Taking Ownership of Your Career (Workplace Essentials Series)

Studies into workplace violence, terrorism, and other forms of dysfunctional behavior associated with work suggested to us that there was a need for a book that would not only educate others on these topics but would also help those who wanted to reduce their risks by choosing relatively safe jobs.

No job is completely safe. You can get paper cuts, be injured by a staple, or cut yourself with a letter opener. You can slip, trip, stumble, and fall. You can sit or stand in one position for too long. You could get fired even though you are performing well. You can be a victim of sabotage or harassment, sometimes because you are doing an outstanding job. There are simply a lot of ways to get hurt — physically or emotionally — on the job. However, you can evaluate the potential risk or relative safety of a job before you make a career decision.

You can learn things to look for that will enable you to make a more rational, informed decision about a potential job or work site. This book is designed to help you do just that. I wish you luck in your job hunting and on your job.

David D. Van Fleet is Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University. He has over 50 years in the practice, teaching, and research of management and organizations. He taught human relations, organizational behavior, management, and leadership. He draws upon this impressive career to provide examples, analyses, and recommendations for dealing with dysfunctional organizations.