Beyond the Looking Glass: The Seductive Culture of Corporate Narcissism and How to Escape Its Trap - Hardcover

Downs, Alan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0814403433 ISBN 13: 9780814403433

Verlag: Amacom, 1997

Inhaltsangabe

Book by Downs Alan

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Reseña del editor:

How can you cure a sickness when you don't know its cause? Many of today's corporations are exhibiting the disturbing symptoms of a hard-to-define illness. You see signs of the malady in numerous ways: irrational decision-making, massive downsizings, excessive executive pay, low morale, and a sense of isolation among employee. At some companies there's an even odder symptom: workaholic managers who seem indifferent to what they're working so hard at. What's going on here? Alan Downs, a noted author and organizational psychologist, has identified a root cause of this baffling and destructive ailment and given it a name. He calls it corporate narcissism. In Beyond the Looking Glass, he diagnoses this syndrome and explores ways to cure it. With dozens of vivid, real-life examples, Beyond the Looking Glass uncovers destructive cases of corporate narcissism and describes healthy companies that have resisted this negative force. Downs points the way to some powerful solutions for overcoming narcissism. If you are at a high level in your company, the book shows you how to create an organizational environment that doesn't tolerate extreme narcissistic behavior. If you work for or with a corporate narcissist, Beyond the Looking Glass shows you numerous self-defense techniques for survival. Ultimately, Beyond the Looking Glass poses the central question: What is the purpose of an organization? For companies like Levi Strauss, Starbuck's, Nordstrom's, and others cited in this book, the purpose goes far beyond profits. Making money is important, certainly - but equally critical are producing excellent products and services as well as providing a satisfying and rewarding place to work. In such aplace, employees reward the company with their creativity, loyalty, and energy. That's profitable for all.

Reseña del editor:

Something is sapping the soul of modern corporation. Have you noticed? Where's the sense of camaraderie, the satisfaction of a job well done, that dedicated, big-hearted leader you want to emulate? And why does everybody talk about "our mission" -- when there's no genuine feeling of shared purpose?According to Alan Downs, these are all symptoms of a new and alarming mindset, which he calls "corporate narcissism". This phenomenon exists on an individual and an organizational level.Narcissism = an obsession with a "self-image of success".For individuals managers it means self-interested, manipulated actions designed to accumulate power.On a company level it means worshipping at the shrine of profit: relentlessly squeezing out another percent of profit, while squeezing employees dry.This epidemic starts with narcissistic managers who reward those who feed their hunger for prestige. Their attitude spreads through a department, then a division, and eventually infects the entire management psyche. Using harrowing stories of actual events, Downs examines this obsession with "the looking glass" in many companies. He presents examples of the long-term damage it causes to employees, productivity, and the economic stability of the organization and the community.Beyond the Looking Glass sounds a loud warning bell -- and reveals how to uncover selfishness and moral barrenness in high places. It also demonstrates how powerful, positive qualities such as integrity, commitment, and "giving a little more in order to get a little more" can triumph over the seductive culture of narcissism.Individuals of companies that get "beyond the looking glass" enhance the collective good ofcustomers, managers, employees, and investors. Those are the ones who ultimately achieve sustainable success.

Über diese Auflage

• Verlag: Amacom
• Erscheinungsdatum: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0814403433
• ISBN 13: 9780814403433
• Einband: Tapa dura
• Anzahl der Seiten: 208