Lifeboat (Navigating Unexpected Career Change and Disruption)

In Lifeboat, Maggie Craddock uses the stories of the survivors of the Titanic as a metaphor for hardworking professionals today facing uncertainty. They are swimming in waters jarred by sudden waves of downsizing, management shakeups, company mergers, dried-up funding, scandals, and probably a shark or two. The experiences of Titanic survivors, Craddock shows, offer lessons for a transformative workplace approach, one that recognizes that “every man for himself” does not work long-term. Craddock illustrates how the skills people need to survive and thrive are those that help them transition from the self-help mindset to an us-help way of looking at the world. Lifeboat is organized as a series of key questions to ask when facing a difficult situation of extreme change or when things just don’t feel right at work. The questions help readers articulate their authentic priorities, assess the group energy in their workplace, and identify the type of environment that would enable them to actualize their true potential. Most people are eager to do good work, collaborate with others, and participate in a professional culture that stands for something meaningful. Lifeboat helps them realize that goal, even in the midst of turbulent times.