Who's That Sitting At My Desk?: Workship, Friendship, Or Foe?

Rating:
Summary: An Insightful New Book on Our Relationships at Work
Review: Jan Yager's "Who's That Sitting at my Desk?" is one of the best books about people and work that I've read in a long time. After reading it, I shelved the book right next to my copy of Daniel Goleman's "Working with Emotional Intelligence" for easy reference. I read quite a bit and sense quality writing when I see it. Dr. Yager's newest book is beautifully written and her ideas have been thought out thoroughly. This book was not something hurriedly put together but rather reflects her longtime interest in both the business world and the topic of friendship.

Once I began reading "Who's That Sitting at My Desk?" I could barely put the book down. Jan Yager is an experienced researcher but also a beautiful and thought provoking writer. Her writing is made even more interesting by quotations from the many people she interviewed in the course of her research. Dr. Yager's powerful storytelling technique is another element that makes this newest work so believable to her readers.

One of the most important things I learned from reading this book was the difference between a "workship" and a workplace friendship. Two of my favorite chapters were "14 Types of Foes You Might Encounter" and "Personality Traits You May Find at Work."

I strongly recommend this book to both managers and workers found in any type of workplace. It should also be required reading for courses taught in schools of business.