Book Review: Be the Employee Every Boss Wants! 26 Ways to Bullet-Proof Your Career
By Janet Barclay, MVA
Looking for a job is a stressful process for most people, so the last thing anyone wants is to find themselves back on the job market shortly after becoming employed. Although most young people leave school with the hard skills needed to do the work, they often lack the soft skills that will help them to develop the attitude and behaviours required to succeed in the real world.
After recognizing this fact, coach Margaret Miller set out to write Be the Employee Every Boss Wants! 26 Ways to Bullet-Proof Your Career. Her book is written in an appealing A to Z format, covering the following key topics:
- Accountability
- Balance
- Communication
- Don’t Take Things Personally
- Ethical
- Flexibility
- Gossip
- Honour
- Initiative
- Jargon
- Keep Your Boss in the Loop
- Listen
- Make Your Boss Look Good
- No Whining
- Outcomes
- People Skills
- Quality
- Resources
- Strengths
- Team Work
- Under Promise/Over Deliver
- Vision
- Winning Attitude
- X Marks This Spot
- You
- Zest
Each chapter explains the importance of the trait being described and gives easy to understand pointers, including ways for the reader to recognize when things are working. For example, the chapter on Communication closes with:
You’ll know it’s working when:
- “What I meant to say was…” gets dropped from your vocabulary.
- You don’t blame others for miscommunications.
- You always know your audience and the most effective way to convey your message to them.
- You’re creative with your delivery.
- You don’t make assumptions about what someone else has understood.
This is a great resource for anyone who is starting their first job or has had difficulty maintaining employment and is ready to turn things around. It’s also an ideal handbook for schools and colleges to give to graduating students, or for employers to give to new hires and/or existing staff.
Be the Employee Every Boss Wants! 26 Ways to Bullet-Proof Your Career is available through the author’s website at www.teragram.ca. Volume discounts are available for organizations wishing to purchase larger quantities for distribution or resale.
About the Author
From her director level positions in finance, administration and Human Resources – to founder and principal of TERAGRAM Coaching and Consulting Group, Margaret Miller has gained a broad range of experience in the working world while mentoring others in the workplace.
About the Reviewer
As Founder & General Manager of Organized Assistant, Janet Barclay provides administrative support and website services to career professionals and other small business clients. Learn more about Janet and her business by visiting her website http://www.organizedassistant.com and her blog http://www.janetbarclay.com.
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