Joy, Inc.

What can we learn from an entrepreneur who has decided to count upon the enthusiasm of his teams? The author, leader of software firm Menlo Innovations, wanted to put his convictions into practice and try out new management methods in his start-up. By constantly testing his ideas and encouraging his employees to do likewise, he has managed to reconcile quality of life and performance. Among his most successful dares is the systematic pairing up of staff at a single workstation. What could seem at first glance to be a waste of resources actually helps to limit the number of errors, and thus the time required for testing and corrections. It is also a learning opportunity for the least-experienced developer in each pair.

Richard Sheridan recognizes that he sometimes feels uncomfortable when he, in line with his convictions, lets people test out their ideas freely. For example, he said yes to an employee who wanted to bring his dog to work. The practice eventually became widespread, as it turned out that the presence of pets lowered the team’s stress level!

This book is refreshing without being naive. The author is also able to point his own difficulties, such as the promotion process which is not yet satisfactory and generates frustration. His enthusiasm is contagious and gives readers the desire to test out some of his ideas in their own organization!