Quiet Works: An Overview
We live—and work—in a world of nonstop noise. It’s time to reimagine how we work and make silence the secret ingredient.
From the time we wake up, our workday starts. We’re on our smart phones, texting and emailing, scrolling news feeds, jumping on video conference calls. It’s a 24/7 hamster wheel. Work culture—at the office, hybrid, or remote—is defined by too much information and constant collaboration. There’s no time or place for thinking alone.
In Quiet Works, Joseph McCormack proposes a simple, practical, and useful way to work more strategically and intentionally. You will learn to:
- Make appointments for quiet, and not run from or cancel them
- Set boundaries to alert others not to disturb or distract you
- Balance time spent alone in quiet with time together collaborating
- Design workspaces that are conducive to quiet
- Use tools and practices that are realistic and rewarding
The noise of constant distractions, interruptions, and digital devices doesn’t need to defeat us. We can set the conditions for ourselves, colleagues, and organizations to slow down periodically while everything is speeding up. Quiet Works will help you become a stronger professional who is empowered and energized to work in a better, smarter, and more productive way in today’s competitive, noisy environment.
Change the Culture of Noise to Quiet
Is a lack of quiet in the workplace an issue of time, environment, or culture?
We asked that question, and 60 percent of respondents said that culture was the biggest problem, followed by environment (23 percent).
In the typical workplace, the greatest sources of noise are:
- Meetings
- Digital devices
- Emails
- Texting/instant messaging
- Interruptions from coworkers/clients
Encouraging Commentary
About The Author
Joe McCormack is the founder and president of The BRIEF Lab, and he’s passionate about helping professionals gain focus and clarity in a world of too much information, too much collaboration, and too much noise.
As an entrepreneur, marketing executive, and author, he is recognized for his work in concise, strategic communication and leadership development.
Joe has written three books—a trilogy—that outline and promote the personal and professional benefits of clear thinking and concise communication.
“Brief: Make a Bigger Impact By Saying Less” (Wiley, 2014) tackles the challenges of inattention, interruptions, and impatience that every professional faces. It sets the standard for concise communication.
“Noise, Living and Leading When Nobody Can Focus” (Wiley, 2019) addresses the devastating effects on information overload, digital devices, and non-stop distractions, and teaches managers and leaders how to help themselves and others sharpen their focusing skills.
“Quiet Works: Making Silence the Secret Ingredient of the Workday” (Matt Holt, 2024) proposes a simple, practical, useful way to work strategically and intentionally. It teaches people how to make appointments for “quiet,” balance quiet time with collaboration, and use quiet tools and practices that are realistic and rewarding.
His podcast, “Just Saying,” helps professionals become effective and efficient communicators in an age of information overload.
Before his entrepreneurial ventures, Joe served as Senior Vice President at Ketchum, a top-five marketing agency in Chicago. He received a BA in English Literature from Loyola University of Chicago where he graduated with honors. He is fluent in Spanish and has broad international experience. Joe and his wife Julie split their time between Southern Pines, North Carolina, and Chicago, Illinois.
In the Media
Coaching: How to Focus in a World of Constant Distractions
As I navigate the waters of leadership and organizational coaching, the ability to focus my attention is a big challenge, and I’ve observed many clients grappling with the challenges of multitasking. Chances are, you’ve felt the impact of this in your own life as well. read more...
Return-to-Office Mandates: Beyond Commutes and Flexibility, to “Quiet”
As CEOs around the country struggle with how to convince employees to return to the office, the debate often centers around hybrid flexibility and the pains of commuting. While these are valid concerns, they only scratch the surface of a deeper issue that. read more...
Multitasking is Bad for Your Brain
In today’s job market, multitasking is the norm. “Ability to multitask” is listed as a “must” in nearly every job description. We pride ourselves on our ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously, believing that it makes us more efficient and productive. However, recent research suggests that multitasking is not beneficial. In fact, it’s bad for your brain, and bad for business.. read more...
Coaching: How to Focus in a World of Constant Distractions
As I navigate the waters of leadership and organizational coaching, the ability to focus my attention is a big challenge, and I’ve observed many clients grappling with the challenges of multitasking. Chances are, you’ve felt the impact of this in your own life as well. read more...
Return-to-Office Mandates: Beyond Commutes and Flexibility, to “Quiet”
As CEOs around the country struggle with how to convince employees to return to the office, the debate often centers around hybrid flexibility and the pains of commuting. While these are valid concerns, they only scratch the surface of a deeper issue that. read more...
Quiet Works
making silence the
secret ingredient
of the workday
$30.00
On sale October 15, 2024
Pre-Order Your Copy Now
