Saving the World at Work Saving the World at Work Saving the World at Work

by Tim Sanders

Even the actions of a single person can help to change the world. How? Through simple acts of leadership and compassion. Open up this book, and discover the true stories of people whose actions have caused a chainreaction at work and in their communities. Among A manager who gives an employee some supportive praise, and as a result literally saves his life (page 231). A small group of bank tellerswho spearhead a movement to raise millions of dollars for breast cancer, making it the biggest fundraiser in North America, and enhancing their company's reputation (page 213). A sales managerwho gets a copy of a groundbreaking book that leads to a transformation of the company's operations. As a result, hundreds of millions of pounds of carpet waste avoid the landfill, and the company sparks arevolution in its industry (page 12). "A "responsibility revolution" is shaking up corporate America. In this provocative and insightful book, bestselling author Tim Sandersreveals why companies must to go beyond making a profit and start making a difference. "Every one of us, regardless of title or position, can inspire our companies to change the way they dobusiness, helping them to become a positive force for enriching people, communities, and the environment. When this happens, not only do we help save the world, we help save our companies from becoming irrelevant. We alsobecome part of what Sanders calls the Responsibility Revolution. Companies that don't participate in this revolution risk becoming obsolete. Today customers, employees, and investors aredemanding that companies focus on their social responsibilities-not just their bottom lines. Sixty-five percent of American consumers say they would change to brands associated with a good cause if price andquality were equal; 66 percent of recent college graduates will not work for companies with poor social values. And more than sixty million people are willing to pay a premium for socially and environmentally responsibleproducts. In SAVING THE WORLD AT WORK, Tim Sanders offers concrete suggestions on how all of us can help our companies join the Responsibility Revolution. Drawing on extensive interviews with hundredsof employees and CEOs, and illuminated by countless stories of people who are making a difference in the workplace and in the world, Sanders offers practical advice every individual and company can use to make the world abetter place--now and in the future.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Buisness, Green, Leadership

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Corporate Social Responsibility. The concept of for-profit companies viewing themselves as citizens over consumers is refreshing and well-developed. This book is neither of those things.

Instead of this book, check out "Firms of Endearment" or read Michael Porter's take on CSR. Both present facts and multiple examples of what corporate responsibility looks like - "Saving the World at Work" provides minimal anecdotal examples, and really just feels like an extended diatribe on the woes of American consumerism. The steps to help are overwhelming (most chapters are a 5-20 step guide) and I don't think Sanders ever identifies the necessity of responsibility - just a few trite references to footprints and potential business cases.

In short - support CSR, but check out another book.

[Diogenes Grief · Rating 1 out of 5]

I discovered this book amongst many others, tucked upon a high shelf in a cabinet at my place of employment, and wondered about it enough to pry it open. Here’s the intro, in incredibly short paragraphs:

“The Responsibility Revolution has arrived. It demands that companies make a difference to society—not just indirectly, by producing jobs and profits, but directly, through their products, through their manufacturing methods and operational systems, through their environmental efforts and community outreach.

The consumers and customers leading this revolution will screen your company to see if it is socially responsible. Then, and only then, will they reward it with their loyalty.

The Responsibility Revolution represents a new consciousness among consumers concerning why we buy or don’t buy, what we use or don’t use. We want to make a positive difference with our wallets, and through our actions, to make the world a better place.

There is also a new consciousness among employees. We want to find greater meaning in our lives through our work. We want to be associated with companies that practice good corporate citizenship.

There is a new consciousness among investors as well. We want to shape the future by putting our money into companies that match our social values.

Consumers, employees, and investors are changing business. They expect the companies with which they do business to join them in taking responsibility for the planet on which we all live, and for giving back to the larger world.

This is not a revolution that can be ignored. It will not go away. If your business ins’t socially responsible in the future, the forces of good will rise into the market like cavalry, surround it, and choke off your supply lines. If you work in a company that is not socially responsible, whether it is a Fortune 500 company or a mom-and-pop operation, it will feel the impact on its profits and revenues, and your colleagues could lose their jobs as the company buckles under the weight of this new paradigm.

