The Art of Less: How to Focus on What Really Matters at Work

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An essential handbook on how overburdened organizations can break down barriers to more effective working, and how everyone can achieve more by doing less.

Many managers, leaders and team members feel they have an important job to do, but are overloaded and overwhelmed with all kinds of interventions and initiatives created by over-enthusiastic senior managers, whilst also facing demands from external groups such as politicians, the media, pressure groups, certification bodies and consultants. Each initiative might seem like a worthy idea individually, but when combined they form a heavy burden - 'a sludge'. As the initiatives expand, the time available to do the 'real work' is squeezed. Excess policies and procedures create obstacles to getting core work done. Sound familiar Well this book is an essential read for anyone that wants to work in or create a more effective and efficient working environment, and truly get the best out of their employees and themselves.

The authors explore the idea of sludge at work: how and why it gets in the way of performance, and what needs to be done to create less overloaded organizations, where people can focus more on the key issues, and customers can get the services and products in an efficient manner. The Art of Less is a practical guide on how to do less while still achieving more of the things that matter. Achieve more by doing less.

Author Bio

Mats Alvesson is professor at Lund University, Sweden, University of Bath and City University of London. He is also Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at Technical University in Munich 2023-26. He has written over 30 books.

Andr Spicer is Professor of Organizational Behaviour and the Executive Dean of Bayes Business School, City University of London. He is an expert in the areas of Organizational Behaviour, Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility.