Chief Joy Officer - by Richard Sheridan (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A 2018 Nautilus Book Award Winner for Business and Leadership!

The founder of Menlo Innovations and author of the business culture cult classic Joy, Inc offers an inspirational guide to leaders seeking joy in the challenge of leading others.

Rich Sheridan's Joy, Inc. told the story of how his tiny software company in Ann Arbor, Michigan achieved success and renown by embracing offbeat culture and human-centered values. In Chief Joy Officer, he turns his attention from culture to leadership, and draws on his experience running Menlo and consulting elsewhere to offer a wise, provocative guide on how anyone can build leadership capacity for joy within their own organization.

Chief Joy Officer offers sage, hard-won advice to any manager or leader who yearns to make more of an impact on the lives of others, including:

* Self-understanding is the cornerstone for every virtue of leadership: authenticity, trust, humility, and optimism.

* Good leaders make more leaders: Learn to judge your performance not on whether people are doing what they're told, but whether they're developing independent leadership capacity.

* Influencing up is just as important is influencing down: how to encourage different thinking in those above you in your organizations.

Filled with colorful anecdotes from Sheridan's personal journey and wisdom from many leadership mentors, Chief Joy Officer offers an approachable, down-to-earth philosophy and practice that will help even the most disillusioned of middle managers bring a renewed sense of purpose to their work building others.

Review Quotes

"If you feel like something is missing from your workplace but can't quite figure out what, read this book. Richard Sheridan shows just how important a joyful workplace is, and how much it can revolutionize your life, your team, and your organization."--Kerry Patterson, author of Crucial Conversations and Influencer

"I often say that Menlo is the most agile company on the planet. Want to know why? Their purpose. Their vision. And, most notably, their servant leadership. You need to read this book. Then read it again."--Linda Rising, coauthor of Fearless Change and More Fearless Change

"Rich Sheridan is the gift that society needs in a world that is becoming more and more artificial and transactional and less human and real. His teachings come not from a place of judgment or ego, but rather from compassion, care, and practice. I found myself inspired to my core and ready to take on the challenge of creating and enabling joyful cultures."--Dalton Li, Head of Enterprise Lean Practices, MassMutual

"A powerful roadmap on how to lead and inspire a modern workforce. Rich Sheridan is a profound innovator in the field of employee engagement. If you're looking to build a high-performing team, you must devour Chief Joy Officer immediately."--Josh Linkner, tech entrepreneur, author, venture capitalist

"This book is about nothing less than restoring the soul of your company. I have read dozens of books on management and leadership. This is the only one that ever brought tears to my eyes. If you have found the top of the mountain to be an isolated, cold, and lonely place, then kindle the fire of joy--start your journey by reading Chief Joy Officer." --Darren Schumacher, PhD, principal and consultantat Schumacher Consulting Services

"Read this book and you will want to be a Chief Joy Officer. Inspiring lessons from an exceptional leader of a company built on joy."--Jeffrey Liker, author of The Toyota Way

About the Author

Richard Sheridan is CEO and cofounder of Menlo Innovations, a custom software design and development firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company has won the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility for eleven straight years. His first book Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love, was published in 2013. Menlo and Rich have been featured on the cover of Inc., Entrepreneur, Forbes and New York magazines. He frequently speaks at business conferences and to major corporations such as Mercedes-Benz, Nike, and 3M. For more information visit www.menloinnovations.com.