Why Dogs Wag Their Tails (and other observations about life at work)

by Richard Brenner

Why Dogs Wag Their Tails (and other observations about life at work) is a collection of short articles that give tips, insights and new perspectives on life in the modern workplace. You can read each one in a few minutes, and quickly gain new insights that can transform how you experience life at work.

Skip to the Details: How To Orderave you ever found yourself sitting in a meeting, listening for the third time to drivel you just couldn't believe people would actually say out loud, and wondering how much longer this would go on until they finally agreed to what anyone with half a brain knew they'd have to do anyway? And then groaned to yourself when you realized that your next meeting would be more of the same?

A puppy investigating
snow Or have you ever had the kind of "forehead-slapping moment" when you suddenly realized why the group didn't go for your last suggestion, and then wondered how you could possibly have been so naïve as to have proposed it in the first place?

Why Dogs Wag Their Tails is a collection of articles from the 2003 and 2004 issues of Point Lookout, my weekly email newsletter of tips, insights and perspectives that help people in dynamic problem-solving organizations find better ways to work with each other. It gives concrete, nuts-and-bolts methods for dealing with real-life situations. You can also get the collection from 2001 and 2002, the collection from 2005 and 2006, or the collection from 2001 through 2006.

Some sample essays

Saying No: When we have to say "no" to customers or to people in power, we're often tempted to placate with a "yes." There's a better way: learn how to say "no" in a way that moves the group toward joint problem solving.
Toxic Projects: A toxic project is one that harms its organization, its people or its customers. We often think of toxic projects as projects that fail, but even a "successful" project can hurt people or damage the organization — sometimes irreparably.
Please Remove My Appendix: When an organization is experiencing problems with conflict, "pushback," or "blowback," managers often hire trainers to present programs on helpful topics. But self-diagnosis can be risky. Often, there are more direct and focused options that can help more and cost less.

What readers say

Here's a sample of reader's comments:

You're stuff is brilliant! And -- Thank you for sharing these ideas.
You and Scott Adams both secretly work here, right?
The articles are great, I enjoy getting them, and you always have something very interesting to say, or good points to raise.
I really enjoy my weekly newsletters. I appreciate that the newsletter is a quick read and is much more intellectually stimulating than, say, reading a Dilbert cartoon.
You fill a need that went unmet -- a sort of Dr. Phil for Management!
I have found your articles extremely accurate, inspiring and applicable to day-to-day. You have a great writing style and the lessons that you have shared with us are invaluable.
More

Designed for busy people

Most of us have way too much to do to find much time to read. And the time we do have is broken up into small chunks. We need the knowledge, but too often, we don't have time to get it, and we can't wade through 15-page chapters that lay out lengthy discussions.

Knowledge products from Chaco Canyon Consulting are designed with busy people in mind. Here are some features that make reading our e-books fast and convenient.

They're available on line: It's fun to go to a bookstore, but you have to find the time to go to the store, find what you want, wait in line to pay for it, and get back from the store. For some of us, all that time is a challenge.; With our knowledge products, you browse for your selection on line, and pay for it quickly and easily through ClickBank. You can do it anywhere that has an Internet connection.
Instant downloads: With some on-line stores, you have to wait for an email message with download instructions. The wait can be brief, but sometimes it's a day or so.; With our knowledge products, receive download instructions instantly. After you select an item, you can have it in your possession in minutes.
Universal data formats: To use some on-line knowledge products, even those you download, you need a computer, or worse—a computer with a specific operating system.; Our knowledge products are available in near-universal formats—either hypertext (like this document you're reading right now), or Acrobat (PDF), or MP3. You can use them with any computer or PDA that supports the format of that product (either hypertext, PDF or MP3).
Written for busy people: Most business books are about 200-250 pages, with about 10 chapters. I don't know about you, but I don't have time to read a 225-page book cover-to-cover. There are lots of folks like us—that's why there's such a booming market in book condensations.; Our ebooks cut out that middle step. They're designed to be read by people who don't have time for the typical business book. Our tip books consist of short paragraphs, two- to four sentences per tip. Each tip has a headline in bold. You can easily scan the book for tips that seem relevant to you and read only those. Read in any order, and read them in short sittings.
We use hyperlinks: Most books, even e-books, are meant to be read off-line. Because they stand alone, they contain material that you might not want to see.; Our ebooks assume that you have the Internet nearby. If you want background material on a point we've made, just click. And some of our hyperlinks link to other places in the e-book itself, to help you tie things together is you read.

Details and how to order

After your purchase is approved, ClickBank will present a page that contains a link to a page where you can download your item immediately. This item requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or later or Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or later. You can load it onto your computer or PDA. Or print it on any standard black-and-white or color printer. Your satisfaction is guaranteed by ClickBank's return policy. Price: USD 11.95 per copy. Call for volume or site license pricing at the phone number below.

Order "Why Dogs Wag Their Tails (and other observations about life at work)" by credit card, for USD 11.95 each, using ClickBank.com.
.