Leading the Unleadable : How to Manage Mavericks, Cynics, Divas, and Other Difficult People

The control-freak, the narcissist, the slacker, the cynic... Difficult people are the worst part of a manager's job. Whether it comes from direct reports or people above, outbursts, irrational demands, griping, and other disruptions need to be dealt with--and it's your responsibility to do it. Leading the Unleadable turns this dreaded chore into a straight forward process that gently, yet effectively, improves behaviors. Written by an insider in the tech industry, where personality issues routinely wreck projects, the book reveals a core truth: most people actually want to contribute results, not cause headaches. Once you realize the potential for change, the book's simple steps, examples, and scripts explain how to right even the most hopeless situations. You'll learn how to: - Master the necessary mindset - Explain the problem calmly in a short feedback session - Get a commitment to change, and follow up - Coach others to replicate the process - Develop the situational awareness required to spot trouble even earlier in the future Every manager has "problem people." What sets great managers apart is how they turn them into productive team players. Prepare to transform the troublesome into the tremendous. Every manager has to deal with difficult employees. However, what separates the great managers is their ability to turn them into productive team players. Control freaks. Narcissists. Slackers. Cynics. Their outbursts, irrational demands, gripes, and countless other disruptions need to be dealt with, and you are the unlucky one with that job description. This book turns this seemingly difficult chore into a straight-forward process that gently, yet effectively, improves behaviors. It all begins with understanding a core truth: most people actually want to contribute results, not cause headaches. When the manager resets to that fundamental principle, the potential for change can reveal itself in even the most hopeless situations. Written by tech industry expert Alan Willett, Leading the Unleadable explains how to: Master the necessary mindset Explain the problem calmly in a short feedback session Get a commitment to change, then follow up Coach others to replicate the process Develop the situational awareness required to spot future trouble before it hits Are you a great manager? Of course you believe you are. So don't just put up with your difficult employees. Anyone can do that. Turn them into the tremendous team players everyone wants them to be! Part 1. The call to exceptional leadership The leadership crisis point Accept the call of exceptional leadership the mindset to lead the unleadable Part 2. the leader in action: spotting trouble, dealing with trouble Fine-tune your radar for trouble Take action: transforming the troublesome Follow through: a bridge to enduring improvement Decision time: remove or improve? Part 3. The leader in action: preventing trouble The need for mountains Set expectations of excellence Expecting excellence every day Exceptional starts lead to exceptional results Part 4. Leading leaders Lead leaders: growing proven ability Leader, lead thyself: exceptional self-leadership Closing notes on transforming the troublesome to the tremendous. Difficult people are the worst part of a manager's job. Willett teaches you a straight forward process that gently, yet effectively, improves behaviors by revealing a core truth: most people actually want to contribute results, not cause headaches. What sets great managers apart is how they turn their problem players into productive team players. You don't have to just learn to live with "problem people" (or fire them!). Transform the troublesome into the tremendous!