Rating: 
Summary: This is the #1 book to read about the workplace!
Review: Before reading Ms. Woods book I was drifting from job to job not understanding how come I did not get along with my bosses and wondered why? Then I read this book and I learned how I contributed to the relationship being the way it was -LOUSY! This book actually changed my life and I will proove it to you. Post 9/11, my boss began cutting staff and she was giving me a mixed message as to what I would be doing on a daily basis. She said she wanted me to do more in sales but then she would insist on doing her administrative work. Before reading this book I would have done the work I prefer to do. But Ms. Woods book got me in line to to learn how to connect with my boss and why it was important. So when everyone around me was getting fired-(with no health benefits,!) I lasted the longest, and since this book taught me how to deal with the work environment, my boss laid me off! which isnt so great, but I was the only employee to receive unemployment! which really made the difference while I looked for another job. Had I conducted myself the way I thought, I would have surely been fired. This book changed all that and as I interview for positions this book made me realize the power to deal with authority is all within! How many books teach you that? Today the book is here, tomorrow Ms. Wood will be on Oprah no doubt. This book is that important. It changed my life.
Rating:
Summary: 4 years in a university did not teach me this!
Review: For so many years I was under the illusion that working hard and using all that the university had taught me would result in promotions and well deserved increases. Well, I found that this was not true but did not know what to do about it. After reading this book the light bulb went off for me. I sat back and examined my peers that has passed me in business and realized that many of them were naturally doing much of what was in this book. I started working as hard on relationships as I had been on my projects and things started to turn around for me. This type of information needs to be available to all college seniors. Thanks Ms. Woods for theis information!
Rating: 
Summary: This is but a piece of the puzzle.
Review: Karen did everyone who reads this book a great service by writing it. But, I can just imagine, now that she has taught a class based on this book for a couple years, she would write an even better book now. My fifth star for the rating is waiting for that.Face it. Just about every facet of daily life is driven by Economics, Political Science, and Office Politics. If there is something I left out, I bet it can be related to one of those three things. You may be the best Visionary, Task Organizing, Selling, Paper Pushing, Telephone Talking, Wrench Turning, Rivet Puncher there is. But it is not your Hard skill that gives you your job security, or assures your path to a successful future. Whoever called knowledge like this the "soft skills" was all wrong, and no, none of this is taught in school. Imagine how competitive work would be if everyone knew? This information is telling of why those who rise are separated from those who don't, when all other things are basically equal.
Read this and get a leg up, but don't stop here.
Rating:
Summary: This is but a piece of the puzzle.
Review: Karen did everyone who reads this book a great service by writing it. But, I can just imagine, now that she has taught a class based on this book for a couple years, she would write an even better book now. My fifth star for the rating is waiting for that. Face it. Just about every facet of daily life is driven by Economics, Political Science, and Office Politics. If there is something I left out, I bet it can be related to one of those three things. You may be the best Visionary, Task Organizing, Selling, Paper Pushing, Telephone Talking, Wrench Turning, Rivet Puncher there is. But it is not your Hard skill that gives you your job security, or assures your path to a successful future. Whoever called knowledge like this the "soft skills" was all wrong, and no, none of this is taught in school. Imagine how competitive work would be if everyone knew? This information is telling of why those who rise are separated from those who don't, when all other things are basically equal.
Read this and get a leg up, but don't stop here.
Rating:
Summary: This is but a piece of the puzzle.
Review: Karen provides everyone who reads this book a great service by writing it. But, I can just imagine, now that she has taught a class based on this book for a couple years, she would write an even better book now. My fifth star for the rating is waiting for that. Face it. Just about every facet of daily life is driven by Economics, Political Science, and Office Politics. If there is something I left out, I bet it can be related to one of those three things. Remember, All Politics are Local. Local to employers, local to co-workers, local to friends, acquaintances and family. One may already be the best Visionary, Task Organizing, Selling, Paper Pushing, Telephone Talking, Wrench Turning, Rivet Puncher there is. These days, it is not your Hard skill that gives you your job security, or assures your path to a successful future. Whoever called knowledge like this the "soft skills" was all wrong, and no, none of this is taught in school. Imagine how competitive the workplace or corporate ladder would be if everyone was knowledgeably aware about the inner-workings of office politics? Luckily, most play blind. This information is telling of why those who rise are separated from those who don't, when all other things to consider are basically equal.
Read this and get a leg up, but don't stop here.
Rating:
Summary: This is but a piece of the puzzle.
Review: Karen provides everyone who reads this book a great service by writing it. But, I can just imagine, now that she has taught a class based on this book for a couple years, she would write an even better book now. My fifth star for the rating is waiting for that. Face it. Just about every facet of daily life is driven by Economics, Political Science, and Office Politics. If there is something I left out, I bet it can be related to one of those three things. Remember, All Politics are Local. Local to employers, local to co-workers, local to friends, acquaintances and family. One may already be the best Visionary, Task Organizing, Selling, Paper Pushing, Telephone Talking, Wrench Turning, Rivet Puncher there is. These days, it is not your Hard skill that gives you your job security, or assures your path to a successful future. Whoever called knowledge like this the "soft skills" was all wrong, and no, none of this is taught in school. Imagine how competitive the workplace or corporate ladder would be if everyone was knowledgeably aware about the inner-workings of office politics? Luckily, most play blind. This information is telling of why those who rise are separated from those who don't, when all other things to consider are basically equal.
Read this and get a leg up, but don't stop here.
Rating:
Summary: Things have turned around for me too!
Review: Like the author I could not figure out how all my good work could go unappreciated. I begrudged the folks with good relationships with the "BOSSES". I knew what to do but refused to do it. I was going to change the world! This book helped me to understand that it takes more than great work to achieve what I want. I have to take time for people. It does not ask you to be phoney. In fact phoniness will sabotage your efforts. By helping my leadership team and co workers I in turn helped myself. Not only was my work spotlighted, I was asked to be on more visible teams and am being asked to lead division wide projects. What changed? I changed! I am closer to all the things that I have wanted professionally and am not putting in any more effort and have less days that I dread going to work. The principles in this book has also helped me evaluate my relationships out side of the office as well. I have purchased a copy for a woman I manage and hope that she finds it as helpful.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Grads!
Review: Ms. Wood puts many aspects of good office politics on the table. I saw quite a few of my past errors in her experiences and found quite a few of the mistakes I corrected there too. One reviewer said to "not stop there"... of course not. Ms. Wood gives you a point of departure for building your own alliances at work. This isn't a cookbook, though there are suggestions for specific issues, but there is a general guideline for the "other side of the track" in work. Being competent in your work skills isn't enough. You also have to be people competent too.
Rating:
Summary: Take the class if you can, the book is great if you can't!
Review: Some of you might know that Karen teaches a class at Lifeprint in San Francisco. The class is a good complement to the book - I don't think one can replace the other. I think the book provides an in-depth and more scholarly look at office politics, while the class gave me a group view of the situation and answers to my specific situations. Karen was very good about providing specific answers to different scenarios that the class members presented. If you can take the class, I would recommend it. If you can't, buy the book - it is invaluable and I haven't come across anything else that addresses this topic. Or, you can buy the book and take the class, like me!
Rating:
Summary: A real eye opener
Review: This book came really handy for me! At the time when I was stressed out by my boss shutting me down, this book came as a huge help. I needed help real-time. I read the book in 2 days. I started seeing results immediately. Not only that - I went and talked to my old boss and found exactly the reason for my past failure. Further more, I talked to some friends and it was an eye opener for them as well! Now I am ordering a couple of extra copies to send to friends!
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