Good Boss, Bad Boss (audiobook)

If you are a boss who yearns to do great work, and inspire others to do the same, what can you do about it? Good Boss, Bad Boss is devoted to answering that question. Stanford professor Robert Sutton weaves together the best psychological and management research with compelling stories and cases to reveal the mindset and moves of the best—and worst—bosses.

This book was inspired by the deluge of emails, research, phone calls, and conversations Dr. Sutton experienced after publishing his blockbuster bestseller The No Asshole Rule. He realized that most of these stories and studies swirled around a central figure in every workplace: the boss. These heartbreaking, inspiring, and sometimes funny stories taught Sutton that most bosses and their followers wanted a lot more than just a jerk-free workplace. They aspired to become, or work for, an all-around great boss, somebody with the skill and grit to inspire superior work, commitment, and dignity among their charges.

As Dr. Sutton digs into the nitty-gritty of what the best—and worst—bosses do, a theme emerges that is a hallmark of great bosses: They work doggedly to “stay in tune” with how their followers—and superiors, peers, and customers—react to what they say and do. The best bosses are acutely aware that their success depends on having the self-awareness to control their moods and moves, to accurately interpret their impact on others, and to make adjustments on the fly that continuously spark effort, dignity, and pride among their people.