Building Commitment and Enthusiasm in Organisations

Twenty years after he wrote Bezieling en Kwaliteit in Organisaties, Daniel Ofman, the creator of the Core Quadrant, has tackled the conditions needed to allow enthusiasm and commitment to flourish within organizations. His clearly argued contention is that organizations must set limits on what they strive to achieve and must decide if and when change itself should be a goal in its own right. His integrated approach towards life, work and organization provides insights into why traditional managerial approaches are failing and will continue to fail, and what is needed to achieve better results with less waste of energy. You don’t have to be a clairvoyant to see how well that energy is flowing. Walk into any company premises and you will immediately notice the crucial signs, even in the reception area. Are the staff members moving purposefully through the building’s corridors or is there a general lack of vitality? Enthusiasm and commitment cannot be bought: they will come of their own accord as long as what you are doing makes sense at the rational, the attitudinal and the relational levels. Overlook any one of these three levels and your organization will eventually falter, and with it, its human face. Building Enthusiastic and Committed Organizations represents a wake-up call, a signal that managers and staff alike need to change direction.