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

by Alan Willett (Author)

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!

Back Jacket

Whether you're new to the leadership ranks, a veteran, or recently promoted from one leadership role to another, Leading the Unleadable will guide you through the quagmire of difficult issues in turbulent times. Alan gives you the courage and skills to lead in tough situations, with tough people, in a tough environment.--Alan Weiss, PhD, author of Million Dollar Consulting

"A great book. A great inspiration. And great leadership concepts for managing large organizations or even for leading teams of one: yourself!"--James Over, technical director, software engineering practices, Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University "Your difficult people are often extremely valuable when turned in the right direction. Read this. Better yet, understand the concepts in this book and use them. This book teaches you the value of assuming good intent, and of focusing on the team rather than the individual."--Noopur Davis, senior vice president, Technology and Product at Comcast Tech industry insider Alan Willett knows all about managing difficult people and projects. His insights, examples, and scripts reveal a simple formula for changing behaviors and drawing out exceptional performances, including how to: - Recognize that people want to be contributors - Develop the right mindset for tackling challenges - Conduct feedback sessions to explain problems - Get an employee's commitment to change - Coach others to replicate the process - Spot trouble before it snowballs Alan Willett is president of Oxseeker, a leadership development and organizational culture change consultancy whose clients include Oracle, Microsoft, NASA, Intuit, and others.

Author Biography

ALAN WILLETT is president of Oxseeker, a leadership development and organizational culture change consultancy whose clients include Oracle, Microsoft, NASA, Intuit, and others.