Author: Dawn Metcalfe
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Reviewer: John Lee, CEO, Wealth Dragons
Over the years, I have read many books focusing on emotional intelligence (EI), as well as books about strategic thinking and matrix-style working environments.
If I was making a recommendation to a fellow marketer, this would not be first on my list of ‘must-reads’. Firstly, the start of the book is jumpy and doesn’t actually explain what a matrix is or who the book will appeal to. Secondly, it doesn’t teach anyone how to ‘survive and thrive’. It does; however, highlight the need for us all to understand our own learning and management styles prior to blaming those around us. In essence, this is a case study about Debra’s journey to better understand herself and her emotional blueprint.
That said, if Johann, her mentor, is encouraging Debra to use EI with the people around her, nothing will change unless the said people are also working with EI. If Debra didn’t get a job promotion maybe it wasn’t the right job or even the right workplace for her; maybe she prefers to be part of a blame culture than look deep inside and understand the cause of her prejudice; maybe those around her during her formative years didn’t let her have a voice.
It isn’t clear who the book would appeal to and why the author wrote it, other than to make reference to the coaching systems she perhaps uses with her own clients. What’s extremely important is that each of us learns and assimilates information in a different way. When and if marketers read this book they should imagine that Debra and Johann are two entirely different target audiences that need to be spoken to in different ways.
Star Rating:
2/5
