Reviews for The Set-up-to-Fail Syndrome: How Good Managers Cause Great People to Fail

The average rating for The Set-up-to-Fail Syndrome: How Good Managers Cause Great People to Fail based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2015-07-29 00:00:00 Walter Pattillo As an Executive Coach, I have read very few books I would rate 5 star dealing with leadership, as most are hackneyed retreads or glittering generalities written by famous business people. This book is different and is quite remarkable in its practicality and common sense in dealing with relationships in any working environment. The authors call the mutual sabotaging behaviors between boss and subordinate "The Set Up-to Fail Syndrome", an apt description of the crazy ways we interact in a power-powerless relationship that are familiar to any of us who have ever worked for or managed others. If we are honest, we can recognize how we have contributed to perpetuating this chicken-egg dilemma. In short, the theory goes something like this: Either boss or subordinate makes very early snap decisions about the other and behave accordingly. When the boss does this, an in group and an out group are created. This works well for subordinates on the in group, but as we know, if you're not in, you're out. When we feel that we are judged deficient in some way and therefore out, we respond in ways that are frequently self-sabotaging and justifies the boss' initial impression. The vicious cycle continues. Conversely, when we size up a new boss to be unfair or inept, we treat him/her accordingly, creating a rift between the two. As in baseball where the tie goes to the runner, the subordinate winds up being "out". There are many ramifications to this syndrome that are covered thoroughly in the book. Also, there are very specific recommendations on how to prevent or resurrect inferior relationships that result in lost productivity, poor quality, bad morale and all the other afflictions so common in a working environment. If you want to be a better boss or subordinate and thus achieve greater success on your job, I highly recommend reading this book and incorporating its solutions in your daily responsibilities. Everybody will benefit.

Review # 2 was written on 2008-10-22 00:00:00 David Wernly Anyone in a management position should read this book. It is very informative and explains how decisions about a worker's performance can be made in only minutes and how that affects the worker's entire career with that manager. Eye opening!