As young people leave the classroom and enter the workplace, they are immediately struck by how central dealing with people issues becomes. Even the most technically gifted employee has to deal with others’ innumerable quirks. Then, when someone enters management, they may have power, but their job is based on motivating subordinates to produce. Yet few of us have academic expertise in dealing with people. Roy Lubit does. He holds an MD in psychiatry, which includes time at Yale, one of the best American training grounds for psychiatry. And he holds a PhD in organizational leadership from Harvard, also a preeminent program. As a consultant, he’s coached countless companies through thorny people issues. He combines that knowledge here to educate the future – workers like you and me – in how to improve how we deal with difficult people… and ourselves.
If I had to explain this book, I’d say simply that it’s a clear conceptual combination of psychiatry and organizational leadership. It’s also filled with practical examples, born from professional experiences, that bring the concepts to life. Like an accessible textbook, this comprehensive guide chooses to focus on all topics instead of one in depth. Although the book is over twenty years old, its ideas remain current. Notably, it does not cover autism in detail, a condition that has recently increased in known prevalence. Besides that omission, this book’s techniques have stayed reliable.
After introducing his psychological approach, Lubit divides this vast subject into several categories: Narcissistic managers, unethical managers, aggressive managers, rigid managers, impaired managers, and how to develop personal emotional intelligence. He aims to increase readers’ understanding, compassion, and coping skills. He recognizes the stark reality that not every relationship between a manager and a direct report will work out. Nonetheless, he provides penetrating insights that enhance readers’ skills.
Instead of taking an academic approach, this book’s cover markets itself to workers dealing with people problems firsthand. As a trending topic, the words “toxic management” will draw in many readers like me. However, it importantly teaches us not only how to cope but also how to make our own personal style less toxic. Those looking to improve themselves, not fix another person – as if that’s possible – will find a gold mine here. In today’s world, all problems have a people component, and this book equips us to handle that angle more efficiently and effectively.
Coping with Toxic Managers, Subordinates… and Other Difficult People
By Ray H. Lubit
Copyright (c) 2004
FT Press
ISBN13 9780131409958
Page Count: 368
Genre: Psychology, Management
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