Work That Works

Work That Works is a guide to building better teams and an exceedingly positive workplace culture. Based on the tools and principles of Emergenetics, this book helps you improve communication, connection, and performance through an enlightening process of self-discovery and sharing. You'll discover the unique combination of strengths you bring to the table, and understand the power of your Thinking and Behavioral Preferences to gain greater clarity and a better understanding of your skills, habits and behavior. As people understand and share their Profiles, the real magic happens—teams can be built synergistically, and team members can collaborate more effectively by "borrowing another person's brain."

Cognitive diversity is a given whenever a group of people work together toward a common goal; the critical factor is whether those differences become an obstacle or a catalyst. By bringing each person's "true self" to light, you provide a window through visible elements of diversity and shine a light on their gifts—and it's only then that those gifts can be leveraged to their utmost capacity.

Dr. Geil Browning's second book outlines this process of discovery, effective communication, using thoughtful language, addressing challenges and instituting long-term behavioral change. By honoring the Preferences and Attributes of all employees, you lay the groundwork for enhanced performance and engagement.

• Learn how changing your language changes your thought patterns, and eventually leads to changes in behavior
• Dig into the real differences between you and your co-workers at the cognitive and behavioral levels
• Discover the strengths each person brings to the table, and synergize those strengths to collaborate more effectively
• Learn how to apply these same principles to social activities and family life to improve all communications and connections

Work That Works provides a blueprint for the transformation, and the practical guidance you need to build a better organization.

Foreword xi

Introduction xiii

What Is Emergineering, and How Will It Make a Difference to You?

Principle #1 LEADERSHIP IS AN INSIDE JOB 1

Know Yourself

Principle #2 EMBRACE THE SCRATCHY 25

Uncomfortable Is the New Norm

Principle #3 USING THE LANGUAGE OF GRACE 55

Words Are Powerful

Principle #4 CREATING A MEETING OF THE MINDS 81

WEteam Cognitive Collaboration

Principle #5 USING THE POWER OF WE 111

Techniques to Unleash Your Team’s Potential

Principle #6 LET YOUR PEOPLE LIVE TO WORK, NOT WORK TO LIVE 137

A Job Is More Than the Time Between Vacations

Principle #7 LOVE 153

Care for Your People and the Profi ts Will Come

Conclusion and Acknowledgments 171

Appendix 175

Glossary of Emergenetics Terms 181

Sources 187

Index 191

DR. GEIL BROWNING is the co-creator of the Emergenetics Profile and Founder and CEO of Emergenetics International, a premier global consulting firm specializing in helping executives and managers realize their full potential as leaders and as human beings. Dr. Browning has been celebrated throughout her long career as an influential business and thought leader, and she has been twice recognized as one of the recipients of Colorado's Outstanding Entrepreneurial Businesswomen of the Year award. Learn more at www.emergenetics.com.

As a leader, it's your job to harness your organization's most valuable, least quantifiable asset—its human capital. You are expected to successfully guide your people through the many changes, big and small, occurring within your organization, division or department as well as society at large. It's up to you to be the first to anticipate the changes in your industry and the evolving needs of your people, so you can craft a coherent vision to help your company get out ahead of what's coming next and create advantages for all stakeholders.

That's a pretty tall order, to say the least. As Dr. Geil Browning shows in this important book, it doesn't take a hero or a genius to pull it off. Through her nearly four decades working with thousands of executives and managers around the globe and across all sectors, she has proven that the most successful leaders are those with a deep understanding of their own styles and an ability to forge a culture that celebrates cognitive diversity. More importantly, Dr. Browning has developed a sophisticated, time-tested set of principles and tools for becoming an effective leader—Emergenetics.

In Work That Works she introduces you to Emergenetics theory and practices as well as provides you with the tools you need to understand and adapt your own thinking and behavioral preferences in order to make cognitive diversity a unifying principle of a more dynamic, productive, innovative, and resilient organizational culture.

Among other important lessons, you'll learn how to:

• Zero in on the important aspects of your unique personality and cognitive style as well as those of your colleagues and staff.
• Use thoughtful language to support the thinking and behavioral preferences of others for improved performance and a more harmonious and productive culture.
• Explore the core differences between you and your co-workers at cognitive and behavioral levels.
• Recognize the strengths each person brings to the table and synergize those gifts to collaborate more effectively.
• Apply Emergenetics principles for improved communications and connections in all areas of your life.

Packed with powerful insights and proven approaches, Work That Works is your guide to transforming yourself into a more effective leader and a more fulfilled person, from the inside out.

Praise for work that works

"All companies are facing the realities of having a multi-generational workforce. One thing that rings true for all individuals is wanting to be accepted and appreciated for who they are. Emergenetics transcends a person's age, generation and abilities, and everyone is appreciated for what they bring to the table. We have utilized Emergenetics with our team at American Airlines for several years. We're very fortunate to have this common element of understanding between our team members. Emergenetics really inspires Work That Works."
—W. Douglas Parker, Chairman & CEO, American Group and American Airlines

"Embracing diversity of personality is critical for any organization that wants to achieve its potential. But it can seem daunting at times. Work that Works decodes diversity and is invaluable for a leader that wants to fully leverage the power of their team. In a shrinking world, this book is a must read."
—Lance Uggla, President and COO, IHS Markit

"Everybody deserves a job they love! By applying the seven principles in Geil Browning's Work That Works, leaders at all levels of an organization will be better equipped to understand and empower themselves and those in their span of care to create environments where everybody flourishes. A very practical and thoughtful guidebook!"
—Bob Chapman, author of Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family and CEO, Barry-Wehmiller Companies

"Dr. Geil Browning and her work have helped me and my organization tremendously. Once our senior leaders understood the importance of cognitive diversity and its positive impact on problem solving, we Emergineered a new approach to building project teams, and collaboration has never been better. This is Work That Works."
—Andy Krupski, Chairman, The Hive, Inc., Toronto

"Working in the home office of Emergenetics International, I can attest to the fact that this is a company that walks what it talks. Our office has been and continues to be Emergineered with great results. This is truly Work That Works."
—Stephanie Medley, Materials and Production Manager, Emergenetics International

"This is not your average business book! When you appreciate the heart and soul of your company and treat employees as they want to be treated, amazing things happen! Applying the principles of Emergineering truly creates Work That Works."
—Mary Rhinehart, Chairman, President and CEO, Johns Manville

"Emergenetics has made a positive impact in transforming the organizations I've led. The Emergenetics approaches and solutions described in this book are not only easy to implement, they are also there to trigger change in mindsets and perspectives that lead to organizational transformation. This is certainly a great go-to resource for HOW-TO implement Emergenetics in any organization, big or small!"
—Dr. Wolfgang Baier, Group CEO, Luxasia, Singapore

"Dr. Geil Browning and her work has shaped my organization and has personally affected my working style for the better. It is one thing to manage people and it's another to lead. Understanding yourself and those who look to you for guidance is essential to a leader's success. After reading Work That Works, I've been able to apply practical principles for my team and the teams I support to lean on each other as well as tap into all of the Emergenetics attributes for greater cognitive diversity."
—Chris Torfin, Senior Leader of Human Resources, Amazon