Good Business: Leadership, Flow and the Making of Meaning [Hardcover]

In psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's definition of leadership, the personal is political. In Good Business, the bestselling author of Flow interviewed several dozen exemplary CEOs whose wisdom provides the radical job description of the book's premise: "Leaders must make it possible for employees to work with joy to their heart's content, while responding to the needs of society". Csikszentmihalyi leverages his definition of "flow"--the capacity for full engagement in an activity--to create a blueprint for a workplace in which bringing out the best in workers comes before products and profit. When leaders select and reward employees who find satisfaction at work, they can create an upwardly moral organisation.

In this view, leadership is a privilege that requires leaving ego at the door and peering into the mirror to ask tough questions. For example, "How do I determine if something is right or wrong?" Or, "What is my business doing to benefit human well being?" He offers some inspiring stories from leaders who engage employees to go with the flow, including Body Shop CEO Anita Roddick, Patagonia crown prince Yvon Chouinard and media mogul Ted Turner. Some of Csikszentmihalyi's advice will sound familiar. Yet he creates a compellingly fresh vision of good business in both a material and spiritual sense. Ultimately, the success of this book lies in its powerful, non-flaky ability to define corporate soul in terms of a company becoming a stakeholder in an entity larger than itself. --Barbara Mackoff, Amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Praise for FLOW:
'Flow requires a mind ... Mr Csikszentmihalyi illuminates the accuracy of what philosphers have been saying for centuries: that the way to happiness lies not in mindless hedonism but in mindfull challenge' (The New York Times ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

"Flow" is a state of concentration so focused that it amounts to complete absorption in an activity. In this text, the author applies his studies of flow to business and shows how to achieve that level of concentration and enjoyment in the business world. Covering age-old life issues, within the framework of business organizations, it is an uplifting yet realistic guide for those interested in becoming successful leaders without compromising their individuality.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a Hungarian-born polymath and Professor of Psychology and Education at the University of Chicago, is the author of several popular books about his theories on the psychology of optimal experience, including the best-selling Flow.