Games Bosses Play

by Russell Wild

Bosses and their employees regularly joust as if engaged in a real-life chess match, but supervisors usually hold the edge because they are generally more familiar with the psychological arts of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809230852
• ISBN13: 9780809230853
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Contemporary
• Length: 113 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Simulations to Help You Avoid Problems with Bosses

Games Bosses Play is a series of vignettes about how the relationship between you and your boss could end up in uncomfortable circumstances for you. The book goes on to suggest ways to reduce the downside after the damage is done, and also to avoid the downside before it occurs.I recognize a number of these situations from superiors I worked for, and have observed others doing taking other tacks described in the book. The main weakness of the book is that the advice goes overboard in a number of circumstances, and could backfire on you. For example, while being fired, the book suggests that as a last resort you drop hints about filing a law suit. That approach could cause you to spend a lot of money on a lawyer and lose some of your negotiating posture. Most executives are trained to stop talking to you as soon as you mention law suit. In a circumstance where the boss says that he has no influence over his boss, the book suggests asking your boss if you can meet with her/his boss alone to plead your case. That will seem very threatening to your boss, and could cause you to alienate someone who may be trying to help you. If you follow the advice in this book, you should be sure to temper it with a lot of common sense and some willingness to feel like your superior may not be trying to do you in. Obviously, the best advice if you have a lousy boss is to transfer into another part of the company or into a new company. The main value of this book is to provide the opportunity to think about circumstances before they arise. If they do arise, you will be better prepared.Although this book is aimed at the needs of those who work for bosses, I suggest that supervisors and executives also read this. You may find some ways that you can do your work better as well. You may be surprised to see some of the ways that your actions can be interpreted and misintepreted by your subordinates.

Bosses Beware!

I've read every book there is about bad bosses, and this is by far the best. It gives very sensible advice about what to do when a boss drives you crazy. And it was lots of fun to read-- very, very funny. I'm just starting out in the career world, and I plan to keep this book for a long time.