BOOK REVIEW: Beating the Workplace Bully: A Tactical Guide to Taking Charge by Lynne Curry Ph.D.
At one point or another, most of us have encountered some form of bully in our lives. Some bullies are more subtle than others. You know the kind: the “I’m just joking” or “I just want to help” bully. Add the workplace in the mix and being a victim can quickly turn into a living nightmare.
Lynne Curry’s book is instructive, yes, but it is much more than this, it reads easily. Beating the Workplace Bully: A Tactical Guide to Taking Charge is engaging and shares stories of various workplace incidents where the bully takes the form of a manager or supervisor, a coworker, and a trusted individual, among many others.
As someone who experienced workplace bullying in a past job, I found several vignettes represented some elements of “my bully”—a bully whose actions were disguised form of friendship. I appreciate the insight Curry offers, but even more, I appreciate the advice she provides and the credit to outside sources that support her discussions.
Not everyone can simply quit their job to get away from a bully, and Curry understands this. Part of the book discusses what to look for and what to do if you find yourself in a workplace where you can’t leave. The book also includes a section to help the reader “Discover Your Conflict Style and the Approach that’s Right for You.” Curry has included a blank chart for the reader to assist the reader in creating his or her own game plan—a useful inclusion whether the reader’s plans including leaving or staying in their current workplace.
Collectively, the sections in this book are well-written and highly informative. I can see this being a help to the individual reader and would work well as a resource for companies in their training programs.
Description
They used to steal your lunch money and throw spit wads at you on the bus. Now they roam around from the boardroom to the break room looking to manipulate, intimidate, and humiliate—and eventually ruin your career! Beating the Workplace Bully is your ammunition for fighting back. Whether the bully is a boss or a coworker, this empowering guide will help you recognize what has been causing you to become a victim, then reveals how to:
- Avoid typical bully traps
- Remain aware and in charge
- Move past your fear
- Calm yourself in any confrontation
- Keep your dignity intact
- Handle sneak attacks
- Combat cyberbullying
- And more
Complete with exercises, assessments, and real-life examples, this personal coaching program will help you reclaim your power and defeat the office bully once and for all!
Book details
- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: AMACOM; 1 edition (January 13, 2016)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0814436889
- ISBN-13: 978-0814436882
Find out more about Lynne Curry here: https://workplacecoachblog.com/coaches/