Working With You Is Killing Me

Freeing Yourself from Emotional Traps at Work

By: Katherine Crowley, Kathi Elster

Narrated by: Katherine Crowley, Kathi Elster

If you find yourself getting fed up and frustrated with a colleague whose incompetence is driving you crazy, a boss who gets angry when you're not a mind reader, or an employee who habitually challenges your authority, chances are you're caught in an emotional trap in the workplace. Quit complaining and do something!

Freeing yourself is easier than you think, and you don't have to quit or fire anyone to do it. The solution is simple: Take control of your own response. In this pragmatic and insightful guide, psychotherapist Katherine Crowley and nationally recognized business consultant Kathi Elster combine their expertise and 20 years of research to teach you how to unhook from upsetting situations and eliminate your workplace woes step by illuminating step.

Through eye-opening quizzes, real-life case examples, and field-tested strategies, you'll quickly learn how to identify and handle any relationship that holds you back on the job. With your newfound emotional skills, you'll be able to:

Manage an ill-tempered boss before he or she explodes

Detach from annoying coworkers whose irritating habits ruin the day

Defend yourself from idea-pilfering rivals

Get out of the grip of toxic relationships

Protect your personal and professional territory from "boundary busters"

Break out of the limiting roles that box you in

Parent your difficult employees to get the results you want

And much more

The toughest part of any job is dealing with the people around you. Thanks to Working With You is Killing Me, that just got a whole lot easier.

Please Note: This audio references accompanying material that is not included with the purchase of the audiobook.

©2006 Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster (P)2006 Time Warner AudioBooks. All Rights Reserved.

Critic reviews

"This empowering book delivers a sense of control over nasty workplace situations." (Publishers Weekly)

Just what I needed! ;p

This audiobook is just in time. A must read if you're working with a bitchy boss.

Great for business advice

It had a lot of helpful information about how to categorize and handle work conflict. I just feel like they should have expanded the areas they gave examples in, it's not a one size fits all

Good perspective and realistic tips

This book is solid in giving you the perspective needed to not go down the rabbit hole of immobility and despair wheb dealing with negative emotions eminating from co workers and supervisors.

Learned valuable techniques

I learned many techniques that have helped me disengage with some difficult co-workers. The book teaches you how to identify personality traits around you - and challenges you to find yourself in there. How to appease difficult co-workers if you absolutely have to work with them. This gives back your power because in a way you're manipulating and placating them to make their insecure selves feel more important while you walk away rolling your eyes and enjoying the workplace more - well that's what I took from that section anyway. Great, quick audiobook.

Right on Target!

This book spelled out my coworking problems to a T! I was drawn aside by the honesty it showed, even to the point of looking at my own faults that lead to my demise. I actually listened to this several times and took notes in order to help myself cope with things I couldn't control. Very helpful book.

Difficult People Problem Solved!

Crowley and Elster have written a refreshing and extremely helpful book on how to deal with problem people and situations. The book focuses on work relationships, but I found it very useful dealing with people in all walks of life, including my family. I recommended this book to anyone who has a problem with work relationships or any other relationship. This is a perfect book to give a graduating Seniors or College students as they get ready to join the business world. It is a must read for everyone in business!

John Marie Westmoreland

As a subject matter expert on workplace bullying and discrimination, I found this book to be highly engaging and brimming with professional details. This is a very good book and a must read!

Empowering

I might have saved myself a lot of time and money on therapy if I'd first just listened to this book! Ha ha. The different "types" of workers and managers that the writers name are helpful in revealing interpersonal dynamics in the workplace. Of course, it would be problematic to reduce others or ourselves to types but that's not the point here. Listen instead for ways you can see your own tendencies, the *dynamics* you might be in, and then you can decide what you want to do about them. You cannot change others but you may be able to change your reactions to workplace situations. Or you may find that you and your workplace are not a fit for each other. And this last part about assessing "fit" is what I wish the book had more of, including wishing that the purchase of the audio book included a link to the corporate culture exercises that are mentioned at the very end. I've just finished my first listen and I am eager to listen again.

Good Solid Advice

I work in large corporation with staff of 20+. I am bad boss and have bad boss. I am cynic. Dismissed book at first. As book progressed I found valuable insights. I made staff listen to book during work hours. They too were skeptical going in. But now they reference book often. Great fun associating people at work (including me) with circumstances and advice in book. It helps to know your bad circumstance exists elsewhere!!!

describes characters in the office well

The narrator was great. I struggled to finish. It described my bosses to a T. However it's a long unhooking 7 step process to remember to do. I'm sure they help but won't remember to do. I imagine it is easier said than done.