Surrounded by Bad Bosses and Lazy Employees

or, How to Deal with Idiots at Work

The funny and practical guide on how to deal with difficult managers, colleagues, and teams, from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Surrounded by Idiots.

Being driven crazy by a micro-manager? Frequently drowning under your boss's unreasonable expectations? Struggling with being handed out responsibilities but no authority?

Behavioural expert and bestselling author Thomas Erikson is here to help.

In his inspiring – and, at times, funny – guide, Erikson shows how understanding your boss's behavioural tendencies, as well as your own, will lead to a more harmonious and productive workplace. Using his famous four-colour model, he shows you how to:


  • Decode your boss’s or team’s behaviour

  • Manage up and handle tricky feedback

  • Boost motivation and productivity across different personalities

  • Communicate effectively in even the most frustrating environments


Written with Erikson's signature humour and warmth, Surrounded by Bad Bosses (and Lazy Employees) will help you deal with hopeless managers and employees to build better relationships at work – and stay sane in the process.

Praise for Thomas Erikson:

'Outstanding . . . Erikson impresses with his trademark facility for making research-based discussions accessible and entertaining' Publishers Weekly

‘A good resource for understanding how different personalities communicate and deal with feedback…Everyone should read [it]' Business Insider

Equal parts logical, emotionally astute, and gut-wrenchingly funny…Buy it!' Jim McPartlin, author of The Enneagram at Work

Everyone can benefit from this bookBooklist

Life changing’ 5-star reader review

‘Has enabled better communication with my peers and colleagues as well as my family.’ 5-star reader review

Clear, insightful easy to read book with plenty [of] practical advice’ 5-star reader review

A must-read to guide you on understanding yourself and others’ 5-star reader review

'[An] encouraging treatise . . . The dual focus on both employee and manager separates this from the pack.'
Publishers Weekly

About Thomas Erikson

Thomas Erikson is a Swedish behaviourist, internationally sought-after keynote speaker, mentor and author. For over 25 years, he has travelled the world delivering seminars and lectures, mentoring executives at companies such as Coca-Cola, Microsoft, KIA Motors, Volvo and IKEA. His book Surrounded by Idiots is one of Sweden’s best-selling non-fiction titles of all time, with more than seven million copies sold in 70 languages. The whole Surrounded By series has so far sold twelve million copies worldwide. He lives in the Swedish countryside with his wife Christina, who is also an author.
Details
  • Series: Surrounded by
  • Imprint: Vermilion
  • ISBN: 9781785043406
  • Length: 400 pages
  • Dimensions: 196mm x 25mm x 126mm
  • Weight: 273g
  • Price: £12.99
All editions