The Next Rules of Work - by Gary A Bolles (Paperback)

About the Book

Lead through constant change by infusing your organization with the mindset, skillset and toolset needed to solve tomorrow's problems.

Book Synopsis

Organizations, managers and workers still have an Industrial Era mindset towards work. How can leaders guide individuals and organizations to solve the increasingly complex work challenges of tomorrow?

As traditional jobs give way to new work roles and software and robots perform the repetitive tasks formerly done by humans, the work of today is no longer guaranteed to be here tomorrow. The Next Rules of Work helps leaders understand why traditional notions about work inhibit the organization's ability to address new problems and how they can successfully equip their organizations to manage constant change. By first developing a new mindset to help themselves and their teams become more agile, leaders can then co-create the organization's "next mindset" by answering five key questions that help them establish constantly adaptive strategies. Finally, leaders develop agile learning practices to ensure that workers will continually have the skillsets and toolsets they need to solve organizational problems today.

By redefining the fundamental nature of work, teams and the organization, The Next Rules of Work goes beyond offering advice and predictions and provides organizational leaders with a guide to create truly agile organizations that can respond to perpetual change.

Review Quotes

"The Next Rules of Work guides leaders towards a future not of automation and substitution, but autonomy and inclusion, providing clear strategies for transforming an organization in an accelerating world."-- "Vivienne Ming, Founder, Socos"

"The Next Rules of Work is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand how the world is not just rapidly changing but being dramatically reshaped. Gary provides a playbook for leadership that prioritizes organizational purpose and deep human values as the means for what inspires people to do their best work and institutions to operate with the needs of society at the center which, in and of itself, ensures institutions are built for the long term and serve the needs of all stakeholders."-- "Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman of LRN and The HOW Institute for Society, and author of HOW"

"The Next Rules of Work is a roadmap to an inclusive future of work, and Bolles is the clear-eyed guide that we all need on that journey."-- "Ravin Jesuthasan, Recognized futurist and author of Reinventing Jobs and Lead the Work"

"The Next Rules of Work offers a fresh and insightful view on how the world of work will look like in a post-pandemic world. Gary does a fantastic job articulating these insights to help catalyze positive change in our organizations."-- "Adilson Borges, Ph.D., Chief Learning Officer, Carrefour"

"The Next Rules of Work shines a bright light for those who have been feeling their way to a most fulfilling future of work. Gary A. Bolles writes with clarity and empathy for readers seeking to build more inclusive, productive and dynamic workplaces."-- "Chris Shipley, author of The Adaptation Advantage"

"The Next Rules of Work shows how moonshot thinking can help leaders create an inclusive future of work, starting right now."-- "Esther Wojcicki, author, Moonshots in Education & How to Raise Successful People"

"An immediately practical guidebook for navigating work, career and life in our ever changing world, while helping create a better future of work for us all. As Bolles says, No human left behind."-- "John O'Duinn, author of Distributed Teams: The Art and Practice of Working Together While Physically Apart"

"As I've predicted for years, exponential technologies will profoundly transform our lives and our organizations. In The Next Rules of Work, Gary A. Bolles has shown how those same technologies can actually help to create a more human-centric future of work."-- "Ray Kurzweil, inventor, futurist and author of The Singularity Is Near"

"I can't think of a better time to start rethinking work, or a better book to help you do it. Gary A. Bolles has produced a provocative and practical guide for reimagining how you design jobs, build teams, solve problems and shape cultures."-- "Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife"

"If you're confused about what the future of work holds, The Next Rules of Work is the perfect companion to take on your journey, filled with practical advice and inspiring examples that will guide you through these tumultuous times."-- "Charlene Li, New York Times bestselling author of The Disruption Mindset, Founder & Senior Fellow at Altimeter, a Prophet company"

"Imagine you could wave a magic wand and get a clear picture of just what you need - the mindset, skillset and toolset to ensure success in today's rapidly changing world. Whether you're in business, or in the business of helping the next generation of children, students or employees thrive in the 21st-century, The Next Rules of Work is that magic wand!"-- "Laura A Jana, MD, Pediatrician, Social Entrepreneur, author of The Toddler Brain: Nurture the Skills Today that Will Shape Your Child's Tomorrow"

"Let me make this abundantly clear: The Next Rules of Work is your roadmap to build an exponential future of work for your organization - today."-- "Peter H. Diamandis, MD, Founder, XPRIZE, Singularity, New York Times bestselling author of Abundance & BOLD"

"Rules change. Work changes. We adapt; or do we? Can we? This all came together for me about page 229. Read it."-- "Vint Cerf, Internet Pioneer"

"The future of work has many challenges, but this inspiring and insightful book offers actionable steps all organizations can and must take to harness the opportunities ahead for everyone. If we follow the path laid out here, we will make a big shift from challenge to opportunity and create much more human-centric work."-- "John Hagel, Futurist, strategist and trusted advisor"

"The future of work is in our hands but, as with any design project, we have to understand the needs and constraints. The Next Rules of Work brilliantly describes the canvas on which we can create meaningful work and impactful organizations, fit for the 21st century."-- "Tim Brown, Chair of IDEO and author of Change By Design"

"The global society is facing unprecedented shifts in the way of work amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic and an increased need for automation and digitalization. But as Bolles points out, the most pressing question is not a potential lack of work in the future, but the need for individuals to acquire new skills and capabilities to constantly adapt in an ever-changing environment. But we can overcome any obstacles if employers, governments and individuals work together to make the future work for everyone."-- "Alain Dehaze, CEO, Adecco Group"

About the Author

Gary A. Bolles is based in San Francisco, California and is the Chair for the Future of Work with Singularity University and a partner in strategy consulting firm Charette, LLC. A globally recognized expert on the future of work, he consults with C-suite leaders of global companies, labor and education leaders from Brazil to Canada, and global non-profits. He is the co-founder of eParachute.com, inspired by his father's bestselling book What Color Is Your Parachute?, and visiting lecturer to a variety of school systems, including Isha Vidhya in India, and a regular guest lecturer for Gartner.