Table of Contents

Foreword by Jim Kouzes Introduction Part One: Getting a Firmer Grip on the Problem 1. Meet the Wilsons 1a. Ultimately, It Has to Do with Butterfly-ness 2. The Wilsons Tackle Engagement 2a. Maybe We Need a New Word for Engagement 3. The Wilsons Tackle Empowerment 3a. You Can't Bestow Empowerment 4. The Wilsons Tackle Trust and Respect 4a. Toward More Practical Definitions for Trust and Respect 5. The Wilsons Tackle Values 5a. Company Values, Human Nature, and Gresham's Law 6. The Wilson Family Meeting 6a. It's Not About Action Steps Part Two: Getting a Firmer Grip on the Solution 7. A Widely Held - and False - Distinction 8. Draining the Swamp - Respect, Solipsism, and Employee Engagement 9. On Being More "Other-Wise" 10. Conclusion - A (Perhaps Not So) Modest Proposal Acknowledgments Index About the Author

About the Author

John Guaspari helps leaders increase the level of employee engagement throughout their organizations. He is the author of six previous books on the topic, including the best-selling I Know It When I See It, The Customer Connection, and The Value Effect, seven best-selling training videos, as well hundreds of articles and columns. He has worked with corporate clients in scores of industries and has delivered some 1,500 intangibles-related presentations, seminars, and workshops. Long before entering the world of consulting, he began his professional career as an aerospace engineer and then went on to hold corporate positions in such widely varying functions as marketing, customer support, quality, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. John lives in North Attleboro, MA. Jim Kouzes is Dean's Executive Fellow of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University, and coauthor of the bestselling book, The Leadership Challenge.

Reviews

Guaspari offers brilliant analogies and real-world examples to illustrate concretely his methods and principles and principles in a way that is entertaining and engaging ... If your organization is looking to start or re-tool your employee relations or engagement efforts, Otherwise Engaged will point your conversation in the right direction. - SMALL BUSINESS TRENDS (Charles Franklin) An engagingly funny fable that John Guaspari uses to guide the reader to answer the profoundly serious question posed by the book - Why do employee engagement activities often fail? ... Thought-provoking and charming. - JIM KOUZES, Dean's Executive Fellow of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University, and coauthor of the bestselling book, The Leadership Challenge In this very readable (and yes, engaging) book, John Guaspari reminds us that great leaders create an environment which connects people to what is important for them as well as the company. Using a simple metaphor and providing clear, specific actions which a new or experienced leader can take, Guaspari shows us that, in the PowerPoint world of analysis and logic that permeates most organizations, it is really our humanity, and feelings of trust, respect, and safety that generate commitment and therefore performance. Pick up this book. You will learn that a wise leader doesn't try to motivate people but rather understands 'the intangibles' that motivate us all. - DAVID DOTLICH, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO, Pivot Leadership, and author of The Unfinished Leader and 10 other leadership books Otherwise Engaged is vintage Guaspari: clever and entertaining while also substantive, thought provoking, and wise. - DAN CIAMPA, coauthor of Right From The Start Having worked with John Guaspari in a previous life, I can unequivocally say that he practices what he preaches. Anyone in a position of leadership at any level would be well advised to take the advice John provides in Otherwise Engaged. - GEN. JAMES B. SMITH, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Employee engagement has been the elusive holy grail for companies and leadership since surveys revealed there is a serious gap between what we believe creates engagement and reality. This is a story that has been ongoing with no conclusion. Guaspari tells the story that needed telling, and he does it using humor and metaphor like only he can. This is a fun book that packs a powerful message all business leaders must hear to finally engage their people. - DAVID CASULLO, President, Bates Communications, and author of Leading the High Energy Culture John Guaspari's latest book, Otherwise Engaged, is a must-read in today's highly packaged, productized, and transactional business environment. It reminds anyone who aspires to fully lead others that they must genuinely unleash (rather than pay lip service to) the vital intangibles of engagement and respect. - PAUL ALLEN, Chairman, Allen & Gerritsen Multiple Awardee: "One of the Best Places to Work in Boston" An insightful and fresh perspective on contemporary talent and organizational effectiveness topics - engagement, empowerment, values, trust - in a useful and practical narrative ... it will challenge you to think differently as you implement solutions to human capital issues. - JOE BONITO, Senior Vice President, Ledership Development Executive, Global Human Resources, Bank of America John Guaspari takes the vagaries of intangibles and serves up a hilarious how-to with his latest avatars, the Wilson family. Otherwise Engaged provides a solid approach to the elusive topic of employee engagement. Guaspari's brilliance is his airtight logic, but lucky for us each "aha!" is paired with a "ha ha!" - a business book rarity. I'll take it! - ELISABETH SWAN, President, Swan Consulting & Associates, Inc. Otherwise Engaged should be required reading for anyone in a leadership position in any type of organization. You'll come away understanding how critically important employee engagement is to the achievement of personal and business objectives. And John Guaspari's writing style and wit make it an easy and enjoyable read. - WALTER J. FLAHERTY, COO and CFO, New England Aquarium (Ret.)