The Three Signs of a Miserable Job : A Fable for Managers (And Their Employees)

A bestselling author and business guru tells how to improve your job satisfaction and performance. In his sixth fable, bestselling author Patrick Lencioni takes on a topic that almost everyone can relate to: the causes of a miserable job. Millions of workers, even those who have carefully chosen careers based on true passions and interests, dread going to work, suffering each day as they trudge to jobs that make them cynical, weary, and frustrated. It is a simple fact of business life that any job, from investment banker to dishwasher, can become miserable. Through the story of a CEO turned pizzeria manager, Lencioni reveals the three elements that make work miserable -- irrelevance, immeasurability, and anonymity -- and gives managers and their employees the keys to make any job more fulfilling. As with all of Lencioni's books, this one is filled with actionable advice you can put into effect immediately. In addition to the fable, the book includes a detailed model examining the three signs of job misery and how they can be remedied. It covers the benefits of managing for job fulfillment within organizations -- increased productivity, greater retention, and competitive advantage -- and offers examples of how managers can use the applications in the book to deal with specific jobs and situations. Patrick Lencioni (San Francisco, CA) is President of The Table Group, a management consulting firm specializing in executive team development and organizational health. As a consultant and keynote speaker, he has worked with thousands of senior executives and executive teams in organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to high-tech startups to universities and nonprofits. His clients include AT&T, Bechtel, Boeing, Cisco, Sam's Club, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Allstate, Visa, FedEx, New York Life, Sprint, Novell, Sybase, The Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Lencioni is the author of six bestselling books, including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. He previously worked for Oracle, Sybase, and the management consulting firm Bain & Company. Cover Jacket Title Page Also by Patrick Lencioni Copyright Dedications INTRODUCTION The Fable SHOCK PART ONE: The Manager BRIAN THE BREAK JMJ TREMORS CONSOLIDATION DONE BAND-AID REMOVAL PART TWO: Retirement SABBATICAL BRAINSTORM IMMERSION INJURED RESERVE CABIN FEVER FURLOUGH GOING IN FIRST SIP OFF THE WAGON IT POURS TAKE IN THE MEETING SANITY CHECK DEFENSE PART THREE: The Experiment COLD FEET PAST-DUE DILIGENCE STAFF OPENING NIGHT DEBRIEF LIP BITING ENGAGEMENT STAFF MEETING FIRST TEST THE ROUNDS COLD WATER INITIAL RESULTS BLIP REALITY CHECK ROUND TWO GLITCH CONFRONTATION STAND IN SLAP CONSOLATION FRIDAY NIGHT HOOPS ANNIVERSARY IMMEASUREMENT IRRELEVANCE ANONYMITY FULL STEAM RESULTS MONEY THE MAT THE CALL THE BAIT HOOK PATIENCE HAND-OFF REORIENTATION PART FOUR: Going Live TURNAROUND RECON HOME FRONT DRIVE BY THE REPORT TEACHING TO FISH ON DEMAND TRIAL ONE FELL SWOOP ROLLOUT MOMENTUM SUCKER PUNCH DÉJÀ VU ENCORE The Model THE MISERABLE JOB THE COST OF MISERY THE THREE SIGNS THE BENEFITS AND OBSTACLES OF MANAGING FOR JOB FULFILLMENT EXPLORING AND ADDRESSING THE CAUSES OF JOB MISERY CASE STUDIES EXAMPLE 1: THE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING EXAMPLE 2: THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT EXAMPLE 3: THE LATE-NIGHT ROOM SERVICE ATTENDANT AT A HOTEL EXAMPLE 4: THE BOX BOY AT THE GROCERY STORE EXAMPLE 5: THE WIDE RECEIVER EXAMPLE 6: THE CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN TAKING ACTION THE MINISTRY OF MANAGEMENT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR About Table Group "In his sixth fable, bestselling author Patrick Lencioni takes on a topic that almost everyone can relate to: the causes of a miserable job. Millions of workers, even those who have carefully chosen careers based on true passions and interests, dread going to work, suffering each day as they trudge to jobs that make them cynical, weary, and frustrated. It is a simple fact of business life that any job, from investment banker to dishwasher, can become miserable. Through the story of a CEO turned pizzeria manager, Lencioni reveals the three elements that make work miserable--irrelevance, immeasurability, and anonymity--and gives managers and their employees the keys to make any job more fulfilling."--Resource description page (viewed Aug. 6, 2012)