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Love It, Don't Leave It

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Love It, Don't Leave It

26 Ways to Get What You Want at Work

Berrett-Koehler,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

A is for action. B is for better. C is for control. Take these actions to make your job better and control your career.

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans have written a useful book for employees who are tempted by greener pastures. The authors caution that those who pursue a glittering opportunity often wind up in a golden mess. Thus, it makes sense to at least try to improve your job before seeking another one that, ultimately, may be even worse. The book’s format offers one item of advice for each letter of the alphabet. At times, the formula wears a bit thin (X for "X-ers and Other Generations"), but the advice itself is sound. It primarily consists of encouraging you to decide what you want and go get it. getAbstract.com recommends this book to currently employed malcontents (you know who you are!) and to those who need help mustering the nerve to discuss job satisfaction with their employers. Perhaps the best piece of advice is to only approach your supervisors for a favor when you understand their WIIFT: "What’s In It For Them."

Summary

Greener Pastures

That lush green grass is calling, beckoning you to leave your job and try life on the other side of the fence. Feel your career has reached a dead end? Want more pay? Tired of working for a jerk? Just plain bored? If you answered "yes," you may be on the verge of making a job move you’ll later regret. With a little coaching, you can often obtain more of what you want right where you are. These 27 lessons can be boiled down to five key messages:

  1. Perhaps you can find what you want at your current job, if you look harder and smarter.
  2. You control your career. Your organization isn’t responsible for your happiness.
  3. Don’t be passive. Take the initiative to get what you want.
  4. Don’t procrastinate. Rather than turning off your mind or quitting, improve your job.
  5. Before you bolt, carefully inspect those greener pastures.

A: "Ask And You May Receive"

If something bothers you at work, ask what you or your employer could do about it. Often unspoken issues cause friction that could have been resolved, if the boss had only known. Supervisors are often blindsided...

About the Authors

Beverly Kaye heads a talent management consulting firm. Sharon Jordan-Evans specializes in executive coaching and leadership development. They also co-authored Love ’Em or Lose ’Em: Getting Good People to Stay.

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    J. W. 8 years ago
    #30DaysOfSummaries These are practical ideas seems easy to carry out. Although I wonder whether they really work...
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    A. A. 8 years ago
    On this day of Presidential Inauguration in US, this is one aspect of JFK that I do not subscribe to - 'ask not what your country can do'. I believe love has to be mutual, it can never be one sided to stay in a relationship. When such a point is reached in a relationship then the change is necessary and whether the new situation will be better is not a relevant consideration.

    It is high time that businesses as a whole and we as managers or leaders learn to value our people just as we value our customers and profits otherwise we all are in for even longer and extended periods of slow growth and mediocre economies.
    • Avatar
      8 years ago
      You need to have the whole sentence for context. "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country". If everyone asks for something from the country without offering anything in return other than a vote, how do we continue as a country?
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      8 years ago
      I think it is a give and take hence the word 'mutual' in my earlier comment; what kind of a country would it be that only taxed but did not feel obligated to do something for its citizens, something that its citizens deserve/need/want/ask for?

      Donald Trump seems to get it well as is apparent from his inauguration speech.
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    D. E. 9 years ago
    This was a great read and helped put some things into perspective for me.