I never thought a business book would be on my summer reading list until I flipped through “Grey Matters: The Workplace Survival Guide” at the local bookstore. At first glance, the book looks like a parody of working life, because it’s funny and entertaining. However, it contains plenty of practical advice for anyone who, at one time or another, has felt like they were hanging by a thread in the maze of company politics.
The illustrated format suggestive of comic strips is an excellent survival guide in any chaotic work environment. What keeps the reader reading is the narrative that teaches and offers solutions to workplace problems through the adventures of main character Gray Blanderson as he stumbles and then slides over the imperfections of work life and the challenges of corporate marketing. products.
The character development in this book could make many fiction writers green with envy. Gray Blanderson is a product engineer who comes up with a new idea, which seems pointless at first, but learning and using the right tactics along the way, Blanderson achieves his goal and earns the respect of his bosses and co-workers. .
In Gray Matters, several secondary characters complement the narrative; all the characters are fully developed as they work perfectly to teach, provide interest and excitement, maintain suspense and hold the reader’s interest.
The setting of the narrative is a city in the United States and the company is Global Gadget where Gray Blanderson works. Global Gadget is in a race for survival with rival companies and Gray Blanderson’s division is in danger of being shut down.
The book is divided into four parts and twenty-three chapters. In the first part, “How Business Works,” the authors present tactics for making changes and gaining the cooperation of co-workers and bosses.
The second part, “Sales”, has to do with customers: identify and win customers; understand their problems; and how to apply for your business.
Part three, “The Seven Deadly Sins in the Workplace,” is about what not to do and how not to succumb to burnout, anger, surrender, obsolescence, incompetence, withdrawal, and dysfunction.
The fourth and final part, “Innovation”, offers suggestions on how to put new ideas into practice and how to cross barriers.
The authors of the book are Bob Rosner and Allan Halcrow, with John Lavin as illustrator.
Bob Rosner is an international columnist and keynote speaker who writes a worldwide syndicated column, “Working Wounded.” He is also the co-author, with Allan Halcrow, of “The Boss’s Survival Guide” and the author of the book “Working Wounded: Advice That Adds Insight to Injury.”
Allan Halcrow is a business editor, writer, and partner at WorkPositive, a communications strategy consulting firm.
John Lavin is an artist and cartoonist with clients including Starbucks, Barney’s New York, and Nordstrom.
I was very impressed by the book’s introduction through the mouth of main character Gray Blanderson, especially when he says, “Your gray matter includes your emotional intelligence. Use it wisely.”
“Grey Matters: The Workplace Survival Guide” (ISBN: 0-471-45508-3) is a one-of-a-kind workplace strategy book, and one I think most people will benefit from. to read it.
