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Neanderthals at Work: How People and Politics Can Drive You Crazy...And What You Can Do About Them
Filled with psychological insights and practical advice, it examines the more subtle traps that make an office seem like a battlefield. Shows how to understand and accept that many of the crazy-making things which happen at work come from the misunderstandings between three warring personality types: rebels (corporate mavericks), believers (corporate innocents) and competitors (corporate warriors). Demonstrates the importance of cooperation and understanding.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 21, 2015
The book uses a simple model (of 3 stereotypes) to describe modus operandi of different people in work place. These are the believer (who trusts that hard working will be recognized by the power that be), the rebels (who are capable, but refuses to brown nose their superiors), and the competitor (who just knows what to do to get ahead). Some invented figures with stories are generously used to make various points about the stereotypes and about how one can recognize these and perhaps adapt tactics dealing with people. It's an interesting book about "politics", not in the dirty sense of the word.
We often write reviews and rate books as if it's a static thing reflecting the inherent feature of the book. But it's always the dynamic interaction. You may realize some thought the author didn't even intend. I was glad that I wrote some notes afterwards. That summarizing activities made me think about some blind spots that I was't noticing before. So I like it quite a bit. (I fully use the dynamic range of 5 stars, 4 is a very good book.) YMMV.
We often write reviews and rate books as if it's a static thing reflecting the inherent feature of the book. But it's always the dynamic interaction. You may realize some thought the author didn't even intend. I was glad that I wrote some notes afterwards. That summarizing activities made me think about some blind spots that I was't noticing before. So I like it quite a bit. (I fully use the dynamic range of 5 stars, 4 is a very good book.) YMMV.
September 11, 2022
Neanderthals at Work: How People and Politics Can Drive You Crazy... and What You Can Do About Them by Albert J. Berstein and Sydney Craft Rozen is a self-help book about working with the 3 work personality types: Rebels, Believers, and Competitors. It was kinda cute with it's made up people and scenarios to give examples of what each other these people might be like at work.
I am the rebel personality type (they included a quiz in the book) which means I am creative, good in a crisis, but please leave me alone to do my job. I also believe the game is rigged so that only buddy buddy white guys get the good jobs, and I'd generally make a terrible manager, because please leave me alone to do my job.
Believers are the hardest workers, but get burnt out more quickly than other types because they believe thay working really hard gets you noticed and promoted, but it really just gets you stepped on.
Competitors are the sharks. They will crush you all for the jobs and money, but they are the ones who handle making the bottom line look good and handling meetings and business deals, at any cost.
All 3 types are important to running a functioning company, but it helps if they know how to communicate with each other and work on their business flaws.
That's what this book tries to teach.
So F.M.Global used to have a library (basically books thay have to do with management, money, insurance, and some history) and they shut it down this year. They gave away all the books y'all. This is my first of those books that I've read.
I am the rebel personality type (they included a quiz in the book) which means I am creative, good in a crisis, but please leave me alone to do my job. I also believe the game is rigged so that only buddy buddy white guys get the good jobs, and I'd generally make a terrible manager, because please leave me alone to do my job.
Believers are the hardest workers, but get burnt out more quickly than other types because they believe thay working really hard gets you noticed and promoted, but it really just gets you stepped on.
Competitors are the sharks. They will crush you all for the jobs and money, but they are the ones who handle making the bottom line look good and handling meetings and business deals, at any cost.
All 3 types are important to running a functioning company, but it helps if they know how to communicate with each other and work on their business flaws.
That's what this book tries to teach.
So F.M.Global used to have a library (basically books thay have to do with management, money, insurance, and some history) and they shut it down this year. They gave away all the books y'all. This is my first of those books that I've read.
May 21, 2024
Interessant
December 31, 2011
READ DEC 2011
Unique book that looks at three distinct types of workers: rebels, believers, and competitors. Best section is part five, and the chapter on "language of management" in particular. Best quotes, "Often, as managers and professionals, we ignore emotional, psychological, and spiritual factors when we make decisions" (p. 31), "Think of your job as a problem to be solved--not as a moral issue" (p. 139), and "People who expect a regular candid conversation are regularly driven crazy" (p. 224).
Unique book that looks at three distinct types of workers: rebels, believers, and competitors. Best section is part five, and the chapter on "language of management" in particular. Best quotes, "Often, as managers and professionals, we ignore emotional, psychological, and spiritual factors when we make decisions" (p. 31), "Think of your job as a problem to be solved--not as a moral issue" (p. 139), and "People who expect a regular candid conversation are regularly driven crazy" (p. 224).
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews