Books and Resources on Engagement

[Jill Woodbury]

Hi All
I am new the area of engagement. I have been an employee at Mars for two, as an engage associate. Now I am helping support the development of associate engagement. Since I studied general business in my undergrad, I don't have many resources on this area yet. I am starting to look through some articles by Gallup. However, I was wondering if anyone could recommend some books (preferbly ones that I can get on tape for my commute) or websites? I just need good starting point.
Thanks all!

[Skip Weisman]

Are you familiar with the Fish Philosophy? It's the guys at the Fish Market in Seattle at the Pike's Market. They've got a book on how they got their team engaged and created a phenomenon tossing fish around in a public farmers market. Employee engagement is also about creating a High Trust environment so books on developing and nurturing trust in the workplace are also good, like Stephen Covey's "The Speed of Trust." Go to Zappos.com and order their 2009 Culture Book, Google Zappos.com and you'll find interviews and audio of CEO Tony Hsieh talking about their corporate culture which is a highly engaged environment.

Hope that helps. have fun and good luck!
Skip

[Jill Woodbury]

I have heard about the Fish Philosophy, but have not read anything on it. I will definitely add that to my list. I hadn't thought about the trust aspect yet. So thank you for pointing me in that direction as well.
Another book my manager shared with me is called the Art of Engagement by Jim Haudan.

I'll have to give you some reviews when I go through these. Thanks!

[Richard Parkes Cordock]

Hi there Jill - you can download my book (People Upgrade) for free at www.employeeengagement.eu

This shows how you can go about creating engagement in employees and managers.

Best wishes, Richard

[Peter A Hunter]

Jill
What would perhaps be of greatest value would be resources that showed you how workforces were engaged and what happened when they were.
Fish answers one question, what happens when a workforce is engaged, but it happened as a result of the accidental chemistry between the employees and does not therefore represent a repeatable strategy.

The actual resources are few at the moment but there are reviews of three books that all tell stories of what happened to create an engaged workforce from a disengaged workforce and the measurable physical results that quantified the difference.
They are all reviewed at the following links.

http://www.breakingthemould.co.uk/?q=Captain%20D%20Michael%20Abrashoff
http://www.breakingthemould.co.uk/?q=Breaking%20the%20Mould,%20Reviews
http://www.breakingthemould.co.uk/?q=Leading%20People

[Brad Federman]

Jill,

I was asked to write a book on Engagement for Jossey Bass. The book was to serve as a comprehensive view on the subject. It has just been published and it may be of value to you. You can find it and order it at:

http://www.engagementleader.com/

[Jill Woodbury]

Thanks Brad - getting lots of recommendations. Will add this one to the list!

[Derek Irvine]

Jill, I recommend this book by Steven Kerr, which I reviewed here: http://globoforce.blogspot.com/2009/07/measuring-reward-systems-dri....

[Tim Rutledge]

Hi, Jill. I've written two books on employee engagement that you might want to check out.

'Getting Engaged: The New Workplace Loyalty' can be purchased here www.gettingengaged.ca

'Employee Engagement' can be purchased here www.gettothepointbooks.com. This is a digital book.

If you'd like to contact me, please feel free. [phone] [e-mail]

Best regards.