Don't Be That Boss: How Great Communicators Get the Most Out of Their Employees and Their Careers

Book description

An executive coach shows you how better communication leads to productivity and profitability

Communication is the key to success when you manage other people. But it's not enough to just communicate; you have to communicate in the right way to get the results you want from your people and teams. In Don't Be That Boss, renowned executive coach Mark Wiskup shows you how to communicate effectively with colleagues and workers to create a healthy, productive, happy work environment.

The story follows two leaders through a typical workday and all their typical communications-including meetings, conferences, one-on-one discussions, break room banter, phone calls, and even emails. Based on real situations you'll probably recognize, you'll watch as two committed, intelligent people take different approaches to communication and reap very different results. Along the way, you'll realize what good communication is, how it works, and how it makes your business better in virtually every way.

  • Written by an experienced communications coach who works with Fortune 500 clients, CEOs and managers across the country

  • Shows that how you communicate in the office is just as important as what you communicate

  • Explains why excellent communication skills are vital to individual and organizational success

  • Effective communication is vital for the success of both large and small businesses

  • Mark Wiskup is also the author of The It Factor and Presentation S.O.S.

Whether you're an executive, manager or small business owner, this book will show you how to improve your communication skills to better your business.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Acknowledgments
  3. Introduction
  4. 1. 7:00 AM Connections Made and Missed Out of the Gate
    1. 1.1. 7:05: Forgetful Mike Lucks Out
    2. 1.2. 7:06: Dry Cleaners Disappointment for Chad
    3. 1.3. 7:25: Chad Plays "The Big Man" in the Break Room
    4. 1.4. 7:50: Tarantino Debate Outside Louis's Office
    5. 1.5. 7:55: Chad Strikes Back at West Coast Phil
    6. 1.6. 7:57: Mike Picks Up the Phone
  5. 2. 8:00 am Sales Rundown: Reality Behind the Numbers
    1. 2.1. 8:01: Chad Admires His Handiwork
    2. 2.2. 8:13: Mike Is Behind Schedule, Again
    3. 2.3. 8:15: Chad Would Die if He Knew About This Bet
    4. 2.4. 8:18: Wins and Losses for Mike's Team
    5. 2.5. 8:26: Chad Worries About Phil on the West Coast
    6. 2.6. 8:27: Jeanie Gets the Info to Mike
    7. 2.7. 8:27: The Numbers Mislead Chad
    8. 2.8. 8:52: Mike Busts Dave
    9. 2.9. 8:54: Chad Is Still Sweating About the West Coast
    10. 2.10. 8:59: Mike Gives Louis a Leadership Lesson or Two
  6. 3. 9:00 am Financial Reports: A Star Is Born
    1. 3.1. 9:01: West Coast Frustration for Chad
    2. 3.2. 9:10: West Coast Jeanie Comes Through
    3. 3.3. 9:13: Why Mike Likes the Financial Stuff
    4. 3.4. 9:14: Phil Blasts Back at Chad
    5. 3.5. 9:15: Mike Likes "Apples to Apples"
    6. 3.6. 9:28: Chad Goes into Deep Thought
    7. 3.7. 9:30: Chad Makes a Good Catch
    8. 3.8. 9:53: Mike Invites Ellen to Mahogany Row
  7. 4. 10:00 am Frustration and Satisfaction: Strategic Plan Update
    1. 4.1. 10:01: Lynn Gives Chad Some Breathing Room
    2. 4.2. 10:15: Kim, for Better or for Worse, Leads Mike's Planning Process
    3. 4.3. 10:16: Chad Delivers Vague Praise Way Too Early
    4. 4.4. 10:20: Mike's Team Discovers the Employees Want More
