Stop Workplace Drama: Train Your Team to have No Complaints, No Excuses, and No Regrets [Hardcover]

Marlene Chism (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 25, 2011

Overcome the interpersonal challenges holding your business back

 

Is your workplace riddled with gossip, power struggles, and confusion? Do you seek clarity in your management and cohesiveness in your team? Do you have a personal obstacle affecting your professional success?

If so, there is good news-help is on the way. Stop Workplace Drama offers down-to-earth, practical methods to help business owners, entrepreneurs, and private practice professionals maximize success, increase productivity, and improve teamwork and personal performance.

• Identify "drama" barriers and help your employees break free to experience higher personal effectiveness and increased productivity
• Each of the eight points is full of universal and practical principles any business leader, sales director or entrepreneur can put to use immediately
• Author Marlene Chism has shared her signature process with organizations such as McDonalds and NASA

When you're in the thick of business competition, you and your team need to function freely without internal conflicts, confusions, or rivalries. Stop Workplace Drama ensures that your employees will be able to give their best to create a healthy, profitable workplace.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Stop putting fuel on the fire and take back control of your workplace

Gossip. Power struggles. Poor team coordination. These are all symptoms of workplace drama. They're the obstacles that can drain your company of its best talent, get in the way of true productivity and profit, and eat away at the effectiveness of your organization—that is, unless a leader steps up and takes responsibility for changing course.

Communications consultant and national speaker Marlene Chism has created an eight-step methodology that breaks through negative thinking that can contribute to drama in organizations of every kind and size. She has identified the gaps that drama creates—a gap between where your company is and where it aims to be and the psychological gap that occurs when people are faced with change and the fear that goes with it.

With Stop Workplace Drama, Chism shows how to change the way you and your organization confront and work through problems, implement effective management strategies in a drama-filled organization, and find new solutions that create positive growth for every member of your company. You'll learn how to:

• Understand the different kinds of "drama roles" played in the office—and how to work through them

• Create healthy boundaries, get your work needs met, and make the most of your valuable time

• Seek viable opportunities and take responsibility for your efforts

• Instill necessary changes without unleashing fear in your organization—which can lead to conflict

• Cut through your personal drama so that it doesn't create further issues at work

In today's business world, where competition is fierce and economic challenges are more intense than ever, ending the drama has never been more essential. With fascinating case studies, illuminating insight, and workplace-tested strategies, Stop Workplace Drama will help boost the morale of your employees, maximize your company's potential, and put your organization on the road to success.

From the Back Cover

"Stop Workplace Drama does more than reveal excuses for the inclination to drama in the workplace; it offers a wealth of ideas to improve communication, trust, and leadership that will help eliminate the energy, time, and talent drain that drama creates."
—Stephen M. R. Covey, coauthor of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal bestseller The Speed of Trust

"This easy-to-read book is a must-have for anyone who leads others and wants to improve workplace dynamics so your people can enthusiastically say 'Thank God It's Monday!'"
—Roxanne Emmerich, author of Thank God It's Monday!: How to Create a Workplace You and Your Customers Love

"Stop Workplace Drama offers practical ideas to improve communication in the workplace to eliminate power struggles, backstabbing, and office drama."
—Michael Linenberger, author of Master Your Workday Now!

"Marlene Chism's no-drama approach is down-to-earth and effective, plus it's communicated with good humor and a very big heart."
—Rick Hanson, PhD, coauthor of Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom

"Stop Workplace Drama is filled with fresh strategies to help leaders navigate change, reach their objectives, and create a positive work climate—all at the same time!"
—Jill Konrath, author of SNAP Selling and Selling to Big Companies

"Marlene Chism has given the Drama Zone its own zip code! This book is a brilliant approach to halting drama in the workplace—right here, right now—and at every level within the organization. No smoke and mirrors, just real-world tips, tools, and techniques to creating a 'no excuses, no complaints, no regrets' workplace. Count me in!"
—Anne Bruce, speaker and bestselling author of more than 14 books, including How to Motivate Every Employee

"Any entrepreneur who wants to eliminate excuses and complaints and increase cooperation will benefit by reading Stop Workplace Drama."
—Mike Michalowicz, author of the cult-classic The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 229 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (January 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780470885734
• ISBN-13: 978-0470885734
• ASIN: 0470885734
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.9 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Business & Investing > Organizational Behavior > Workplace

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A no-brainer method for ending drama! March 4, 2011

By Scott Carbonara

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

When I got an advanced copy of Marlene's book, my intent was to do a quick scan and write a short, courtesy review. But I found it impossible to scan. I found myself reading it! When I finished, I reread it and made notes in the margins. Using shorthand, I indicated the initials of employees of whom I had applied Marlene's principles with effectively as well as those that I failed to use Marlene's principles...and ended up feeding drama.

I've recommended Stop Workplace Drama to many others. Why? Have you ever hurt your leg or foot or toe, and instead of going to the doctor, you got used to limping? Maybe you told yourself that you were too busy to see a doctor. Perhaps you thought the problem would clear up on its own. But over time, you got used to walking funny. Pretty soon, you couldn't even remember what it felt like to feel normal or not walk around with discomfort.

That's what drama is like. When viewed from a distance, it might appear to be charming, quaint, or even funny. But when that drama gets closer or begins to touch you personally, it becomes painful and draining, hurting not only at the immediate source of drama, but able to harm and damage other formerly-healthy parts of the whole system.

Marlene's book is a powerful how-to. If you've forgotten what it's like to feel "normal" because all around you is drama, stop hoping it will fix itself. Get Marlene's book, read it, apply it. Find out why it's destined to appear on the desks of every leader who is serious about creating outstanding results with people.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Politics solved March 24, 2011

By Jim Estill

Format:Hardcover

I hate politics - including office politics and this book attempts to come up with creative ways to stop them. Or perhaps - recognize that they will exist so make them positive.

Her big point is it is about communications and much of that starts with listening. Much of drama comes from a lack of clarity. It can also come from the relationship or from resistance.

I have found most of my business career involves overcoming resistance to change. Selling change is a large part of success. Chism had a number of practical suggestions on this. EG - implement a trial period, manage expectations, challenge whether is a gap or is it as big as thought,

She talks about The Drama which is the situation and that does not have you be your Drama or reaction.

I actually like having a few complainers. They can be the ones that point out areas for improvement. Of course it helps if they have some tact about it but even without, it can be high value. I prefer to call them more positively the devil's advocates. People who are willing to speak their mind and point out challenges.

This is the same as customer complaints. They can be your best source of building future excellence.

It is a good book - essential for any leader who has drama issues.

I always tend to look at things from the leaders' view. Another view:

If you are afraid of your boss, this book will give you the courage to face that fear. If you are keeping things from your boss, you will look inward to ask yourself where your commitment truly lies. If you are letting the queen bee run the show, you will be forced to face the truth and ask yourself what you are afraid of losing or who you are trying to please--and at what expense. Excerpt from Stop Workplace Drama

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Shawn Driscoll March 5, 2011

By shawn d

Format:Hardcover

Stop Workplace Drama isn't like any other business or management book I've read. And that's a good thing. It approaches common issues in the workplace with insight, humor and practical strategies to eliminate the drain and strain that Drama causes. I love the way Marlene Chism explains the roles people play in creating Drama and her strategies for getting off the drama triangle and creating real results. This book takes a fresh look at the challenges of working and leading and makes it possible to cut through the chaos drama causes with grace and clarity--no matter what title you hold.