Working Relationships: The Simple Truth About Getting Along with Friends and Foes at Work [Paperback]

Bob Wall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 29, 1999

Being able to build effective relationships is at once the most important factor and the most frustrating challenge in creating success and satisfaction at work.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ninety percent of all firings stem from difficulties working with others. So, regardless of the current employees-got-it labor market, clinical psychologist Wall has written an important treatise that just might help reduce that percentage. His contention (or "Wall's law") is that the higher you are in management hierarchy, the less you know what it is like to work for you and your company. Through 30 exercises and some case histories, he strives to make an impact on forging healthier workplaces--for leaders as well as the led. Dissected are the differences between personal and professional relationships, the need for communication, the ways to encourage and create participation, with the tangible support of worksheets and very clear directions about managing conversations and conflict. Exercises, from avoiding putting your foot in your mouth to imagining yourself five years from now, will jump-start readers into considering the necessary behavior changes. His best advise about stress: "Hey, it's just another pop quiz from the universe." Barbara Jacobs

Review

...just common-sense talk about issues that, unaddressed, can undermine the performance and productivity of your employees and your company. -- Soundview Executive Book Summaries, May 2000

...provides specific advice for users interested in business advice enhancement...provides an important job guide. -- Midwest Book Review, May 2000

30 exercises give readers the opprotunity interact with the text. Real-life examples enliven the reading. Witty highlights stimulate readers' thinking. -- HR Magazine, November 2000

This book is a primer for people trying to get off on the right foot, including new managers. The wealth of real-life glimpses into the trials of management makes this an exceptionally worthwhile read for managers of any kind, at any level. -- Book Page, September 1999

Wall explores issues, offering practical advice on how to diplomatically solve interpersonal problems. -- Orange County Register, January 10, 2000

Wall's goal is to get people to break down barriers to communication at work. -- Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 22, 1999

Whether one is at the bottom, middle or top of the workplace hierarchy, anyone who works for a living will find the information in Working Relationships to be of vital importance. -- ForeWord, September 1999

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Davies-Black Publishing (August 29, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891061339
• ISBN-13: 978-0891061335
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #917,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Working Relationships: The Simple Truth about Getting Along, January 23, 2000

By 

Marion Terrell (Orange County, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Working Relationships: The Simple Truth About Getting Along with Friends and Foes at Work (Paperback)

This book is both practical and insightful. I could easily relate the situations described to my own. Mr. Wall provides down-to-earth and effective solutions to at-work problems that have the potential to ruin the day, the week - and sometimes the job! The principles can be applied to personal relationships as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Effort!, June 1, 2001

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Working Relationships: The Simple Truth About Getting Along with Friends and Foes at Work (Paperback)

If you’ve been at loggerheads with a co-worker, calm down and read this. Bob Wall takes a close look at why the ubiquitous “personality problem” persists at work. His conclusions boil down to basics: Co-workers mix professional and personal relationships, confuse organizational roles and expectations, and simply clash due to dislike or incompatibility. He offers a number of familiar solutions to workplace conflict, advising you to pick your battles, agree to disagree and consider the possibility that you might be at fault. Not exactly rocket science, but Wall’s book is fresh, easy-to-read and reader-friendly. We ... recommend this book primarily to supervisors, who will find the dissection of professional relationships useful in managing your sometimes-hard-to-understand employees.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great tool for anyone who works with people, December 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Working Relationships: The Simple Truth About Getting Along with Friends and Foes at Work (Paperback)

I found this book to be an enjoyable read as well as a great resource for solving problems at work. It has some great excersizes to do and believe me they do work. This book is a must to own for anyone who needs help with a situation or problem at work .