Synopses & Reviews
Do you have a bad boss or have you had a bad boss? If you haven't chances are, sadly, you will have one in the future. Bosses induce anything from nervousness and anxiety to fear and absolute terror. But why do bosses behave badly? Why do apparently assertive and intelligent people bow down to bad bosses? To solve the problem of bad bosses, conventional books tell you how to deal with a bad boss, or how to become a better boss yourself. But this new book makes the radical argument that bosses behave the way they do because of something outside of them. Similarly, something outside of you makes you behave submissively towards your bosses.
What's that something? Through a field of study called Systems Thinking, this book investigates, and shows you why bosses are effectively programmed to be dictators. It also reveals how this results in our workplaces being built on the shaky foundation of fear, not freedom. Using real life examples including the world's worst aviation accident, the two space shuttle disasters and the war on Iraq, the book examines the devastating consequences of the way organizations currently work. Ultimately, beyond getting you to do things differently, this book will change the way you look at the issue of leadership in organizations.
Synopsis
For readers at all levels of corporate hierarchy, this helpful guide seeks to explain the boss's point of view and offers ways to forge a better relationship. When a new boss is brought in, employees are simply told that the person will be their manager, creating a relationship based on power and subservience. Because bosses are not elected, many begin to display the tendencies of a dictator and employees begin to behave like the dictator's subjects. The author argues that this dictatorial system exists within the majority of companies and is at the root of problematic workplace behavior. By understanding the relationship and its consequences, both employees and bosses can take the first steps to creating a positive solution for a better workplace.
About the Author
Chetan Dhruve has worked for several organizations, including IBM, Cisco Systems and the Department for International Development. He has also cofounded several Internet-based startups.