Undreaded Job

This essential guide explains how to find satisfaction in the workplace in the face of imperfections involving oneself and others.The Undreaded Job: Learning to Thrive in a Less-than-Perfect Workplace was written to help people find satisfaction in the workplace, turning work into a major contributor to overall happiness. The book is organized around issues individuals face as they try to thrive in the face of inevitable workplace imperfections. These include imperfections in the leaders for whom they work and the colleagues with whom they interact. The book also covers the influence of one's own thinking processes and those of others, power and political sophistication in the workplace, worker motivation, development and change, workplace diversity, social skills, and the communication challenges that arise as people pursue different or conflicting goals.The author, an expert in both psychology and management, reviews research on these topics as it relates to workplace satisfaction and life happiness. Each chapter explains research findings in ways that translate them into key concepts applicable in any workplace, at any level.Dozens of vignettes illustrate how this important issue goes unrecognized, yet how vital it is to life happinessA bibliography lists important research studies that contribute to finding workplace satisfactionAn index of key terms

"Brislin (management, U. of Hawaii) identifies issues people face as they try to find job satisfaction. He uses research from psychology, management, and related fields to explain how to find more satisfaction at work, specific issues, understanding why these areas are important, and how to apply knowledge related to beliefs, leadership, group dynamics, communication, power, social skills, attitudes, decision making, worker motivation, prejudice and diversity, and personal and organizational change." - Reference & Research Book News, "Recommended. General readers, all levels of students, professionals." - Choice, "Overall, this book could serve as a good review for any manager . . . I would recommend this book to someone interested in learning more about organizational behavior or curious about general work issues. The great use of examples makes this book accessible and may make it useful to someone teaching a course in this area. . . . Brislin does successfully cover a wide range of material in an interesting and informative manner." - PsycCRITIQUES

Richard W. Brislin, PhD, is a Shidler Distinguished Professor and professor of management and department chair, Shidler College of Business, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.