A former senior vice-president at Prudential Securities, Inc.--now one of the most powerful women on Wall Street--offers a candid and hilarious examination of the ins and outs of office politics--and shows how to come out on top.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Ronna Lichtenberg saw the way office politics worked while she was a senior vice president at Prudential Securities. Now a marketing and strategy consultant, she's written Work Would Be Great if It Weren't for the People, a clever and unambiguous guide to successfully negotiating what she calls "the human element of the workplace." In a case-by-case narrative that's supplemented with wry commentary from her "evil twin"--which consists of brutally honest observations that allow her to play devil's advocate--Lichtenberg unveils a series of suggestions for dealing with common corporate situations that can regularly boost or torpedo a career. She addresses scenarios such as managing a change in jobs or responsibilities, handling unjust demands for commitment or allegiance, and working effectively with friends, enemies, and even lovers. As all of the most salient points are boldfaced for emphasis, this already fast read can be absorbed even more quickly. --Howard Rothman
From Publishers Weekly
Lichtenberg, a former senior v-p at Prudential Securities, together with Stone (Little Girl Fly Away) offers a witty and cynical guide to office politics. According to them, ability, hard work and reliability are often not enough to succeed in the workplace unless these attributes are accompanied by a knowledge of the dynamics of human relations. The authors suggest first trying to work cooperatively by seeking common solutions to problems. But when stymied by roadblocks, such as a bullying boss, a vindictive co-worker or office gossip, they advise calling on the "evil twin" that supposedly lurks within everyone's consciousness as a self-protective mechanism. But, as they point out, revenge can backfire. And there are limitations on whistle-blowing, if that option is taken, since whistle-blowers are often simply transferred to another department. Sometimes, as the authors note, the most effective thing to do is to lie low. Author tour.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absolutely practical guide to office politics,
By A Customer
This review is from: Work Would Be Great If It Weren't for the People: Ronna and Her Evil Twin's Guide to Making Office Politics Work for You (Hardcover)
This book is a perfect "how-to" guide to coach you how to protect yourself, how to preserve your integrity, and how to clear the obstacles in the office to perform at your best. This should be required reading for anyone in a tough and competitive office environment.
8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Humorous, but potentially dangerous...,
By A Customer
This review is from: Work Would Be Great If It Weren't for the People: Ronna and Her Evil Twin's Guide to Making Office Politics Work for You (Hardcover)
This book is much more humor or biography than business reference. I was looking for something, not to teach me how to play the normal game of office politics but to play it in a different way or combat it with dignity, self-respect and a respectable work role in tact. If you have a cold heart and no concern for others, or are just seeking some humor then by all means, take a look at Lichtenburg's book. But tactics described in this book are very sleazy and will be a gamble to put into practice for the caring and professional person. They worked for her, but she's lucky. And I bet she has trouble looking herself in the mirror. Then again, maybe she doesn't, but I would.
8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
No principles & no principles,
By A Customer
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Work Would Be Great If It Weren't for the People: Ronna and Her Evil Twin's Guide to Making Office Politics Work for You (Hardcover)
If you're style is to lie, cheat and steal, this is your guide. If you're subtle (e.g., lie by omission, cheat by being unfair), you'll find a kindred spirit in the authors. This is a book for the unprincipled.And, as valuable as office politics is (and there I agree with the author...just not her style), this book will offer you no principles for understanding it or playing the Office Game. What you'll get are cleverly written anecdotes of how Ronna one-upped somebody, or stories she relates (or made up; given her principles, I'd suspect the latter) that happened to others. Finally, the book shows a grinning author seated at the head of the conference table...all alone. How appropriate!
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