Jonathan Ball Publishers publishes Impossible Bosses: Secret Strategies to Deal with 8 Archetypal Managers.
This practical guide is co-authored by Vivienne Lawack (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at the University of the Western Cape), Hanlie Lizette Wessels (a corporate executive and director of local and multinational companies) and Robert Craig (an executive coach, management consultant and speaker).
What the book is about
The authors successfully identify and demystify eight impossible bosses. “These eight objectionable managers consistently required extra effort to deal with, regardless of whether we reported directly to them or had to manage or work with them.” … “Each archetype creates uniquely problematic situations at work and all of them can leave your career stuck in an invisible cage, going nowhere” … “Once you know who and what you’re dealing with, you can change the way you respond to them, and you’ll gradually learn to manage tricky interactions” (12).
My take on it
If you are serious about your career and want to acquire the ability to deal successfully with difficult individuals, read Impossible Bosses. In fact, I think it should be a compulsory read for everyone in the workforce.
I found the content very interesting, helpful and instructive. It gives a brief overview of psychological influences. Eight chapters, each dealing with an archetypal boss, sketch challenging scenarios that one could find oneself in with that particular manager type. Explanations from a psychological perspective for their actions and reactions then follow. Readers are privy to several great secret tools, tactics and strategies for how to avoid conflict, untangle knotty situations, get better results and enrich their work experiences. There is even a chapter titled “What if I’m an impossible boss too?”.
Impossible Bosses: Secret Strategies to Deal with 8 Archetypal Managers is aptly described as a “coach in your pocket”. It gives practical, doable tips on how to manage your manager by identifying their key character traits and modus operandi. A must read on all accounts if you want to make an impact at work. “You’ll be able to utilise your time better, reduce the pressure due to stressful situations, and create better outcomes for yourself, your team and the company” (13).
Impossible Bosses: Secret Strategies to Deal with 8 Archetypal Managers is available at all leading bookstores, or get your copy here.
Read Louise Viljoen’s review of Rhino War here.
