Table of Contents
More praise forDont Bring It to Work
I always thought people chose to be the way they are. Sylvias teaching, now available in this book, showed me a whole new perspective on how my family patterns were bearing upon my interaction with others. Using her framework, I have broken through to new levels of patience and understanding in crucial relationships including my mother, fellow executives, and even my kids.
Andrew Cornell, CEO, Cornell Iron Works, Inc.
Wonderful insights for anyone who manages a business, works in a business, or leads a business. Read it now!
Michael E. Gerber, author of the E-Myth books; founder of E-Myth Worldwide and The Dreaming Room LLC
Sylvia Lafairs book brings a rare view of systems and systems thinking that is helpful to individuals and families, as well as businesspeople working to build appreciation, cohesion, and success.
Frances Hesselbein, chairman and founding president, Leader to Leader Institute
Dr. Sylvia Lafair has written a superb book on working relationships that should be on every executives desk and used by anyone who is in the business of depending on efficient teamwork for productivity. Her reflections on how our family systems can sabotage our working lives are brilliant and totally applicable in practical terms. This book is a must-read for all business programs, regardless of how large or small.
Dr. Frank Lawlis, author of Mending the Broken Bond
Through Sylvia Lafairs astute work, you will see yourself, your
co-workers, and your family dynamics in an entirely new light.
More importantly, this will help you change the patterns that
have been keeping you from reaching your highest potential.
This ranks with the best business and psychology books on the
market; not only is it insightful and practicalits a great read!
Anita Sharpe, CEO and founder of GeniusSuite; Pulitzer Prize-winning writer at the Wall Street Journal
A phenomenal book! Sylvias insights, experience, and brilliant communication style make her one of the leading experts in this field. I have had the honor of working with Sylvia over many years and can attest to the power of her methods in transforming negative patterns into positive behaviors. This really works!
Eslie Dennis, MD, vice president, Medical Head Northeast, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Most educators feel they are standing sentry over a system under siege on all fronts. Its exhausting! Sylvia Lafair shows us effective ways to make change happen. This seminal book provides me the Holy Grail to forge a strong team on behalf of our mission to prepare children for the future. Ive been waiting for this for 35 years.
Linda C. Brewer, EdD, superintendent, Derry Township School District
Sylvia takes a highly personalized approach to leadership development. She helps each person become more aware of their personal styles and their possible origins, and raises behavior patterns to a conscious level. From awareness comes change. I found great value in applying these lessons both at work and at home to successfully balance demanding jobs, motherhood, and a two-career marriage.
Nancy Singer, senior director, Global Sales and Marketing Leadership Development, Merck & Co., Inc.
This book brings a new way of doing business. It changed the way we run our company and the results are significant. This sentence says it all: It is time to get out of the sandbox of childhood and gain a deeper knowledge of the fact that we are all connected and no one wins unless we all do. This book is a must-have for supervisors all the way up to the executives of the company.
Yvonne Cangelosi, executive vice president, SPEX CertiPrep, Inc.
Amazing! Sylvia Lafair tells us what every successful person already knows: that business and personal lives can never be totally separate. She destroys this myth and gives us the tools to bring people together to build great companies and deliver bottom-line results. Groundbreaking work!
Richard Harris, CEO, Spa Sydell
Sylvia Lafairs life work is helping people reach their potential. Like many brilliant ideas, the pattern recognition process described in Dont Bring It to Work seems obvious in hindsight. Its power is the power to transform not just life in the workplace, but the total quality of human life. Vital for those working in a family business.
Edwin Neill III, president, Neill Corporation
Dr. Lafair is on to something that will totally change how you see yourself and others in the workplace. The PatternAware Leadership Model helps people recognize and address their core issues. This is so much more than dress for success advice. Buy it, read it, apply it! It will transform you and your relationships.
Dorene E. McCourt, vice president, Product Development & Management, MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc.
Dont Bring It to Work is a wonderful tool for anyone wishing to make their work environment more successful. It addresses the baggage that we all bring to the workplace and gives wonderful revelations as to how to move forward from this and build on our strengths. It is about leadership of the highest level.
Carole Haas Gravagno, board member, Philadelphia Orchestra
This book distills various behavior patterns at work and helps you identify negative patterns, and then takes you through personal transformation. Every leader and manager should read this book. Wow! Its wonderful!
Nancy Duarte, CEO, Duarte Design; author of slide:ology
This is an incisive exploration of the limiting patterns that hold us captive and sabotage our efforts to be effective leaders in our organizations. Sylvia Lafairs call is simple and practical as she sets out to offer her readers clear steps to unravel their past and transform limiting habits into pathways of success and well-being in our organizations. I highly recommend this book.
Amber Chand, founder, The Amber Chand Collection: Global Gifts for Peace & Understanding
This book offers keen insights into how individuals process information and guides leaders in helping employees at every level become the best they can be. It is amazing how quickly conflicts can be resolved when we understand the meta-messages that lie at the core of most communication. It should be required reading for all leaders and leaders-in-training.
Lynn Rolston, CEO, California Pharmacists Association
This engaging book has a powerful core message. Were bringing family dynamicsfrom childhood and even from our parents childhoodsto work, and the results are not pretty. Packed with stories of workplace dynamics gone awryand then, amazingly enough, transformed by Lafairs compassionate approachthe book is immensely readable. You will be motivated to create change for the better.
Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management, Harvard Business School, Harvard University
For my daughters,
Mikayla and Julie,
bright lights of truth and integrity,
and, of course,
For Herb, my strong-willed and gentle husband