Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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

As a solopreneur I don't work in a big office or have a huge team of employees. But I am an active community volunteer for the chamber of commerce and other groups and, when time is short and project tasks are many, there can be some drama.

Fortunately, Marlene Chism's book has come along just in time to help us work through the stress, focus on the common purpose and release the drama so that our goals are achieved with fewer complaints or regrets. Thank you Marlene!

With insightful stories and inspiring case studies, Chism's methodology plays out positively time and time again as her tips assist all of us in creating a more purposeful workplace- whether in a cubicle or a community meeting room.

I'm glad I discovered this book and will share it with others in my network so that they too can work and live drama-free.

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.

Appreciate the insight on how the different personalities relate in the work environment. Important to understand how they all play off of each other and how to help avoid conflicts by nipping certain activities in the bud (so to speak). Also, great info on what to look for, or watch out for, when selecting those who will be working with you...

Stop Workplace Drama explains how drama can negatively impact the workplace and presents 8 steps to bring an end to this drama. Chism explores many strategies for personal actualization and the big picture of drama. She gives a great overview of drama without specific tools and behaviors for the drama types that show up in most offices.

- Kaley Klemp & Jim Warner, Authors, "The Drama-Free Office: A Guide to Healthy Collaboration with Your Team, Coworkers, and Boss"

Really good analysis and classification of people problems, resistances and so on.

However, while author is very good at problem analysis, she is not really good on solution side.

Which is still OK, as if you solve right problem, you are a long way ahead in any case.

This book came into our lives when my associates, and I wanted to learn more about how-to stop the drama in our personal, and professional relationships.

Workplace drama is a situation that all leaders face in some form. Chism's approach is practical and can be implemented on various organizational levels. It is an holistic schema including spiritually which is a minefield that most authors and consultants avoid. She mentions the importance of personal values which is essential in addressing spirituality, since this is the source of a person's deeply held value system. Her fresh approach is stimulating, thoughtful, introspective, and practical.

My wife sent me a cartoon several years ago. It was a Family Circle cartoon. In it, Billy was pointing the finger of blame at his sister, to which the sister captioned: "Whenever you are pointing one at me, three are pointing back at you!" While I am sure I took the "suggestion" in stride (okay, maybe not) it was an apt point. When we start to blame others, we are really only pointing back at ourselves.

This book takes that premise and builds a great case that personal accountability is at the heart and soul of eliminating drama in the workplace. In a well researched, well written volume, Marlene takes us behind the scenes of the drama. Without preaching, she teaches how to re-construct the scenery that contributes to crazy behaviors in the workplace and provides a different script to read from. My favorite chapter was Chapter 5, Stop Relationship Drama. If you only read that Chapter, the book is worth reading.

Thanks, Marlene, for a great eye opener!