The Inner Game of Work: Focus, Learning, Pleasure, and Mobility in the Workplace Paperback – September 11, 2001

I admit have not read the author's classic, The Inner Game of Tennis.Instead, I chose to order TIGOW because I thought the groundbreaking concepts in TIGOT would not only be repeated in the former but that the former would reflect the author's evolving understanding of inner games. After all, many years had gone by since the publication of the later.Having completed TIGOW, I have no reason to believe that I was wrong.Anyway, TIGOW is excellent. Reading it will almost certainly help your inner game.I have nothing to add to what other people have said about the book.Except that the story the author relates concerning the class he took as a Havard undergrad featuring then professor B.F. Skinner demonstrating the power of operant conditioning on a pigeon subject has stayed with me. That story alone might be worth the price of the book for those who understand much of its chilling and not-so-chilling implications.Get the book.

Some useful core lessons, though the writer seemed to be spinning his wheels a bit after a few chapters and the end seemed like it would never end.The mindfulness principles are well applied with lots of examples. Even though I'm not in sales, I could relate it to my field because he's so specific.I was a bit baffled by his directly naming for criticism people who gave him access to the inner workings of their (by his analysis) flawed company culture, yet leaving anonymous this one person he praises and credits with near godlike teachings.

Unlike some books that give you concrete, step by step advice, this is just as the title says....it's the inner game. Gallway observed students of tennis improved more when he stopped telling them what to do and asked them to observe specific things. You have to put on a new pair of glasses so to speak. You step away from worries about performance and put on curiosity, asking yourself new questions about what you are doing.I am not yet through, but reading with a highlighter so I can review it more quickly in subsequent readings, which I would think will be necessary as we tend to slip back to old habits. And not just us. Many athletes and world class performers lose their edge and succumb to pressures about performance. But if we adopt different mindsets, we can get back into the flow where things happen easily and without thought.

I really enjoyed this book. I have a feeling it will take me years to fully appreciate the deep lessons it imparts, even though understanding them was easy. I also liked The Inner Game of Tennis, but this one was more applicable to more people, since so many people work. It isn't full of answers or neat prescriptions, nor claim that it's just a matter of following a patented formula. This book offers tools, ways of finding answers more quickly. Highly recommended for anyone seeking the deeper meaning behind work, which is a worthy pursuit, since it is the single activity we spend the most time doing.

Disclaimer: by now I have read 63% of the book. so maybe the surprise is in the end.I have to admit i am rather surprised and frankly upset with the second book (the first one is inner game of tennis, which I believe is a masterpiece).The focus state (the key idea of the first book) is blamed for "having no purpose". The author compares focus state with driving with no purpose. He substitutes focus with so-called mobility state which is a conscious awareness.It seems the author is confused with his contradictory approaches.Not comparable with the first book. Not recommend it.PS: pls see the disclaimer in the beg.Best regards, Sergey.

The Inner Game of Work was the first book I read in my training to become a Parent and Life Coach. It was clear and direct in how a coach is effective in their work. Even though I do not work in the business arena, I still find this book to very applicable for me as I work with families. The learning on the inner-critic has become a regular tool in my family coach practice. I recommend this book to anyone entering the field of coaching or someone who wants to change their work environment. I can see how managers of any kind will benefit from the information in this book. Kellie Ann, [...]

nice book, good aplication of the inner game of tennis into work

As someone who coaches leaders in a Fortune 500 company, I've found this book helpful in numerous ways and have been able to help others implement things presented in this book. Gallwey's insights on "Voice 1" and "Voice 2" are important for understanding how we lose focus and for determining how to regain focus, and Gallwey also explains how the culture around us in our workplaces may interfere with or support our ability to focus. Elements of mindfulness and how to be aware without being self-judgmental are also presented here in ways that make sense and can be put into practice.