Trait Secrets: Winning Together When You DON'T Think Alike [Paperback]

Judith A. Piani (Author), Hedy Bookin-Weiner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2000

Trait Secrets--through its use of the unique Piani Trait System--gives you the tools to understand where people are coming from and why they act the way they do. As you learn about ten key personality traits and the behaviors they cause, you will also learn specific techniques for working with people whose traits clash with yours--techniques that will help you to avert conflict in both your personal and your professional relationships.

Trait Secrets will help you to

* understand why people are behaving in a certain way and figure out how to respond to that behavior

* recognize how you come across to others, and why your instinctive reactions may sometimes be resented by those around you

* find the people who can help you succeed personally and organizationally

* deal more effectively with people who seem difficult or impossible

* anticipate the direction in which your company can or will or should be going

In this practical, insightful, and entertaining guide to improving workplace relationships, Piani and Bookin-Weiner prove that those who don't think alike may be most likely to succeed together.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Before you fire that researcher who does a good job, but whose behavior drives you nuts . . .

Before you send your 14-year-old off to boarding school because he leaves everything until the last minute and then studies all night . . .

Before you run out the back door screaming becaue your spouse either talks too much before taking action or doesn't talk at all before taking action . . .

Read Trait Secrets!

It will explain behaviors that you've wanted to change in the people in your life, and it will give you workable solutions to living and working with anyone who isn't your identical twin. Read Trait Secrets for your sanity and for the sake of harmony at work and at home.

"Trait Secrets not only describes how people (yourself included) really function, it also explains how to apply that knowledge to become more effective in communicating as a manager, recruiter, negotiator, coach, spouse, or parent. This book really makes you stop and think about people, in a different but positive way." --David Ingemie, President, Snowsports Industries America

"If you think that bosses or co-workers are being difficult, maybe the problem is that they just don't see the world and respond to it in the same fashion that you do. Piani and Bookin-Weiner provide a helpful and lively framework for understanding some of the many ways that people differ in the workplace. This entertaining yet insightful book offers both a magnifying glass and a mirror to help you appreciate others--as well as yourself." --Mark I. Rosen, Ph.D., author of Thank You for Being Such a Pain: Spiritual Guidance for Dealing with Difficult People

"Insightful and accessible, this book will help everyone understand that differences aren't disses. Trait Secrets is bound to improve relationships both professional and personal (just think what it could do for office romances)!" --Lynn Harris, author of Breakup Girl to the Rescue! A Superhero's Guide to Love, and Lack Thereof

From the Inside Flap

BACKCOVER: Before you fire that researcher who does a good job, but whose behavior drives you nuts . . .

Before you send your 14-year-old off to boarding school because he leaves everything until the last minute and then studies all night . . .

Before you run out the back door screaming becaue your spouse either talks too much before taking action or doesn't talk at all before taking action . . .

Read Trait Secrets!

It will explain behaviors that you've wanted to change in the people in your life, and it will give you workable solutions to living and working with anyone who isn't your identical twin. Read Trait Secrets for your sanity and for the sake of harmony at work and at home.

"Trait Secrets not only describes how people (yourself included) really function, it also explains how to apply that knowledge to become more effective in communicating as a manager, recruiter, negotiator, coach, spouse, or parent. This book really makes you stop and think about people, in a different but positive way." --David Ingemie, President, Snowsports Industries America

"If you think that bosses or co-workers are being difficult, maybe the problem is that they just don't see the world and respond to it in the same fashion that you do. Piani and Bookin-Weiner provide a helpful and lively framework for understanding some of the many ways that people differ in the workplace. This entertaining yet insightful book offers both a magnifying glass and a mirror to help you appreciate others--as well as yourself." --Mark I. Rosen, Ph.D., author of Thank You for Being Such a Pain: Spiritual Guidance for Dealing with Difficult People

"Insightful and accessible, this book will help everyone understand that differences aren't disses. Trait Secrets is bound to improve relationships both professional and personal (just think what it could do for office romances)!" --Lynn Harris, author of Breakup Girl to the Rescue! A Superhero's Guide to Love, and Lack Thereof

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Teric Publishing; 1st edition (September 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970127200
• ISBN-13: 978-0970127204
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,856,257 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 Trait Secrets: Winning Together When You DON'T Think Alike, August 28, 2000

By 

Dennis Kallelis (Middleton, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trait Secrets: Winning Together When You DON'T Think Alike (Paperback)

I enjoyed reading this book, or should I say, "I enjoyed experiencing this book". I am surprised how quickly I was pulled into this nifty and practical tool. I loved the quick tests of self evaluation and they showed me what was happening around me with my work peers. I've been struggling for a year not knowing how to get through a tough situation at work, and then bang - this little book showed me what has been happening, and gave me several options on how to get through it successfully without quiting. What a relief, finally some assistance. It makes so much common sense when I think about it now! I passed the book onto a colleague, I hope it will help him! He needs it! :-)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book is a Masterpiece!, November 1, 2000

By 

Bob Burg (Jupiter, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trait Secrets: Winning Together When You DON'T Think Alike (Paperback)

I was totally blown away by this book! Judy Piani and Hedy Bookin-Weiner have written a masterpiece on human relations. As a voracious reader of self-help books and books on effective communication skills (and many of those books are excellent!) I have just read the one that is probably the most practical of all in terms of actually understanding why people act the way they do . . . and how to work with this newly-found knowledge for mutual benefit.

The authors, using the Piani Trait System, teach that traits, in and of themselves, are neither positive or negative, although depending upon the person and situation, they can have positive or negative results. The biggest challenge for most of us is that we don't understand that a person whose traits are different from ours (in other words, a person who does things differently than we do) is not intending to annoy or upset us. And since, as the book explains, "Normal is what I am", we're never aware of the actual cause of the bad feelings in the first place.

Although somewhat geared toward a business/workplace setting, there are plenty of examples from personal life as well. In fact, my personal feeling is that every husband, wife, son, daughter, friend, employer and employee shoud read this book. If you are one or more of the above, buy this book, and devour it! -- I believe you'll find some tools that will make a very, very positive addition to your life

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Resource for Home, Work,...Life!, April 6, 2009

By 

C. Spinelli "Communication Specialist" (Sunny California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trait Secrets: Winning Together When You DON'T Think Alike (Paperback)

"Trait Secrets" is a fantastic book that offers REAL insight into the many different ways we think, communicate, and work. Personality Traits Complement One Another. Once you identify your own traits, and the traits of others, you will see how each is useful in every situation.
For instance, that person who waits until the last minute to complete a project, then kicks into high gear and completes the task with moments to spare, isn't lazy; and they're not doing it just to annoy you! He/She is a "Pressure Trait Individual." It is not procrastination; the individual simply needs a deadline and some increased pressure in order to spring into action. If this is your child, your spouse, your co-worker, etc. you don't need to change the individual; you need to recognize the pressure trait, and work WITH it. If you need to see progress on a project, and they need a deadline, then make small, incremental deadlines along the way, so you see progress, and the individual can still "work under pressure" and continue to be creative and action-oriented in his/her own time.
That is just ONE of the MANY "lessons" in this book. I am a Professional Trainer in the areas of communication and career development, and I use this book in several of my training sessions, as well as in my own life! It is fantstic!!! I recommend this to ANYONE looking to work more harmoniously with others. It is an easy read, and the quizzes and activities are quick, fun, and straightforward.
Enjoy!!!!!