One more shout out for my favorite book of 2011, BLIND SPOTS, by Alexandra Levit.

In your continuing efforts to help employees succeed and earn more of what they need and want AND IN THE PROCESS become much better employees, consider using BLIND SPOTS. Levit tells it like it is, giving difficult but REAL and PRACTICAL and IMMEDIATELY ACTIONABLE advice that will help anyone in his/her career and make them much better leaders/followers/employees regardless of where they are in their careers. Instead of the typical snake oil being sold by so many, Ms. Levit is teaching people to “hone” traits like perseverance. She writes, ”Most people persevere for a long time and experience several setbacks before achieving an objective definition of success.”

And Levit teaches good old-fashioned basics of followership. She writes: ”While employers value the unique set of skills and experiences you bring to the table, they expect you to toe the line with respect to company rules and conduct…. [In the face of difficult circumstances, sometimes your best bet is to] change your own thinking and behavior instead of waiting for the company to adapt to your needs.” Don’t get the wrong idea, Ms. Levit is not trying to teach people to just shut up and do as they are told. She is teaching people to appreciate context, position themselves accordingly, and get ahead, but in ways that work for both the employee AND the employer.

Stay strong,
Bruce