POWER FREAKS --- DEALING WITH THEM IN THE WORKPLACE OR ANYPLACE by David L. Weiner. Prometheus Books, 2002



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (p9-10)

FORWARD by Robert E. Lefton (p11-14)

    Leaders with authoritarian personalitys ("power freaks") are totally deprived of any meaningful feedback from the intellectual capital of their peers and subordinates!

    They tend to be overly dominating, power hungry, overly controlling, intimidating, very poor listeners, dogmatic, resistant to new ideas, headstrong, unyielding, inflexible and they micromanage their subordinates! (p11-12)

    This book shows how "power freaks" rarely think in consequential terms. They lack insight into the impact their behavior and actions have on others. Furthermore, they almost immediately rationalize and explain away their behavior. (p12)

    The book provides an understanding of how to diagnose "authoritarian behaviors." Also, it provides prescriptions for effectively coexisting with such an intimidating menace. If you incorporate these sound strategies into your response to "power freaks," you will increase the probabilityh that you can protect yourself from the power freaks in your life and not become the victim of their ruthless, remorseless behavior!

INTRODUCTION (p15-18)

    1) The purpose of this book is to show how the human propensity for power and status appears to be one of the major causes of serious conflicts in our lives and in the world at large. The book's three objectives are: (p15)

      [1] To communicate what apparently is happening in the minds of power freaks that explains to some degreee their twisted and distorted outlooks.

      [2] To define the many characteristics and viewpoints of power freaks so that there is no doubt in knowing one when we see one.

      [3] To enumerate the best ways to deal with them, particularly in the workplace, but with principles that may be applied anywhere! (p15)

    2) How does a "power freak" think? (p25-40)

    3) The power freak as "Caveman" (p41-60)

    4) The power freak factor in all of us (p61-76)

    5) The powr freak as mentally disordered (p77-94)

    6) The power freak as status-obsessed (p95-108)

    7) Situational power freaks (p109-124)

    8) Directional power freaks (p125-138)

    9) Stealth power freaks --- manipulating while undercover (p139-148)

    10) The power freak factor --- can we measure ourselves (p149-172)

    11) Dealing with the extreme power freak boss (p173-206)

    12) Dealing with a peer who is an extreme power freak (p207-238)

    13) The last gasp solution --- calculated avoidance (p239-248)

AFTERWORD (p249-252)

NOTES (p253-266)

BIBLIOGRAPHY (p267-276)

INDEX (p277-287)

ABOUT THE AUTHORS (p288)


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