Why Should the Boss Listen to You?
James E. Lukaszewski, Jossey-Bass, $41.95 w/o GST
If you feel as though your suggestions and opinions are being ignored in your workplace, this book outlines seven tips to consider when it comes to advising your boss and seeing things from their perspective. The book gives an insight on how to get your ideas across and acknowledge issues that are most important to CEOs, leaders and bosses at the same time so that both parties can achieve real impact.
Written in a conversational style, the book contains bulleted lists such as “Why Leaders Fail” and “How Leaders Succeed” highlighting important ideas within the topic. There are also figures and worksheets that can be applied to the exercises he suggests. The exercises also stretch beyond the workplace so that readers can apply them to their daily lives to help them achieve the results they desire when communicating and working with their bosses and others.
As a crisis and management leadership expert, James Lukaszewski also gives specific examples and anecdotes to demonstrate his point and describe his ideas. He brings specific characters and (good and bad) experiences he has dealt with instead of merely re-creating scenarios. In addition, Lukaszewski ends the book with the chapter “Show the Boss How to Use Your Advice” which tells readers how to apply the other tips he has detailed.
Throughout the book HR professionals can get tips on how to get their CEOs to listen and take their innovative and interesting suggestions seriously. It can help justify hiring decisions while working within the perimeters of the CEOs.
– Muneerah B.
Bookmark this! Say things that you know people will want to remember- special words or phrases, or stories that are particularly memorable. One example is verbally shaping ideas so as to be easily quoted by others. Do people quote you? Talk in memorable language.
Thank You for Arguing
Jay Heinrichs, Penguin Books, $30.95 w/o GST
As everyone knows, decision-making isn’t always based on logic or rational thoughts. In this book, Heinrichs lists the various techniques that people are persuaded by: logic, emotion and character. The book is packed with information that can help you subtly manipulate people around you so that they would reach your consensus - even when it’s not in their best interest to. A former editor and journalist, Heinrichs makes heavy references throughout the book to pop culture and political heavyweights such as Homer Simpson, Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush. All in all, the book makes for an easy read even when the topic is as dull as the musings of ancient Greek philosophers.
– Lisa Cheong
Bookmark this! When scolding an employee, never raise your voice at the person. Instead, speak more softly than usual, avoid hand gestures and “let your cold eyes betray your fury”.
Changing Organizational Culture
Routledge, $75.57 w/o GST
How do you react to significant organisational change? Do you welcome change or do you react against it? Whether you are the change agent or the one affected by change, this book contains real life case studies so you can draw from the research subjects’ experiences and make change more reflexive and productive for you. The book delves into the psychological perspectives of management, HR practitioners and all other levels of the company involved in the change process. There is also an in depth analysis of what assumptions and values govern people in their change efforts and change work. Unfortunately, the book’s layout does not do justice to the valuable content inside. – Lee Xieli
Bookmark this! Avoid the yawn-inducing positive imperatives to change such as improvement in quality, customer orientation, growth and respect for people. Instead, spark discussion with questions or statements that have a better chance of leading somewhere. A statement could be: “We do not believe in the well-run machine of bureaucracy”.
