The Inner Game of Work

The Inner Game of Work - Book Summary (2024)

W. Timothy Gallwey

The Inner Game of Work explores a new way of thinking about work, focusing on the concept of 'the inner game' - the battle against internal obstacles. It provides practical advice on how to achieve a state of 'work free', where work becomes a medium for personal growth and development, and where learning and doing are seen as one and the same.

Key Ideas

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Focus of attention is a crucial skill that significantly influences learning and the achievement of excellence. It is the quintessential component of superior performance in every activity, regardless of the level of skill or the age of the performer. Our attention, which is constantly shifting according to our interest, allows us to make contact with and understand the world around us. In any activity, there are numerous possible objects of attention. The understanding we bring to a situation governs what objects of attention we will select. Conversely, what we perceive through our attention will govern our understanding.

This skill requires practice and conscious effort, and it can be practiced during any activity—mental or physical. It involves making conscious choices about the critical variables, inner or outer, that need attention. It also requires awareness of what distracts our attention. The practice of focus strengthens the muscles of attention and reveals what still has the power to distract us.

For instance, when teaching a student to focus on a tennis ball, the student's attention would often get distracted without their permission. Just noticing what had pulled attention away was usually sufficient to weaken that distraction and allow for greater focus. Similarly, in the workplace, an employee who understands the importance of a task and feels fully aligned with it will find it easier to focus attention than an employee who hasn't “bought into” the purpose behind a particular assignment.

In conclusion, focus is easier to sustain when you are doing something you have freely chosen to do. It is more a function of your motivations being lined up behind what you are doing.

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The Inner Game of Work by W. Timothy Gallwey explores the concept of the 'Inner Game', a term coined by Gallwey to describe the internal mental struggle that often inhibits performance and satisfaction at work. The book provides insights into how individuals can enhance their learning, performance, and satisfaction at work by overcoming self-imposed obstacles. Gallwey argues that traditional methods of teaching and coaching often hinder performance and suggests alternative approaches that foster a more satisfying workplace.

10 Main Facts:

  1. The Inner Game is about overcoming the internal mental barriers that inhibit performance and satisfaction at work.
  2. Traditional methods of teaching and coaching often hinder performance because they are not in harmony with our natural capabilities.
  3. The Inner Game principles are based on a profound trust in the individual's natural capability to learn from direct experience.
  4. The Inner Game offers a viable alternative to traditional command-and-control methodologies in the workplace.
  5. The Inner Game principles have been successfully applied to countless fields over the past two decades.
  6. The Inner Game demands that we value awareness, consciousness, and paying attention to what is happening within and around us.
  7. The Inner Game argues for creating institutions that offer people deeper meaning than just profitability, while achieving economic success.
  8. The Inner Game approach to change is fundamentally different from traditional corporate change initiatives.
  9. The Inner Game approach to coaching is highly leveraged, requiring minimal time but offering significant payoffs.
  10. The Inner Game principles can be applied to time management, helping individuals to better manage what they do with their time.

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