You don’t believe me? Consider this: Today [in 2008, presumably] 65 percent of Americans are willing to switch to a brand associated with a good cause if price and quality are relatively equal. And 66 percent participate in at least one social cause-generated boycott each year (and with each passing year, the percentage grows).”

Sanders goes on, for 233 pages, gushing about this envisioned Revolution. I looked him up, and though I’m sure its no fault of his, he made his mark working for Yahoo! and left the company long before it fell into a Toys-R-Us hole of irrelevance. It would appear that he couldn’t have been more wrong in his reading of the proverbial tea leaves.

Our digital oligarchs are shameless in their wanton greed and bloated egos. The populace, by and large, prays at the altars of the juggernauts of Amazon and Walmart, Apple and Google, who contribute so little to the public coffers while screwing over their workforce as much, and as often, as possible. A few billion souls still feed the information-rendering engines of Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and their ilk, seemingly unconcerned about how their information is used and sold for greater and greater profits, or how little each Titan cares about truth, justice, and accountability. The Fossil Fuel industry, Big Pharma, and Wall Street still dominate, ruled over by the Chickenshit Club of our collective political systems, with (basically) each politician more concerned about their stock-market portfolios than the future of the species. Fox News and Sinclair Broadcasting spew lies daily, entrancing millions of dim-witted voters, usurping a system and its safeguards, aided by foreign powers and their psyop campaigns. This is the new normal.

I boycotted Walmart over 20 years ago. I boycotted Amazon 5 years go. I am one of the few who have actually followed through with my moral convictions (knowing full-well that Goodreads is owned by the Amazon monstrosity). I defecate upon Sanders’s rose-glassed views of yesteryear (though I have no doubt he had the best of intentions back then). Alvin Toffler had a stronger hand-hold on the Future, divining such horrible conditions by herds of humanity grasping at the juicy ‘member-berries, lashing out at their irrelevance to a progressive future, and the election of a black man as President. Perhaps one day sanity will reign, once the “Greatest Generation” is nothing more than dust in the wind. Maybe vampiric Capitalism will one day be brought to its end with a stake through its black heart. I suppose I can dream too.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of special interest to me is what Sanders has to say about what he calls the "saver soldier," a highly motivated individual who leverages work as a platform to help save the world. She or he is convinced that a business can do well by doing good. Sanders examines various saver soldiers, three of whom (e.g. IBM's Jeff Immelt, Patagonia's Yvon Choinard, and Aveda's Horst Rechelbacher) "have stated that they don't expect to achieve their vision single-handedly; they need foot soldiers to scout, innovate, and execute new ideas." Sanders identifies and examines "The Six Laws of the Saver Soldier" in Chapter 8 that, together, offer an appropriate belief system for newly enlisted "troops." For example, The Law of Abundance (#3) essentially asserts that there is always enough to go around. That is, "doing good" and "doing well" are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, Sanders insists, they are inter-dependent. It would be very difficult (if not impossible) to have one without the other. Companies that are actively engaged in the Responsibility Revolution will probably attract the "best and brightest" people and then retain them. What these companies offer will have greater appeal to customers. Most important of all, these companies will make a difference to their society, indeed to their planet, while gaining and then sustaining "an unshakable edge" over their "laggard competitors." Tim Sanders asks, "If not now, when? If not you, who?"

Meanwhile, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock....

[Kelly Holmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book was hard to get through. That part is trying to sell you on the idea of companies doing more than just making a profit. So if you're already convinced of the value of such a company, I'd say skip the first half.

I much preferred the second half because it got more practical. In particular, the chapter on how to influence change in your company was a great overview that I think I'll keep around for reference.

