BOOK REVIEWS
BOOK REVIEWS
Nasty
Bosses
How to STOP BEING HURT by them
without stooping to THEIR Level
By Dr. Jay
Carter
Published by McGraw-Hill Companies, 2004
From the Globe & Mail
Dr. Jay Carter, an eminent psychologist, who has appeared on more than 100 TV and radio shows, specialized in anger management. He wrote three popular books entitled, "Nasty People", "Nasty Men", and "Nasty Women". In his latest book, NASTY BOSSES, the best-selling author and specialist in "nasty behaviour," helps employees move beyond mad and learn to get even. As the author outlines key personality types - from "The Carrot Dangler" who has a carrot on a pole and keeps telling you that if you work a little more, you may get that promotion, to "The Preoccupied", the boss who makes little contact, although you may get a memo from him once in a while - readers get insight into what triggers these personality types and how to troubleshoot these negative behaviors for a healthier and happier work relationship and environment. This natural addition to the series provides no-nonsense insights into the behavior of the nastiest bosses, offering proven techniques for coping with every harmful moment spent with them.
In the September 10 issue of the Globe and Mail (Canada) cartoonist, Dean Tweed, drew 12 cartoons depicting some of the characters described in Carter's book, including "The Carrot Dangler," "The Invalidator," "The Peoplesuck Boss," "The Enmesher," "The Crusader," "The Noper," The Violator," "The Two-face," "The Chucky Boss," "The Anal-izer," "The Mood," and "The Me-me Boss".
The book flags the danger signals to watch out for - and how to stop being hurt by people you work for, without stooping to their level. A nasty boss may have some sort of personality or psychological disorder. But some bosses, are just selfish, manipulative, degenerate, and/or greedy people. Sometimes there is nothing psychological about it, and they just choose to be selfish with a lack of concern about others. These are four of the personalities described by Dr. Carter:
"THE TWO-FACE" boss tells you one thing, your peers another, and his/her boss still another. He/She is a deceptive people pleaser who ends up letting you down and ultimately not pleasing you. He/She does not like to be confrontational, so you never know if he/she is being honest or not. He/She seems nice, but he/she is not.
"THE NOPPER" always says no to your ideas, but then you notice that they get implemented as HIS/HER ideas! To cope with him/her, when you have an idea, send a memo - put it in writing.
"THE MOOD" - If he/she is in a good mood, you get to be an exemplary employee, but if in a bad mood, you might get written-up. Sometimes he/she seems to sabotage projects right at the end, dramatizing things with anger sometimes with that sad inner-child look. He/She could be bipolar and having mood swings, or a borderline personality who gets set off by relationship cues.
"THE CHUCKY BOSS" has some anti-social features. He/She does not have much of a conscious, and he/she is not grateful or loyal no matter what you do for him/her. Displays ego, arrogance, and entailment. Could seem to be affectionate at times and may find you blight amusing, but does not have one ounce of empathy. When he/she is done using you, he/she will chuck you in the "wasted" can.
This book offers the victims of nasty bosses numerous techniques for handling these troublesome tyrants. Filled with tested strategies for coping with snide superiors, Nasty Bosses presents insights about the people who cause their underlings unnecessary stress and offers professional advice from executives about the pressures overworked bosses face. As he helps their victims, Dr. Carter also explains what creates nasty bosses, particularly psychological illnesses.
In this sanity-saving guide, Dr. Carter, the best-selling expert on nasty behavior, sets his sights on problem bosses. He provides no-nonsense insights into bad-tempered behavior, offering proven techniques for handling snide superiors. Nasty Bosses can serve as your passport to a happier, calmer, and saner life at work.
