Employment law attorney Michael Maslanka reviews Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson’s book Rework, finding that the authors offer valuable lessons for changing the way your organization works.
Rework
The authors hate resumes filled with action verbs that mean zip. Their take is simple: “[Applicants] don’t care about landing your job; they just care about landing any job.” On the other hand, you want a specific candidate to fill your needs. That’s why the authors argue that a cover letter tells you so much more than a resume. If it’s well thought out, you hear an actual voice and are able to recognize if you and the applicant are on the same wavelength.
If you find yourself faced with equally qualified candidates and in need of a tiebreaker, hire the best writer, regardless of the position. Why? According to the authors, “Clear writing is a sign of clear thinking.” They note that writing is making a comeback. That’s because we now communicate digitally, not orally. In their words, “Writing is today’s currency for good ideas.”
Speaking of ideas, here’s my favorite: “Don’t scar on the first cut.” Fried and Hansson note that the second that something goes wrong at work, there’s an immediate push to try to regulate it by creating a policy. Say someone comes to work wearing shorts. The instinctive reaction is to write a dress code policy. But do you really need one? Maybe you just need to tell the guy who’s wearing shorts that he shouldn’t do it anymore. The authors explain, “Policies are organizational scar tissue. They’re codified overreactions to situations that are unlikely to happen again. They’re collective punishment for the misdeeds of an individual.” The saying is true: When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem you see is a nail.
The authors level criticism (as I do) on mission statements. They note there’s a lot of difference between a mission statement that says your company stands for something and truly standing for something. They use the following illustration: You’re on hold, and a recorded voice comes on telling you how much you’re valued as a customer. Really? Well, if you’re so valued, then maybe more support people should be hired so they can take your call and you don’t have to wait 30 minutes to get help. As my mom used to tell me, “If you say something is important, treat it as if it is important.”
Fried and Hansson aren’t admirers of workaholics. They believe workaholics don’t look for ways to be more efficient because they like being heroes. But workaholics aren’t heroes; “they don’t save the day; they just use it up.” I love that line from the book. So send people home at a decent hour. If they must leave by a certain time, the authors reason, they’ll be more efficient during the day, getting done what needs to be done.
I also like Fried and Hansson’s take on “plans.” As they point out, plans are blind guesswork. They choke off what we need more of: innovation and improvisation. It reminds me of something General Dwight D. Eisenhower once said: “Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” Or, as boxer Mike Tyson more colorfully put it, “Everyone has a plan ’til they get punched in the mouth.” Plans are tyranny. Revolt!
As I say, Rework is an enlightening and thoughtful book. It’s short and full of minilessons to ignite discussions in your own organization. Work is good; Rework is better.
Michael P. Maslanka is the editor of Texas Employment Law Letter and managing partner in the Dallas office of Ford & Harrison LLP. You can reach him at mmaslanka@fordharrison.com.