Introduction: The Reality of Possibility
1. The Positive Organization
2. Becoming Bilingual
3. Creating a Sense of Purpose
4. Nurturing Authentic Conversations
5. Seeing Possibility
6. Embracing the Common Good
7. Trusting the Emergent Process
8. Using the Positive Organization Generator
Appendix: The Positive Organization Generator
Robert E. Quinn holds the Margaret Elliott Tracy Collegiate Professorship at the University of Michigan and serves on the faculty of Management and Organizations at the Ross School of Business. He is a cofounder of the Center for Positive Organizations. He has authored or coauthored eighteen books, including the bestselling Deep Change and the award-winning Best Teacher in You. He has thirty years of experience consulting with major corporations and government agencies.
“Powerful and accessible. Quinn takes the critical topic of
positive mindset in organizations and makes it approachable,
compelling, and actionable. It will be a must for my graduate
entrepreneurship course at Stanford and for the CEOs I mentor. It
is as valid for a young entrepreneurial organization as it is for a
large established corporation.”
—Ricardo Levy, Lecturer, Chemical Engineering, Stanford University,
and author of Letters to a Young Entrepreneur
“Bob Quinn has an amazing gift for taking seemingly intangible
topics and bringing them to life. The book opens the door to
impact. There were many moments when Bob unpicked the Gordian knot
of culture with such clarity that I found myself literally stopping
and just reflecting on the possibilities and potential for new
behaviors. This will be a must-read for all new leaders in our
organization.”
—Julie Redfield, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, and Global
Head of HR, Dorel Sports
“In today’s landscape, there is a plethora of readings, teachings,
and TED Talks about the power of vision, mission, and purpose. What
Bob Quinn gives us is more than just the what and why—his research
and insights give us tools and practices that help us with the how.
Having a glimpse into what great leadership teams inside
world-class brands are doing to establish positive practices is a
gift to be leveraged.”
—Gina Valenti, Vice President, Owner Services and Hampton Brand
Culture and Internal Communications, Hilton Worldwide
“In a world where feeling overextended and underutilized is
pervasive, it’s hard to imagine being fully engaged and continually
renewed. But this book will show you how to do just that. Quinn not
only provides clear, inspiring steps but also shares 100 unique
examples used in pathbreaking companies to provide you fresh,
exciting ideas about where to start.”
—Leslie Perlow, Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Leadership,
Harvard Business School, and author of Sleeping with Your
Smartphone
“Integrating the findings of a decade of scholarship into positive
organizations, Bob Quinn applies the same cogent and deeply honest
analysis that has characterized his previous writings to produce a
highly readable and relevant primer on how leaders can break free
of the conventional constraints that bind organizations and
individuals to slow-death behaviors and replace them with a culture
of sustained excellence and growth.”
—Douglas D. Anderson, Dean and Jon M. Huntsman Chair, Jon M.
Huntsman School of Business, Utah State University
“Few argue with being positive, but fewer can turn aspirations for
being positive into specific organizational actions. Quinn is an
exquisite observer and advisor on organizations. This book
specifies actions that leaders can take to create abundant or
positive organizations. The ideas make sense, the tools are
informative, and the examples are clear. This book lays the
foundation for redefining organizations.”
—Dave Ulrich, Rensis Likert Professor, Ross School of Business,
University of Michigan, and Partner, The RBL Group
“A profound book offering wise lessons for igniting deep positive
change in your organization. Sound too good to be true? Actually, I
think it may be an understatement. The Positive Organization can
help you discover the vision and practices needed for creating
cultures of possibility where people exceed expectations and
flourish in their work.”
—Charles C. Manz, coauthor of Share, Don’t Take the Lead and
Self-Leadership: The Definitive Guide to Personal Excellence
“Bob Quinn addresses the practical realities of building a positive
enterprise and the positive culture necessary to sustain it.”
—Bill Robertson, Chairman, Weston Solutions, Inc.
“Ten years ago I read Building the Bridge as You Walk on It by
Robert Quinn. It changed my career. As I read his new book, I
realize it is having the same kind of impact but at an
organizational level. I have already started applying the ideas to
my company, and the results have been powerful. If you want
elegant, easy to access, and deeply engaging, start reading
now.”
—Nick Craig, President, Authentic Leadership Institute, and
coauthor of Finding Your True North
“Another insightful, poignant, and practical guide by change master
Robert Quinn, The Positive Organization is the ultimate user’s
manual for leaders who want to create positively deviant
organizations. It will work for people who want to change any
organization, from a multinational company to neighborhood
association.”
—Jim Mallozzi, Chairman and CEO, Prudential Real Estate and
Relocation Services (Retired)
“People are drawn to the positive. When we are engaged and
creative, we are living for a greater purpose. But because we
biologically defend ourselves above all else, the default in
organizational life is being defensive and then infecting everyone
around us with negativity. Quinn unveils the positive organization
without being gushy or Pollyanna. He provides hope for the
entangled, a spotlight to guide the lost, and reassurance for those
on the journey.”
—Richard Boyatzis, Distinguished University Professor, Departments
of Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Organizational Behavior, Case
Western Reserve University, and coauthor of Primal Leadership
“Another masterpiece from Robert Quinn! I have worked with
organizations on creating more positive organizations, and while
everybody endorses the concept, people typically find it
challenging to make it practically sustainable. Bob’s new book
provides valuable new examples that illustrate how to do this and
tools to achieve success.”
—Anjan Thakor, John E. Simon Professor of Finance, Director of WFA
Center for Finance and Accounting Research, and Director of
Doctoral Programs, Olin Business School, Washington University in
St. Louis
"This is a wonderfully persuasive, tactile immersion in positive
organizations that demystifies them and makes them more attainable
while magnifying the reader’s desire to get on with that
attainment. This is Bob at his best! And it is positive organizing
in its best rendering."
—Karl E. Weick, Rensis Likert Distinguished University Professor of
Organizational Behavior and Psychology, Emeritus, Ross School of
Business, University of Michigan
“Bob Quinn identifies the critical path to invigorate the human
spirit at work. His daring description of being ‘fully engaged and
continually renewed’ charts a course on how to invite people to the
new possibilities of authentic conversations that ignite positive
cultures.”
—Jim Haudan, author of The Art of Engagement
“Who doesn’t want to be part of an organization where people
flourish, are unified with clear purpose, and exceed expectations?
Robert Quinn’s newest work offers clear pathways for leaders to
authentically engage others, consider new possibilities, and think
beyond problem solving. Building and understanding positive
organizations helps create places where others want to contribute,
results are celebrated, and people prosper. This book matters.”
—Jim Mahoney, Executive Director, Battelle for Kids
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