promotes work in teams
Temperature 21-22 is the ideal (complex tasks are most impacted) a warm environment increases agreeableness
Walks in a green/nature environment reduces stress and recharges: the ideal break
Behaviour
Handshakes create trust, people mirror (chameleon effect)
Be prepared when stepping into a negotiation
Rewards that took effort by the employer lead to better performance
Anxiety is related to unethical behaviour. Anxiety can be reduced by sports/yoga?
Diversity - The art of thinking indecently together
Making a decision in a foreign language is less biased and less emotional, more utilitarian.
Formal attire increases confidence in skills to self and by others.
The most prominent question when we meet: What do you do?
Environment
Ambient (nature) background noise promotes work (like in a coffeeshop), halfalogues detract from work.
Hedonic or utilitarian choices.
○ Dim room supports hedonic and selfish behaviour
○ Well-lit room promotes utilitarian, and promotes work in teams
Temperature 21-22 is the ideal (complex tasks are most impacted) a warm environment increases agreeableness
Walks in a green/nature environment reduces stress and recharges: the ideal break
Behaviour
Handshakes create trust, people mirror (chameleon effect)
Be prepared when stepping into a negotiation
Rewards that took effort by the employer lead to better performance
Anxiety is related to unethical behaviour. Anxiety can be reduced by sports/yoga?
Diversity - The art of thinking indecently together
Making a decision in a foreign language is less biased and less emotional, more utilitarian.
Formal attire increases confidence in skills to self and by others.
September 23, 2020
This is an interesting book about both designing workspaces and building useful habits. The latter part of the book is perhaps the most effective, especially now in the time of COVID, but the former is worthwhile reading as well. It confirms what I already believed, that cubicles are bad, but open offices are the spawn of Satan. Lack of daylight is also a hindrance to productivity. All of the things that companies do to save money end up costing them more in the long run, as people take more absences and get less done in places that lack light, quiet, and privacy.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.
September 19, 2020
Disclaimer: Received for free for review in exchange of my honest opinion.
I did not finish this book. I still rate it 3 stars because it is not a bad book, I just couldn't finish it.
The idea is interesting and it is one of those non-fiction books that stays on point, doesn't repeat too much and it provides evidence for what it says.
Personally, it was too stuffy for me. There was too much information and it felt this way because I did not feel like investing so much time and effort in the subject - maybe if we weren't working from home...
I did not finish this book. I still rate it 3 stars because it is not a bad book, I just couldn't finish it.
The idea is interesting and it is one of those non-fiction books that stays on point, doesn't repeat too much and it provides evidence for what it says.
Personally, it was too stuffy for me. There was too much information and it felt this way because I did not feel like investing so much time and effort in the subject - maybe if we weren't working from home...
April 13, 2021
An interesting roundup of a lot of scientific studies of what works and what doesn't in terms of office layout and temperature, whether or not there are windows and plants, background music, and technology. It was full of things that made me think "huh," but I didn't find it riveting. I blame the pandemic; I think I would benefit from a re-read in more normal times.
January 9, 2021
This book is full of helpful ideas on how to be productive at work. I've started implementing some of these tips and tricks as I try to navigate working from home during the pandemic. It is very research heavy, but definitely worth checking out.
June 13, 2022
Useful, perhaps a little too broad for me to take in all the valuable information. Might be a bookshelf keeper, a title to refer back to in the regular.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews