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Vital Friends: The People You Can't Afford to Live Without
240
Vital Friends: The People You Can't Afford to Live Without
240Hardcover
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Overview
#1 New York Times bestselling author Tom Rath delivers a fascinating read that will change the way you look at your family, friends, coworkers, and significant other.
What’s the quickest way to ruin a friendship? Can bosses actually learn something from marriages? Are very close friendships in the workplace such a bad thing?
These are just a few of the questions that #1 New York Times bestselling author Tom Rath asked when he embarked on a massive study of friendships. Along with several leading researchers, Rath pored through the literature, conducted experiments and analyzed more than 5 million interviews from Gallup’s worldwide database.
His team’s discoveries produced Vital Friends, a book that challenges long-held assumptions people have about their relationships. And the team’s landmark discovery — that people who have a “best friend at work” are seven times as likely to be engaged in their job — is sure to rattle the structure of organizations around the world.
Drawing on research and case studies from topics as diverse as marriage, management and architecture, Vital Friends reveals what’s common to all truly essential friendships: a regular focus on what each person is contributing to the friendship — rather than the all-too-common approach of expecting one person to be everything.
Rath’s fast-paced and inviting storytelling takes a mountain of important research and makes it remarkably accessible and applicable. By the time you finish reading Vital Friends, you’ll see your family, friends, coworkers and significant other in a whole new light.
What’s the quickest way to ruin a friendship? Can bosses actually learn something from marriages? Are very close friendships in the workplace such a bad thing?
These are just a few of the questions that #1 New York Times bestselling author Tom Rath asked when he embarked on a massive study of friendships. Along with several leading researchers, Rath pored through the literature, conducted experiments and analyzed more than 5 million interviews from Gallup’s worldwide database.
His team’s discoveries produced Vital Friends, a book that challenges long-held assumptions people have about their relationships. And the team’s landmark discovery — that people who have a “best friend at work” are seven times as likely to be engaged in their job — is sure to rattle the structure of organizations around the world.
Drawing on research and case studies from topics as diverse as marriage, management and architecture, Vital Friends reveals what’s common to all truly essential friendships: a regular focus on what each person is contributing to the friendship — rather than the all-too-common approach of expecting one person to be everything.
Rath’s fast-paced and inviting storytelling takes a mountain of important research and makes it remarkably accessible and applicable. By the time you finish reading Vital Friends, you’ll see your family, friends, coworkers and significant other in a whole new light.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781595620071 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Gallup Press |
| Publication date: | 08/01/2006 |
| Pages: | 240 |
| Sales rank: | 542,905 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.00(d) |
About the Author
Tom Rath is one of the most influential authors of the last decade. He studies the role of human behavior in health, business, and economics. Rath writes and speaks on a range of topics, from well-being to organizational leadership. He has written several international bestsellers, including the #1 New York Times bestseller How Full Is Your Bucket? In 2007, The Economist listed his book StrengthsFinder 2.0 as the top-selling business book worldwide. In total, Rath’s books have sold more than 5 million copies, been translated in 16 languages, and made over 250 appearances on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list. Rath is a senior scientist and advisor to Gallup, where he previously spent 13 years leading the organization’s work on employee engagement, strengths, and well-being. He has also served as vice chairman of the VHL cancer research organization.
Read an Excerpt
Vital Friends
What Roles do Your Friends Play?
The studies that VITAL FRIENDS is based on show that people have significantly better friendships if they can easily describe what each friend contributes to the relationship. To make that possible, Gallup built an assessment to help you determine the roles friends play and to give both participants the language to talk about those roles and how to make them better. Each book and galley has a unique code that allows readers to take the assessment that identifies what role a friend plays in your life. Here's a look at the top eight roles that research uncovered:- BUILDER Builders are friends who motivate you, invest in your development, and truly want you to succeed -- even if it means they'll go out on a limb for you. These friends help you see your strengths and advise you on how best to use them. They are generous with their time and encourage you to accomplish more. They'll never compete with you and will always be standing at the finish line to cheer you on.
- CHAMPION Champions stand up for you and your beliefs and they praise you to everyone else they know. They are the friends who "have your back" and will advocate for you when you're not around to defend yourself. Champions are your strongest supporters who thrive on your accomplishments and happiness.
- COLLABORATOR Collaborators are friends with similar interests, those who share your passion for sports, hobbies, religion, work, politics, food, movies, music, or books. Shared interests are what often make Collaborators lifelong friends and those with whom you are most likely to spend your time.
- COMPANION Companions are always there for you, whatever the circumstances. You share a bound that is virtually unbreakable and when something big happens in your life, good or bad, this is the person you call first. These friends are always giving you meaningful gifts and they will sacrifice for your benefit.
- CONNECTOR Connectors are the bridge builders who help you get what you want. These friends get to know you and then instantly work to connect you with others who will share your interests or goals. They extend your network dramatically and give you access to new resources. If you need a job, a doctor, a friend, or a date, call a Connector.
- ENERGIZER Energizers are fun friends who are always there to boost your spirits and create more positive moments in your life. They pick you up when you're down and can turn a good day into an even better one. Energizers are those to call on when you need a laugh, a smile, or a bit of relaxation in your day.
- MIND OPENER Mind Openers are the friends who stretch your viewpoint, introduce you to new ideas, opportunities, cultures, and people. They help you to expand your vision and create positive change in your life. These are the friends who challenge conventional wisdom and come up with creative solutions to whatever problems or obstacles you face. They are stimulating and motivating and allow you to express opinions that you might be uncomfortable articulating to others.
- NAVIGATOR Navigators are friends who give advice and direction. You seek them out when you need guidance and counsel -- they're great at talking through your options. Navigators are best at hearing your dreams and goals and then helping you find the path to achieve them.
Having the right expectation of your friends is everything, writes Tom Rath in VITAL FRIENDS. If your expectations of a friend are in line with what they contribute to your friendship, the relationship is poised to thrive and make both of you better off in the process.
Adapted from VITAL FRIENDS: The People You Can't Afford to Live Without, by Tom Rath, publication August, 2006, The Gallup Press.
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