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The Three Signs of a Miserable Job
Book

The Three Signs of a Miserable Job

A Fable for Managers (And Their Employees)

Patrick Lencioni
Jossey-Bass, 2007

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Editorial Rating

7

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Recommendation

Business books take many forms, but seldom are they fables. Patrick Lencioni breaks the mold with this charming book about a manager who turns his workers’ miserable jobs into fulfilling ones. He presents the fictional story of Brian Bailey, a big-hearted CEO who gets bought out, finds retirement dull and tries managing a seedy pizza parlor where the employees hate their jobs. Bailey quickly changes everything by the way he treats the shop’s people. Later he works his magic as the new CEO of a failing retail sporting-goods company with a ruinously high turnover rate, where his humane techniques turn things around again. Lencioni’s book is fun to read; its fable is touching yet credible. He reinforces important lessons all managers should know about getting the best from the people who work for them by providing empathy and recognizing the meaning of their work. If you are up for a parable, getAbstract recommends this engaging book. It spotlights a clear axiom: Treat people humanely and they will do as you wish – a valuable lesson for any manager or, indeed, anyone at all.

Take-Aways

  • To keep good employees, help them be happy and fulfilled. Your success depends more on satisfied employees than on your business tactics.
  • An employee who feels frustrated and cynical will spread misery in your office.
  • As a manager, try to erase three symptoms of a miserable job for each person.

About the Author

Patrick Lencioni is the author of numerous business books, including the bestselling The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Lencioni is the founder and president of a business-consulting firm that helps organizations function efficiently through superior leadership.

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