Don't Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns That Limit Success - Hardcover

Lafair, Sylvia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0470404361 ISBN 13: 9780470404362

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 2009

Synopsis

How can you get to the bottom of workplace behaviors that simply don't work for you or your organization?

Don't Bring It to Work explores what happens when patterns originally created to cope with family conflicts are unleashed in the workplace.?This groundbreaking book draws on the success of Sylvia Lafair's PatternAware program Total Leadership Connections. Throughout the book she shows how to break the cycle of pattern repetition and offers the tools that can turn unhealthy family baggage into creative energy that will foster better workplace associations and career success.

Lafair identifies the thirteen most common patterns that correspond to characters familiar to anyone who has ever worked in an office: Super Achiever, Rebel, Persecutor, Victim, Rescuer, Clown, Martyr, Splitter, Procrastinator, Drama Queen or King, Pleaser, Denier, and Avoider. To help overcome destructive behavior problems, she maps out the three main steps for becoming aware of patterns and finding the way OUT:

• Observe your behavior to discern underlying patterns
• Understand and probe deeper to discover the origins of these patterns
• Transform your behavior by taking action to change

The book includes a wealth of real-life anecdotes and practical, workbook-style exercises that clearly show how anyone can get beyond old, outmoded attempts at conflict resolution and empower themselves to make profound differences both at work and in their personal lives.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Praise for Don't Bring It to Work

"Sylvia Lafair is an amazingly acute analyzer of human behavior. She's pinpointed the patterns that can make you sink, soar, or simply muddle through your career. If you want to take your work life, your team, or your company to the next level or―better yet―the level beyond that, read this important work. The payoff is the elusive breakthrough you've?sought for years."
―Tyler Mathisen, managing director, CNBC, and host, High Net Worth

"In this smart, useful, and much-needed book on how to work and play well with others, Sylvia Lafair teaches us how to recognize and change our own ineffective workplace behavior and how to help others get past the family baggage and office politics that prevent all of us from doing our best work."
―Daniel Pink, author, A Whole New Mind

"This book will help at work and at home. There's a gem on every page!"
―Kevin Roberts, Worldwide CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi

"One of the most original and useful books on the family/work/life balance issue."
―Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business, University of Southern California

"In this terrific book, Sylvia Lafair tells us how to leave our nonproductive behaviors and attitudes at the office door. I especially applaud her declaration that truth-telling and open communication in the workplace will breed respect and reduce insecurities. We would all do well to heed her pragmatic advice on how to bring about a positive, productive work environment."
―Ed Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania

"The creative person is able to observe patterns, often when others sitting next to them see unconnected dots. If you think of these dots as people and the connecting lines as constructive interactions, sometimes representing ideas, sometimes love, sometimes concern, you will be an avid reader of Sylvia Lafair's book."
―Richard Saul Wurman, founder, the TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) Conference

From the Inside Flap

Don't Bring It to Work
You know the type--maybe he's the office cutup, or the woman who manages to look busy but avoids work, or the guy who is the long-suffering victim--there's one in every office. Perhaps you or someone you know fits one of these profiles. These behaviors are painfully annoying and stir up conflict in the office.
How can you get to the bottom of workplace behaviors that simply don't work for you or your organization?
Don't Bring It to Work explores what happens when patterns originally created to cope with family conflicts are unleashed in the workplace. This groundbreaking book draws on the success of Sylvia Lafair's PatternAware program Total Leadership Connections. Throughout the book she shows how to break the cycle of pattern repetition and offers the tools that can turn unhealthy family baggage into creative energy that will foster better workplace associations and career success.
Lafair identifies the?thirteen most common patterns that correspond to characters familiar to anyone who has ever worked in an office: Super Achiever, Rebel, Persecutor, Victim, Rescuer, Clown, Martyr, Splitter, Procrastinator, Drama Queen or King, Pleaser, Denier, and Avoider. To help overcome destructive behavior problems, she maps out the three main steps for becoming aware of patterns and finding the way OUT:

• Observe your behavior to discern underlying patterns
  
• Understand and probe deeper to discover the origins of these patterns
  
• Transform your behavior by taking action to change
  

The book includes a wealth of real-life anecdotes and practical, workbook-style exercises that clearly show how anyone can get beyond old, outmoded attempts at conflict resolution and empower themselves to make profound differences both at work and in their personal lives.

Edition details

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0470404361
• ISBN 13: 9780470404362
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256