What is The Heart of Engagement?

THE is a blog dedicated to exploring the ongoing challenge of developing organizational structures and practices that reliably produce environments that adhere to the following vision:

“It is possible to design or find working environments where there is respect for each and every individual contributor, regard and reward for original thought and respect for the inherent right of each employee to an inviolable private life.

Inside such a design, environment or organization people are empowered in a natural concern for the accomplishment of the organization and the success of the enterprise.”

MFC 2/11/90

At THE you will find thoughts, analysis, commentary and references to any of the following areas of interest for students of the design and practices of sustainable and engaging working environments:

  • Books and articles that establish or add to the existing body of knowledge
  • Demographic, economic, technological and sociological TRENDS worth watching
  • Anecdotal references that validate or question conventional wisdom
  • Blog sites that pursue intentionally designed organizational practices

Who Is Mike Cook?

After founding and operating a small OD firm, Vitalwork, Inc. in Rochester, NY for nearly 20 years I began a process of migration in 2006 intended to provide me more opportunity to explore and distinguish the essential elements of engaging working environments from the perspectives of everyone involved. I have created THE as well as a complimentary practice in AMJ Group specifically to serve this purpose and bring me into contact with a larger community of practitioners and theorists.

I now live with my wife , daughter and three cats in Anacortes, Washington, gateway to the San Juan Islands giving me an uncluttered view of the Olympic Mountains and the Straits of San Juan de Fuca which is either inspirational or extremely relaxing depending on what day it is. We also have a parrot which we might have thought more about before we got him.

Organizational Development Experience:

  • Chief architect and implementation leader for mid-level management development initiatives
  • Implementation leader for accelerated commercialization processes
  • Senior Executive Counsel on major cultural overhauls
  • Keynote speaker at national and regional professional association meetings and conventions
  • Author of numerous articles and the book THRIVE: Standing on Your Own Two Feet in a Borderless World, a response to Thomas Friedman’s call to action in The World is Flat