ABOUT THE BOOK

"Antagonists are individuals who, on the basis of nonsubstantive evidence, go out of their way to make insatiable demands, usually attacking the person or performance of others. These attacks are selfish in nature, tearing down rather than building up, and are frequently directed against those in a leadership capacity."

--Kenneth C. Haugk
Leader Killers, p. 16

Antagonists exist in all areas of life--from the workplace to Little League games, from city council meetings to health care situations, from religious settings to band booster associations. You can end up face-to-face with an antagonist at any time, anywhere.

Antagonists are not just misguided and misunderstood. They are out to hurt people, and they do. Although few in number, antagonists have the potential for disproportionately disrupting the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization as well as destroying the peace of mind and well-being of the individuals within it.

How do you deal with an antagonist?

Leader Killers presents clear, realistic strategies for identifying antagonists, dealing with their behaviors, and safeguarding organizations from attack by:

Recognizing the signs of an antagonist--the red flags, tactics, and typical behaviors
Knowing what drives an antagonist--characteristic personality traits and psychological patterns
Differentiating between healthy and unhealthy conflict--identifying constructive conflict that builds up an organization and destructive conflict that tears it down
Dealing effectively with antagonists--realistic strategies for handling antagonists in a variety of situations
Keeping the damage from spreading--protecting your organization, your colleagues, your family, and yourself
Creating and maintaining an anti-antagonist environment--building organizational defenses and a culture that prevents the growth of antagonism
Empowering others to manage antagonism successfully--educating leaders and others about the threat from antagonists and how to address that threat together

The book's three parts present the most effective ways to identify and handle antagonists and to prevent them from gaining a foothold in your organization.

Part One: Identifying Antagonists

The first seven chapters of Leader Killers lay the foundation for effectively dealing with antagonists by explaining critical issues such as these:

Who is an antagonist--and who isn't
How to tell the difference between hard-core, major, and moderate antagonists
Why antagonists act as they do
What "red flags" of antagonism to look for
How to recognize an antagonist's attack
How antagonistic conflict differs from normal conflict
Why workplaces are vulnerable to antagonism
When to take a hard, accurate look at a situation and name what you see

Part Two: Dealing with Antagonists

The ten chapters of Part Two offer practical counsel for dealing with antagonists in virtually any situation, including:

How to deal with the first signs of trouble
How to communicate with other leaders about an antagonist
How to build support with other leaders for dealing with an antagonist
How to relate to a potential antagonist
How to deal with an antagonist in a group setting
How to handle an antagonist who seems indispensable to your organization
How to conduct a one-on-one meeting with an antagonist
How to protect your family--and yourself--from the emotional ravages of antagonism
What specific leadership strategies can turn the tide of battle in many situations
What to do when the battle is over

Part Three: Preventing Antagonism

Stopping antagonism when it occurs is only a temporary solution unless you take measures to keep it from recurring. The final four chapters deal with how you can prepare your organization to handle antagonists--even before they appear. In Part Three, you will explore issues like:

Creating and maintaining effective processes and practices
Building an organizational culture that actively discourages antagonism
Preventing potential antagonists from becoming active
Educating others to recognize and deal with antagonists

Dealing with antagonists is a bottom-line issue. By preventing antagonists from disrupting your organization, you will enhance staff productivity, decrease turnover, and save money. Leader Killers shows you how.

To view the Table of Contents and sample pages from Leader Killers, click here.

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