    5. 4.5. 10:45: Hits and Misses for Chad's Team
  8. 5. 11:00 am Customer Standoff: Accept Real Blame but Never Fall on Your Sword
    1. 5.1. 11:05: Mike Readies Louis for Combat
    2. 5.2. 11:07: Chad Comes Up with "The Perfect Storm" Tactic
    3. 5.3. 11:15: Louis Takes the Early Hit
    4. 5.4. 11:16: The Customer's Not Buying What Chad and Jody Are Selling
    5. 5.5. 11:36: Denise Asks for More Than Louis Offers
    6. 5.6. 11:42: Chad Overplays the Apology Card
  9. 6. 12:00 PM Chad Negotiates When Mike Doesn't Have To
    1. 6.1. 12:01: Chad Offers an Olive Branch
    2. 6.2. 12:06: Mike Finds the Shoe on the Other Foot
    3. 6.3. 12:15: Chad Makes His Case
    4. 6.4. 12:20: Mike Paints His Picture of the Future for Colleen
    5. 6.5. 12:35: James Starts to Negotiate; Chad Is Ready
    6. 6.6. 12:45: Colleen Weighs In
    7. 6.7. 12:46: James Accepts the Offer, but Makes One More Push
    8. 6.8. 12:54: Mike Makes the Offer
  10. 7. 1:00 PM Vendor Negotiations: Winning When You Don't Have the Strongest Hand
    1. 7.1. 1:03: Mike Preps Kim and Himself
    2. 7.2. 1:10: Chad and Randy Unveil Their Request
    3. 7.3. 1:21: Mike Lets Kim Take the Lead
    4. 7.4. 1:23: Chad Hands the Reins to Randy, but Doesn't Let Go
    5. 7.5. 1:50: Mike Starts Asking Jonathan Questions
    6. 7.6. 1:52: Tracy Bursts the Bubble
  11. 8. 2:00 PM Disciplining an Employee: Hit Them with Specifics or Don't Hit Them at All
    1. 8.1. 2:03: Chad Reaches Out to Mike
    2. 8.2. 2:15: Mike Spells It Out for Gary
    3. 8.3. 2:18: Chad Follows Up with Lynne
    4. 8.4. 2:27: Gary Gets No Sympathy from Mike
    5. 8.5. 2:29: Chad Treads Very Lightly with Susan
    6. 8.6. 2:36: Mike Shows Gary What Success Looks Like
    7. 8.7. 2:43: Chad Completes the "Criticism Sandwich"
  12. 9. 3:00 PM Employee Promotion: Supervisor Becomes Assistant Manager
    1. 9.1. 3:01: Chad Perceives a Silver Lining
    2. 9.2. 3:02: Mike Wastes No Words
    3. 9.3. 3:04: Tracy Blindsides Chad
    4. 9.4. 3:04: Mike Lays It Out for Lucy
    5. 9.5. 3:15: Chad Lays It On Way Too Thick
    6. 9.6. 3:32: Mike Writes a Personal Note
  13. 10. 4:00 PM Chad's Production Meeting: Just the Facts, Ma'am
    1. 10.1. 4:01: Chad Relinquishes Some Power
    2. 10.2. 4:06: Balancing Customer Demands with Profit Margin
    3. 10.3. 4:13: Simone Stands Strong . . . for a While
    4. 10.4. 4:28: Randy Changes the Routine
    5. 10.5. 4:39: Back to the Regular Routine
    6. 10.6. 4:47: Simone Comes Back with a Win
    7. 10.7. 4:55: Mike Asks for Chad to Return the Favor
  14. 11. 5:00 PM Mike's Production Meeting: Not Exactly Kumbaya, but Lots of Give-and-Take
    1. 11.1. 5:02: Chad Receives a Warm Welcome
    2. 11.2. 5:05: Lots of Great Info, but No Numbers
    3. 11.3. 5:15: Leslie Explains Why a Chore She Dislikes Has Helped Her
    4. 11.4. 5:30: Rebecca Needs to Work Harder
    5. 11.5. 5:40: Chad Thought He'd See More Backslapping
  15. 12. 6:00 PM After Work Downtime: Mike and Chad Hash It Out
    1. 12.1. 6:01: Chad Loosens Up
    2. 12.2. 6:15: Mike Starts In
    3. 12.3. 6:20: Chad Wants to Hear More
    4. 12.4. 6:30: Mike Owns Up to His Failures
    5. 12.5. 6:40: Mike Gives Chad a Lesson
    6. 12.6. 6:45: Chad Listens to Mike

Product information

  • Title: Don't Be That Boss: How Great Communicators Get the Most Out of Their Employees and Their Careers
  • Author(s): Mark Wiskup
  • Release date: October 2009
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470485859