Badly Behaved People
Real stories from my coaching practice to help you understand your people problemsEver been surprised by other people’s surprising, sometimes useless, difficult, conflicting, apathetic, or even toxic behaviour? We’ve all had to work with (and for) shirkers, underperformers, over-bearing people, timewasters, managers who can’t manage, lazy people and others who seem at cross purposes with the rest of the team. It’s hard to understand people who think and behave differently from us, perhaps with conflicting values. Especially if they won’t listen to you.
And what about us? Maybe we are the problem. The more we know, the less confident we become. If we can’t control our negative thinking our deep-rooted fear of not fitting in can turn into reality. What are your blind spots?
There’s a wide gulf between the connected culture that organisations aspire to and what happens in real life. That’s exactly what describe in each book. Each chapter is a true story of broken connection from my coaching practice. My tools will help you to find common ground constructively so that you can repair dysfunction and tension in your own work relationships and foster a sense of belonging instead.
This book dissects the complexity of your people problems in a highly engaging and empowering way. We all need to understand each other better. And if you ever wondered what exactly an executive coach does, I reveal the dark arts of this booming but largely unregulated profession.
Chapters include:
- Why can’t he control his temper?
- My team can’t take criticism
- How do I manage a cocky show-off?
- I’m the office scapegoat
- I’m covering for a lazy colleague
- Negative colleagues drag me down
- My manager is a two-faced frenemy
- I work for a toxic narcissist
- I need to speak up more
It’s available on Amazon. I’d be hugely grateful for your feedback and also if you could add an honest review on Amazon (please check out the reviews already on there).
Thank you, Zena.
Human behaviour can seem more complicated than quantum physics. This book investigates bad behaviour and how we can rise above it to achieve our dreams.
I’ve experienced badly behaved business leaders like the ones in this book. They default to ‘telling’ – viewing communication as one-way. As Greg Dyke, the former Director General of the BBC, said “Leaders must first LISTEN to earn the right to be heard”. Successful leaders ask great questions and listen. They listen to WHAT is said, listen to what is NOT said and listen to HOW it is said. They don’t need to know all the answers. Instead, they need to read Zena’s book and learn the right questions.
People behave badly because they don’t listen. I am a care experienced girl. I was told repeatedly that I should apply to work for the gas board. They didn’t listen, I wanted to act. ‘You’ll live on beans on toast for the rest of your life’ I was told. I quite like beans on toast actually, I replied. My first acting job was Mary the Punk in EastEnders, the West End followed, as did more telly. Then I started to write for BBC science. A girl with no maths or English. I decided I wanted to work in tech. ‘How can you work in tech, you’re just a soap actress’, I was told more than once. Read this book and learn how to stop giving or receiving advice we don’t need. Everyone needs to be seen and heard.
Zena is like Emily Blunt, offset behind Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada – giving you discreet and timely intel on your next human interaction, whether at work or in life. You don’t need sack loads of emotional intelligence; you just need Zena at your back. This book nudges you into making the necessary course corrections whenever “it’s not me, it’s you”, which, let’s face it, is most of the time. The book treats you to reality checks and nuggets that encapsulate instincts you already have, so you feel like a better manager as well as being a better manager. Zena made me feel proud of my scrappy career and now has me looking forward to tweaking the culture wherever I land next.
Everett’s wisdom transcends all workplaces and industries, showing that ultimately, our careers are about people. In understanding our colleagues better, particularly those who don’t share our own values, we can learn to flourish at work – no matter what we do.
Zena, I bought your MindFlip book a few years ago when leaving the Army. It really helped me understand how to approach a career change with branding at the front of my mind. Most importantly my first job was a disaster with a narcissistic boss, awful culture etc. Luckily every problem I had seem to have covered in your book. I found another job which I start today and I have you to thank for getting me through a difficult time. I can’t thank you enough for all your wisdom. You are making a real difference to people on the margins of the job market. Thanks, David (January 2020).
I wanted to say a huge thank you for both your direct support at what was quite a hectic time in terms of career decision making and for all the support you have given me these last few years. You really have been instrumental in shaping my thinking and approach to career matters. I was talking to (my wife) about the first time you and I worked together when I left (firm’s name). I have had a fantastic journey in terms of work in the 6 years hence. I have landed roles that I simply would not have thought possible to land and have pretty much trebled my salary. I owe you one!