LOVE IT, DON'T LEAVE IT 26 Ways to Get What You Want at Work by Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publication Date: October 2003 Price: $17.95/trade paper ISBN: 1-57675-250-X "Bev and Sharon do it again! In a simple, straightforward way, they take on an important issue: how to make the most of your work environment. I want every one of our associates to read this book." --Ken Blanchard co-author, The One Minute Manager and Whale Done! "This book is a rich buffet of ideas for taking your work to the next level. I savored this wise and witty book from cover to cover. Every reader should dip in with gusto!" --Dick Leider author, Whistle While You Work MAKE YOUR JOB THE JOB YOU LOVE NEW BOOK, LOVE IT, DON'T LEAVE IT, SHOWS YOU HOW To leave or not to leave, that is the question (apologies to William Shakespeare). It's easy to imagine that life would be better with a different job, a new boss, or a change of coworkers. But in reality there are no guarantees that things would improve. Combine that with the soft economy, massive layoffs, high unemployment, and a flood of recent college graduates, and it may be advisable to stay put and learn how to improve the current situation. In their new book, LOVE IT, DON'T LEAVE IT, bestselling authors Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans draw on years of experience as management and career consultants to present twenty-six innovative strategies for enhancing one's current work situation. Chock full of quizzes, self-interviews, case studies, anecdotes, and tips, LOVE IT, DON'T LEAVE IT covers a myriad of workplace issues -- from asking for a promotion to making the job more interesting; from reducing stress to adding a sense of fun to the workplace; from bridging the generation gap with coworkers to finding passion for one's work. The first step to improving any work situation is to speak up. "If you don't ask, you're less likely to get what you want," they explain. Most employees do not talk to their managers when they are unhappy. They expect bosses to know that something is wrong without being told. LOVE IT, DON'T LEAVE IT includes a three-step process for speaking up effectively: Get Crystal Clear About What You Want -- The authors include a self-interview to help readers figure out what they really want at work. Consider Who, When and How You'll Ask -- The authors explain how to pick the best person, time, and way to ask for a change. Identify the Barriers -- Then Bulldoze Them -- The authors show how to overcome one's own fears as well as the boss' mindset, constraints, and concerns to get what is truly desired. And if the answer is still no, LOVE IT, DON'T LEAVE IT provides hints for continuing the dialogue until success is achieved. The second principle for creating a great job is taking responsibility for one's own situation. "Don't pass the buck," the authors insist. "Some people are tempted to hold others accountable for their work satisfaction. Most find over time that those others can't -- or won't -- deliver what's wanted and needed." LOVE IT, DON'T LEAVE IT provides procedures for taking control of one's work life, setting career goals, developing new skills, finding a mentor, and taking advantage of new opportunities. "You own your career. Take steps now to plan it, build it, and strengthen it," write Kaye and Jordan-Evans. They advise readers to: Get Lots of Information -- Talk to others who may have a breadth of knowledge wider than their own about opportunities at work. Establish a Network -- Find colleagues or friends who can brainstorm solutions to barriers or provide support. Make Two Lists -- "What if" I do nothing? "What if" I take the plunge? Follow the "what ifs" to their respective conclusions and then decide which conclusion is preferable. Following this advice is one of many steps to carving out the perfect job. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. According to Kaye and Jordan-Evans, anyone can create the job they love. It is up to the individual. "Yes, there are actions your manager can take, and yes, there are actions your organizational leaders can take, but in the end it's all up to you." LOVE IT, DON'T LEAVE IT will help every employee become engaged and involved in developing a more satisfactory, creative, and exciting workplace. # # # About the Authors Beverly Kaye, founder and CEO of Career Systems International, is one of the nation's leading authorities on career issues in the workplace. Her keynote presentations and cutting edge programs are used by such organizations as American Express, Microsoft, DaimlerChrysler, Sears, Burger King, Hartford Insurance, and many others. She is frequently sought out by the national news media for interviews and commentary and has received some of the most prestigious awards in her field. She earned a doctorate at UCLA, and also did graduate work at MIT's Sloan School of Management and George Washington University. She is author of the classic Up is Not the Only Way, and co-author, with Sharon Jordan-Evans, of the bestseller, Love 'Em or Lose 'Em. Sharon Jordan-Evans, president of the Jordan Evans Group, is a prominent executive coach, author, and keynote presenter. She is a leading authority on workplace satisfaction and management effectiveness and is widely quoted in national magazines and newspapers. Her multinational client companies cross virtually all industries and include Fortune 500 firms such as Boeing, Southwest Airlines, Providence Healthcare Systems, LSI Logic, Progressive Insurance, and Universal Studios. Jordan-Evans holds a master's degree in organization development from Central Washington University, and is the co-author, with Beverly Kaye, of the bestseller, Love 'Em or Lose 'Em.
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