Lion Taming (PB) (Paperback)

~ Katz (Author) "Do you feel that you need a whip and a chair to work effectively with your boss, client, customers, or others?..." (more)
Key Phrases: real lion tamers, other tough customers, lion taming, Lessons of the Lion Tamers, Clyde Beatty, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Katz, formerly adviser to four U.S. senators and a staffer in the Clinton White House, has seen his share of "lions" in the government and Fortune 500 companies. These people, he maintains, are the ones who make everyone miserable because they rule their own "jungles" and play by their own rules. Since these lions will not alter their behavior patterns, it is up to their colleagues to learn essential office "taming" techniques: "The lion establishes the territory, but the lion tamer... must maximize the display of the lion's strengths, while managing the risks associated with their possible weaknesses," explains Katz. The author uses anecdotes about business lions along with techniques from both the corporate world and that of actual lion tamers. Rather than fighting the lion in the office, people must learn various strategies to keep the lion happy. These techniques include continually providing a stream of information to the lion, showing off their skills in public so the lion sees their strengths and helping the lion to feel comfortable in the office. Although the author clearly explains his approach to difficult corporate types and some of his strategies seem quite sound, this is a tough book to follow. The jargon related to lion taming slows the reader and sometimes overwhelms the practical advice. Even so, employees who are comfortable with business profiles and management theory may benefit from some of Katz's techniques.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

“This original, innovative and memorable book that will give you insights on how to work with leaders and executives.” --John Glenn, United States Senator and former astronaut

Do you feel that you need a whip and a chair to work effectively with your boss, client, customers, or others? You know the dangers-a growl if you throw them a compliment and a roar if you ever look for thanks!

Lions are the people in all organizations who wield power and influence. They act differently because they think differently. But that doesn’t mean that they have to be difficulty to work with! Lion Taming will help you get inside their minds, so you can communicate and work more effectively together.

Based on in-depth interviews and research into real lion tamers as well as the experiences of numerous people at all levels of the workplace, Steven L Katz shows how the secrets of the center ring can lead to a great performance in the office.

Prey, the Enemy or Ignored: Lions make an instinctive calculation the minute any living thing comes into view: You are either prey, the enemy, or ignored. Lion Taming shows you how to avoid all three of these and earn a place in the pride.

The Lion’s Four Senses: Every lion in the workplace views things through four senses: Dominance, Territory, Social Standing, and Survival. Understanding these senses, and how to make use of them, will give you a leg up in working with your lion.

Sticking Your Head in the Lion’s Mouth: Lion Taming shows you how people stick their heads into the lion’s mouth in the office, why it shouldn’t be done, and how to avoid it yourself.

Lion Taming Is Really Lion Teaming!: Ultimately, the purpose of lion taming is not just to survive. Lion tamers and lions work together to achieve something that neither could achieve alone. Together, you can leap through the hoop of fire!

Lion Taming also contains more than 75 secrets of the lions tamers and numerous strategies for working with the lions in your workplace, such as:

o Approaching the lions so the lions will approach you
o Closing the gap between attention getting and attention using
o Establishing trust and rapport
o Building the Lion Team in your office!

Lion Taming is the ultimate guide to everyone’s "real" job: working successfully and achieving results with leaders, bosses, and other tough customers!

LION TAMING HAS THE STRATEGIES AND SECRETS YOU NEED TO:
o Establish your presence, authenticity and credibility in the eyes of leaders, bosses, and other tough customers
o Identify the lions around you, and separate the good ones from the bad ones
o Get inside the lion's skull by learning about The Lion's Four Senses and The Lion's Instinctive Identity
o Decode the lion’s social worlds: the hierarchy and the pride
o Avoid being the prey, enemy or ignored, and become a very influential member of the pride or organization!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc. (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402205902
• ISBN-13: 978-1402205903
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #740,543 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It works!, June 27, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Lion Taming: Working Successfully with Leaders, Bosses, and Other Tough Customers (Hardcover)

While reading this book, I was faced with a situation involving the president of our professional society and several other officers. Our "lions" were quickly "tamed" by using the insights in this wonderful book, and now everyone (including the lions) is happier (and more effective).

The book is lively and easy to read. As an educator, I appreciate the instant summaries in each chapter and the pithy quotes from "real lion tamers" scattered generously throughout each chapter.

The "lion taming" metaphor is an apt one for dealing with all kinds of situations with bosses, leaders, colleagues, mentors, . . . just about anyone we deal with professionally. And Katz applies the metaphor masterfully, weaving in his own considerable experience "in the arena" with some interesting and occasionally intractable "lions" in business and government.

LION TAMING is certainly going to be the next "big thing" in management circles!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Got a boss who roars or eats things alive? BUY THIS BOO K!, June 8, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Lion Taming: Working Successfully with Leaders, Bosses, and Other Tough Customers (Hardcover)

My boss is a self made, powerful person. He roars, he eats people and their ideas alive and he intimidates everyone just by walking into a room. Around him. I used to feel ill at ease. I was always in a hurry to get away from him and I felt helpless to get him to sign off on any of my ideas.
Then I got lucky. I read a copy of Lion Taming: Working Successfully with Leaders, Bosses, and Other Tough Customers by Steve Katz and learned how to tame the beast that is my boss. I know where to sit when I am with him, how to keep him focused on what I am saying and how to get him to respond in a timely fashion. It's amazing, the techniques that real liontamers know and their value in the work place.
If you want to know how to get your boss to treat you with respect - this book has what you need.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Has helped me with my career...., June 24, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Lion Taming: Working Successfully with Leaders, Bosses, and Other Tough Customers (Hardcover)

I highly recommend this book as it has already positively impacted my career. The Aha! moments are too numerous to pass along here but of immediate help was the section on quickly differentiating the good lions from the bad....as well as the entire chapter entitled Lion Taming is Really Lion Teaming. A particularly empowering line form that chapter: "You can live and operate in the lion's world, but they cannot operate in yours".