New Horizons in Management Series

Proactive Personality and Behavior for Individual and Organizational Productivity

by Andrew J. DuBrin

Published 1 January 2013

This comprehensive book describes how proactive behavior, driven by a proactive personality, contributes to individual and organizational productivity. A consolidation of available research on the nature of proactivity in the workplace, this book explores methods of helping workers themselves become more effective, and managers understand effective ways of fostering this kind of thinking and behavior.

Proactive behavior can achieve important outcomes, including improved job performance and satisfaction, career success and organizational prosperity. Andrew J. DuBrin outlines a number of useful strategies in areas such as opportunity creation, innovation, entrepreneurship and problem solving. Each chapter includes examples from firms and other organizations, as well as a self-quiz or checklist linked to the subject material.

This book is an essential guide for academics in the fields of organizational behavior, industrial and organizational psychology, and human resource management. Presented in a user-friendly, accessible style, Proactive Personality and Behavior for Individual and Organizational Productivity will also be of interest to researchers, managers, and corporate professionals looking for ways to foster proactivity among workers, in order to enhance performance and productivity.

Contents: Preface 1. The Nature of the Proactive Personality 2. Traits and Behaviors Associated with the Proactive Personality 3. Initiative as Part of the Proactive Personality 4. The Proactive Personality, Job Performance, and Satisfaction 5. The Proactive Personality and Career Success 6. Opportunity Recognition, Innovation, and Proactivity 7. The Entrepreneurial Personality, Behavior, and Proactivity 8. Business Strategy and Proactivity 9. Problem Prevention and Proactivity 10. Talent Management and Proactivity 11. Leadership Influences on Proactivity Index

Narcissism in the Workplace

by Andrew J. DuBrin

Published 31 January 2012

Possessing a positive self-attitude, being self-confident, and having high self-esteem are worthwhile attributes in both work and personal life; some take these positive attributes to the extreme and become self-absorbed, self-adoring, self-centered, and show little empathy for the problems and concerns of others. In brief, they are narcissists and they can be especially problematic in business settings. This book presents information about narcissism in the workplace that is based both on empirical research and on opinion derived from systematic observation. The author uses case studies and real life examples to shed new light on workplace narcissism.

The author describes both the positive and negative features of narcissism and presents strategies and tactics for dealing constructively with narcissistic traits and behaviors in oneself and in others. Self-tests and questionnaires found throughout the volume enable readers to reflect on their standing on a variety of behaviors and attitudes associated with narcissism. Each chapter includes a section labeled 'Guidelines for Application and Practice' that provides practical advice for applying the research and theories presented within. Further, each chapter concludes with a case history of narcissism, accompanied by a brief analysis of the narcissistic aspects of the case's subject.

Narcissism in the Workplace serves as a manual for capitalizing on the positive aspects of narcissism and minimizing its potential negative effects. Intended for human resource professionals, researchers, and students and scholars of organizational behavior, organizational psychology, human relations and leadership, this book will also appeal to a broad range of serious minded readers who wish to learn more about, combat the difficulties of, or employ the benefits of narcissism.