In The Type B Manager, Victor Lipman offers a unique lens through which to view the challenging problems of management. While management has long been considered the realm of Type A individuals-hard-driving, competitive high achievers-all too often these high-intensity traits aren't effective when it comes to motivating your employees. Many characteristics of Type B individuals-being more relaxed, less competitive, more reflective, slower to anger-can be considered "people skills" that better influence motivation and productivity. And successful management after all is the practice of accomplishing work through other people.
In a business landscape where 70 percent of employees are disengaged and not working at full productive capacity, Lipman focuses on practical tactical aspects of management viewed through a Type B lens, including:
· Motivating and developing employees
· Handling conflict, and
· Engendering trust and respect
He examines specific skills, behaviors, and situations where a Type B mindset is advantageous and suggests ways that self-described Type A managers can boost their effectiveness by adopting Type B approaches-and vice versa.