The Three Signs of a Miserable Job: A Fable for Managers (And Their Employees)

Lencioni, a consultant, speaker and bestselling author (The Five Dysfunctions of a Team), pinpoints the reasons behind and ways around what many consider a constant of the human condition: job dissatisfaction. According to Lencioni, job-fueled misery can ultimately seep into all aspects of life, leading to drug and alcohol abuse, violence and other problems, making this examination of job misery dynamics a worthy pursuit. Through the "simple" tale of a retired CEO-turned-pizzeria manager, Lencioni reveals the three corners of the employee unhappiness pyramid—immeasurability, anonymity and irrelevance—and how they contribute to dissatisfaction in all jobs and at all levels (including famously unfulfilled celebrities and athletes). The main culprit is the distancing of people from each other (anonymity), which means less exposure to the impact their work has (immeasurability), and thus a diminished sense of their own utility (irrelevance). While his major points could have been communicated more efficiently in a straightforward self-help fashion, his fictional case study proves an involving vessel for his model and strategies (applicable to managers and lower-level staff alike), and an appendix-like final chapter provides a helpfully stripped-down version. (Aug.) (Publishers Weekly Annex (Online), July 30, 2007)

"Lencioni knows how to spin a good yarn and he weaves in plenty of advice…this book is essential reading." (British Airways Business Life, October 2007)

"…well-written fable…a must-read" (Accounting Technician, October 2007)

"...filled with actionable advice...A must-read for managers and employees alike seeking to get the most out of their jobs."  (Securities & Investment Review, November 2007)

“…written in such a way that you'll find yourself wanting to know what happens to the characters“ (Personnel Today, March 2008)

"As with all lencioni's books, this one is filled with actionable advice you can put into effect immediately." (PublicNet, September 24, 2008)

"This is a page-turner that unravels the mystery of job satisfaction for any manager. Whether you manage six or sixty-thousand people, it is essential reading."
—Trevor Fetter, president and CEO, Tenet Healthcare Corporation

"In a sea of generic books on employee engagement and empowerment, Lencioni throws us a life preserver. His book is a masterful tale which I highly recommend to leaders and anyone else trying to build more personal satisfaction in their work."
—Kevin D. Wilde, vice president, chief learning officer, General Mills, Inc.

"Lencioni provides a powerful message to all who lead people, one that will produce exceptional loyalty and results. This simple book can make a huge difference."
—Robert W. Savage, chief operating officer, Taco Bell Corp.

"I love this clever and insightful book! It will remind any manager, at any level, why they became a manager in the first place!"
—Greg Cross, senior vice president, Hilton Hotels Corporation

"Don’t let the simplicity of his message fool you. Lencioni provides powerful, practical real-world solutions for improving results by putting people first. I found many new ideas for self-improvement that I can’t wait to try!"
—Jeff Lamb, vice president, people and leadership development, Southwest Airlines