The second half also has a few chapters with ideas for changes you can make at your company. It's a little overwhelming unless you keep reminding yourself that every suggestion isn't going to work at every place. So I tried to focus on finding one good idea per chapter to take away as a starting point.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok book. I would like to read an update to this book to see how many of his projections have actually come to pass since it was 10 years ago and right before the economy crashed.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Occasionally books come along that capture the spirit of a new age. This is one of those books. Tim Sanders demonstrates, in well-written, clearly argued prose, that companies need to change the way they do business, or risk falling behind the others who do. What's the new business model? Companies need to embrace corporate social responsibility in a real way. They need to take care of their employees, contribute positively to the communities in which they operate, and go wholeheartedly green. Sanders proves, through his copious research, that this is not nice-to-have, but must-have. Investment decisions, employment decisions, and buying decisions -- all are made now with the 'CSR' profile of the company in mind. Get on the bus or miss the ride.

[Asta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read which will motivate you to jump up and save the world at work. Seriously, Sanders makes it seem possibly for anyone, working anywhere to change the way their company conducts business. Something tells me that if it was really that easy, the corporate American culture would be a little different . . . I do like Sander's idea of "them-geners" is a natural part of social progression. I also agreed with the notion that "them-geners" will be teaching the CEO's of today how to lead more sustainable businesses. Saving the World at Work is a bit like reading a motivaitonal speach, but rather than speaking about how to change yourself this book is all about changing the community you live and work in.

[Emilie]

I picked it up to get some ideas on how to get buy-in from my organization, where I have attempted to start a Green Committee. The author offers some good ideas, provides examples of successful and viable socially responsible companies, Ray Andersen's Interface being one of the best known. I might not read the whole book, but it validates my feeling that there is more to work than earning a dollar, and that it is okay to want to feel like what I am doing and where I work is socially responsible.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep trying to read these kinds of books, and often they just aren’t very good. This one was definitely better than the rest. The idea of course is that there is lots of stuff you can do to make the world a better place, and some of it is at your place of business.

Full review at http://palenerd.wordpress.com/2009/03...

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Sanders comes across as overly optimistic and idealistic, he does show numerous examples of individuals making HUGE differences in society by speaking up and following through with companies to improve their corporate responsibility.

Change one, change many...

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, inspiring book. I'm thrilled I got to see Sanders speak at a United Way event in KC. He really gives you a different set of lenses through which to look at the world.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't really that inspiring of a text. I was disappointing in the examples it used to validate assertions, and the topic wasn't one I was really predisposed to beforehand (and it didn't convince me).

[Ryan B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some compelling case studies of small things making a big difference in work offices.

A great read for those who are looking to make a difference, without resorting to hugging trees and eating only vegetables which don't cast a shadow.

[Gwen · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, the best nuggets were the reminders of how dramatically the 35-45yr. old talent pool will shrink in the coming decade. Their values are different as well. Are we ready for the upcoming talent war? How will linking purpose to work improve talent engagement?

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, but here is my advice on how to read it. Start with the last chapter, and work you way to the first. This is a good book for the proactive, I like my job, but I am burned out person. Great new ideas and ways to jump start your life at work.

[Kieran Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

it motivated me to think more carefully about the supply chain for my business and maximize the good choices there. I was able to find a new acupuncture needle company that aligns better with my world view. However, the read itself was less than awesome. It felt like work getting through it.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read about changes in consumer attitudes. In line with recent research by Yankelovich

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, too philosophical. I wanted to know how to convince people to prioritize the environment without an obvious monetary reward. Impossible???

[Julie Glynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practicial, thorough, and inspiring! Great suggestions on how all employees can initiate CSR activities in their workplace.

[Dylan Blanchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have been better as a blog post, but it did have some good points, and aligns with my perspective on business.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great content, great writing, great mission.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent for its genre, but not my favorite.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's got some good points, but isn't my favorite of this type of genre.

[Matthew Dudley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 3/4 were good, with some decent ideas but the last quarter was basically a scolding to the reader that dramatically altered my overall opinion of the book to its detriment.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read for employees at any level looking to make a positive and lasting impact on the job. I was a bit disappointed on the overwhelming focus on environmental sustainability. Although the ideas to lessen ones negative impact on the environment were practical, I moreso enjoyed reading the human/social impact examples. I almost did not finish this book and then I would have missed the Raytheon example which was def. a highlight!