Customer Reviews

Versatility: How to Optimize Interactions When 7 Workplace Behaviors Are at Their Worst

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Phenomenal!!! The ability to interact effectively, build cohesive teams and manage conflict is frequently cited as the most challenging skill set for leaders. 'Versatility' provides leaders with practical tools to to do just that. Francie's unapologetic style gets straight to the heart of leadership, in all it's dysfunctional glory. Francie includes 360 Degree feedback from colleagues working with each style including:

The Commander:
"He overextends and undersupports us. Unapproachable regarding obstacles that may prevent optimal performance and has zero interest in what it takes to get the job done. Passion is micromanaged out of us every single day. I'm not permitted to think on my own, despite my credentials and experience."

You'll learn that the Commander's Strongest Need is for Control, their Decision Method is, "Do it My Way Now," and their Reaction to Feedback is to Turn the Tables and Attack You.

In this book, you'll learn how to interact effectively with the Commander, plus seven other leadership styles.

A must-read field guide, I refer to it almost daily. Thanks, Francie!

We've all worked with, managed, or been managed by some talented, hard working individuals we just couldn't seem to co-exist with, even though others had no issues. "Versatility: How to Optimize Interactions When 7 Workplace Behaviors Are at Their Worst" explains in easy to understand terms the various personality types typically encountered in the work place (and nearly every where else) and how to work with each one. It is now required reading for my team; I've given every one of my managers a copy!

With spunk and humor, Francie reminds us that interpersonal success isn't easy, often doesn't come naturally, and can chafe severely. Optimizing interactions with others will require your continually renewed commitment. Some of us have to renew our commitment almost daily! If that's you, don't get discouraged. Just keep this book close at hand! - Kendra Trahan, Regional Business Director, Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals

Francie Dalton made me laugh. And she made me cringe. Her book, Versatility: How to Optimize Interactions When 7 workplace Behaviors Are at Their Worst, is a chilling look at seven personality types. Six are not desirable; the seventh is. With witty cartoon characters and accurate, if aggregated, examples of personalities we all face, Ms. Dalton lays out the challenges and drawbacks of each: The Commander, The Drifter, The Attacker, The Pleaser, The Performer, The Advoider, The Analytical and The Achiever.

Of course, everyone wants to be considered effective, knowledgeable, perceptive, constructive, generous and wise. Those are the traits of the so-called Achiever. I found myself resisting some of what she said because it used stereotypes to work with people. In reality, we are a pool of the above personalities. Some are more dominant than others. In all fairness, Ms. Dalton admits that she is categorizing people to make a point: the workplace environment does not always run smoothly based on people's annoying behavior. But you can harmonize with your environment (thus, the Chameleon's Edge) to maximize communication and, ultimately, improve the workplace environment by feeding into people's strengths while guiding their weaknesses out the door.

Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of Diary of a Mother: Parenting Stories and Other Stuff and Sahm I Am: Tales of a Stay-at-Home Mom in Europe, is a freelance writer living near Munich, Germany, with her husband and two children.

Priceless wisdom on every page! Educates on how to stop sabotaging your own results! I'm giving a copy to everyone I care about.

A pithy, inside view of behaviors that no one else is willing to be so up-front about. Fluency with what Francie teaches here should be a requirement for all managers!