45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy--And How to Avoid Them (Paperback)

by Anita Bruzzese (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Bruzzese's book might seem superfluous to employees who think they are exemplary. But, in workplaces, my observation is that few employees ever reach the exemplary stage. There is always room to improve relationships with co-workers, underlings and bosses. Bruzzese's guide is a smart place to begin. -- Kansas City Star

Odds are that you've learned by now that such things as "treating the workplace like it's the love shack," "earning a reputation as whiner, drama queen or general pain in the neck," or "giving lackluster speeches or presentations"--three of Bruzzese's lessons--are going to keep you from being promoted. Still, it's fun to read about employees who committed those sins and still expected huge raises and promotions. -- CFO.com

Peter Drucker once told me that half the leaders he met did not need to learn what to do -- they needed to learn what to stop doing. This is a wonderful "what to stop doing" guide. Practical, useful, and fun, it provides great coaching for employees at all levels. -- Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There

To be super successful, read "45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy." You will understand how to do the things that will drive your boss to promote you, give you a raise, have your future earning power expanded, and have a better life and future for yourself and your company by creating massive value for everyone. -- Mark Victor Hansen, cocreator of #1 New York Times bestselling series of Chicken Soup for the Soul

You'll also chuckle at the list of don'ts as you'll probably think about the real life examples from your workplace. However, you'll probably blanch when you realise that you've done some "bad" things as well. But never fear - Bruzzese always gives you numerous tips on how to get over your snafu and emerge with a better image. -- The Malaysia Star

Product Description
A veteran career columnist shows employees how to avoid getting bounced out the door.

In colorful letters from outraged managers as well as mystified employees who can't seem to figure out why they're not getting ahead, career columnist Anita Bruzzese gets an inside view on the types of behavior bosses love and reward- and all the unspoken things, large and small, that they can't stand.

In this engaging and much-needed book, she reveals the most common complaints from bosses about what their employees are doing wrong-from copying the wrong people on e-mail to kicking the soda machine in a moment of rage to blogging about their jobs-and offers advice on how to shape up and work right.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade (February 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399533176
• ISBN-13: 978-0399533174
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #527,273 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for the recent graduate, April 12, 2008

By	Matthew Clark (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Pretty basic stuff, but nevertheless, it's a good read, perfect for the recent graduate or others who are new to the work force.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Go to Work Without This Book, February 6, 2007

By	Bill Lampton, Ph.D. "The Complete Communicator" (Gainesville, GA United States) - See all my reviews

In Anita Bruzzese's syndicated column "On the Job," and in her numerous magazine articles, readers have become accustomed to her invigorating writing style, with these prominent characteristics:

--Clear, simple yet colorful language

--True relevant incidents that illustrate her points

--Tasteful wit, not overcooked

--Practical steps for solving every problem she identifies



Without fail, Bruzzese scratches readers where they itch. In fact, hers is not armchair counsel. "I work for a living," she explains in this book's Introduction, "and have since I was fifteen." Beyond her own experience, she draws on the hundreds of letters she receives from readers, and "hundreds of interviews I have done with company managers and career experts." Her conclusion: "Something is seriously wrong here, folks."



In 45 Things You Do, Bruzzese spotlights what's wrong--what we do, or don't do, on the job and even off duty that jeopardizes our standing with the boss, and frequently annoys our work associates as well. Office romance, enjoying the office holiday season party too much, inappopriate clothing, gossiping, crying at work--nothing offensive escapes her sleuthing eye. In every case, fortunately, she tells us how to eliminate toxic behavior from our professional life.



I wish this very helpful book had been available when I started my twenty-three year management career. I would have benefited two ways.



First, I would have avoided stupid blunders of my own that angered my bosses and threatened my career. The unfortunate part was that I didn't consider my behavior risky, much less out of bounds. Yet with each careless act, my bosses must have moved me into the "do not promote" category.



Second, I would have made this book required reading for every person I supervised, so they would ease my mind and improve their performance dramatically. Now that I serve as a consultant and coach for top-level corporations, I will recommend 45 Things You Do to my clients. They will thank me, and will praise Anita Bruzzese for her terrific practical guidelines.



As I titled this review, Don't Go to Work Without This Book. And once you have read it, distribute copies to your colleagues. Soon, your boss won't be angry, your place of business will enjoy more harmony, and productivity will increase markedly.





--Bill Lampton, author of The Complete Communicator:

Change Your Communication, Change Your Life!

President, Championship Communication.The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication-change Your Life!

5.0 out of 5 stars Basic workplace manual, October 28, 2008

By	Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract.com" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The coal mine canary was a low-tech but effective early warning device that miners used to detect dangerous poison gases in the mineshafts. Anita Bruzzese performs a similar warning function for the modern workplace. Since 1992, she has written about its various ills, as well as reporting on general workplace topics in her popular, insightful weekly column "On the Job." To develop her book, Bruzzese culled through hundreds of letters she received from workers asking for advice about problems they encounter at work (many of which they create themselves). Bruzzese is a leading authority on all things office-related. getAbstract suggests that she can teach you a lot about what constitutes acceptable - and not so acceptable - workplace behavior. This book is ideal for any employee who wants to know what mistakes to avoid in order to stay in the boss's good graces and to get ahead at work.