Territorial Games [Hardcover]

Annette Simmons (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0814403832 | ISBN-13: 978-0814403839 | Publication Date: January 15, 1998 | Edition: 1st

On the battlefields of the workplace, employees are jockeying for position, hoarding resources, and manipulating information. Is this behavior instinctual? Can it be changed? "Yes" to both, says the author, who shows the underlying roots and visible signs of territorialism--as well as positive strategies to combat the destructive effects of workplace "turf wars".

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

To shun someone else in order to establish territory is one of the ten typical "territorial games" that business consultant Simmons intends to define and challenge here. The other acts of workplace "gamesmanship" include occupation, manipulating information, intimidation, setting up alliances, creating invisible walls, strategic noncompliance, discrediting, camouflage, and filibustering?all insidious attempts to deliver a blow, create an obstacle, or confuse the issue. Simmons provides a brief analysis of complex human behavior as an aid in understanding possible root causes for illogical behavior, and she includes real-life examples of typical business situations. She also suggests solid ways of dealing with "territory building" and how to begin playing more constructive games. Readers are likely to find this work hits home with problems in the workplace and helps explain the Dilbert phenomenon. Highly recommended for larger public libraries.?Dale F. Farris, Groves, Tex.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Description

Power, position, property. That's been the name of the game throughout human history. And the urge to gain new territory -- or keep what's already been acquired -- certainly shows up in our daily work lives.

The workplace, in fact, is ablaze with battles over information, relationships, and authority -- and everyone is fighting for psychological survival. These turf wars are some of the most productivity- and morale-squashing activities that employees engage in.

Territorial Games analyzes 10 of these insidious and instinctual acts of gamesmanship -- such as camouflage...occupation...shunning...intimidation -- and it supplies positive strategies for combating territorial behavior.

Written from the perspective of a behavioral scientist and drawn from in-depth interviews with corporate managers, the book explains how to:

* understand the roots of territoriality

* recognize the signs and symptoms of territorial games

* focus on organizational goals rather than individual turf wars

* promote teamwork throughout an organization

* apply counterstrategies to change destructive behavior.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM; 1st edition (January 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814403832
• ISBN-13: 978-0814403839
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #950,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now you can call all those games by name!, August 5, 2003

By 

Debra E. Blatt (Pittslfied, MA United States,) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Territorial Games (Hardcover)

Simmons provides "names" for this evolutionary adaptation of behavior that we experience everyday such as the strategic noncompliance game, the occupation game, the camouflage game and the intimidation game. Territorial Games defines how behavior in the workplace is driven from physiological, survival instincts that over-power rational thinking. With humor and insight, Simmons reviews the emotions involved in protecting "territory" in today's organizations. The 10 games are reviewed using real-life, painful and funny examples of business situations. The book will aid you in spotting the behavior in others, because "of course you don't do this." Well, you can check that using the self-tests provided for each game.

Simmons' practical approach does not suggest that the games will go away. She does suggest that you can understand them better, develop better ways to deal with the games and begin playing more constructive games. Recommended for everyone who has ever felt like they were in a sporting competition, on a battlefield, or playing survivor in the workplace. It certainly provided me with a renewed clarity about law firm dynamics. You are sure to have a laugh reading and recognizing yourself and others. More importantly, this can be a new lens to understanding behavior in the workplace.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simmons uses humor, clarity, to talk about games people play, October 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Territorial Games (Hardcover)

Simply put, reading this book helped me see more--in terms of my own behavior and others'. Ever looked back on tough work situations you've dealt with in the past and thought 'How ridiculous I was then...if only I knew then what I knew now, I'd have acted differently'? As much as I enjoyed reading the book, I must admit I felt that sting; I sat there reading about these 10 games that she has named, described (with some painfully funny stories of her own), and provided strategies for combating, and I thought 'I really needed this book years ago!' If you want to know more about how people tick and how to deal with it, get this book. Be prepared to feel stung with a higher awareness of how people operate when they are trying to protect/increase their territory in organizations--you will definitely recognize the behaviors. And more powerfully still, be prepared to have your eyes opened about some games that you, in fact, just may be playing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the most important management books of this decade, October 10, 1997

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Territorial Games (Hardcover)

Annette Simmons has written one of the most important (and fun to read) management books of this decade. The subject matter makes it an important book. Simmons' style make it unique among management books. This book compares very well to "It Takes Two" by Gene Boccialetti (Jossey-Bass, 1995); in both books, the information is immediately useful in the real world. Using an adaptation of the "games" model in Transactional Analysis, Simmons takes us through the Territorial Games played in organizations very clearly and simply. As you progress through the book you will find yourself saying, "been there, done that." At the end, when you are ready to ask, "So What?" she suggests ways to stop playing the games. Because of her clear style in both writing and thinking, I hope she'll be writing another book...soon. This book is a good read for managers at any level. It will be around for a long time. Roy Mayhugh Phd