Parenting the Office

By Doris S. Davidoff

Many companies and organizations like to think of themselves as "one big happy family," but how many actively apply the principles of parenting to running a business? Have you ever felt as though your employees were your kids? This book explores the similarity of relationships within the home and office.

The Davidoffs-parents Doris and Philip, with their sons Donald and Douglas-have run several businesses over the last 30 years. When they started their first business in 1969, they were also parents of three young children. They soon found that many of the issues raised in the workplace are the same as those in family life: sibling rivalry, the desire of the youngest to grow, and one child picking on another. All of these issues have their equivalents in office life-employee jealousy, employee growth, and plain office politics.

With anecdotes from their lives in business and together as a family, the Davidoffs present common management situations on a case-by-case basis, helping to clarify the problems, and present solutions that are effective, concise, and sometimes even fun.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565548205
• ISBN13: 9781565548206
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 1.11 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Helpful to employees and employers alike.

In an easy-reading format the authors have pointed out many office situations that relate to family situations. They give practical and useful suggestions for handling these problems. Worthwhile reading for anyone who works in an office setting.

A must for managing

This book is a must for anyone who has to manage people in an office, organization, and even on a committee. It is easy and interesting reading and a MUST to understand why the people you manage behave as they do.

Uses case histories to discuss applications

Many of the issues raised in the workplace are also common to family life, from the desire of the youngest to rival the oldest child to bullying and rivalry. Parenting The Office equates these lessons learned from children to business and family life alike, using case histories to discuss applications and clarify problems.

A Great Paradigm for Understanding Management

I thought the book was a very fun and informative read!! I thought the best thing about the book was that it gave a model to understand and apply real-life management techniques in my office. The book caused me to think about the myriad of situations that happen in my office and how I can handle them better. My wife read the book as well. She was fond of it as well.I highly recommend this book to anyone who deals with people in a business situation!!