Psychologia szefa

I’ve read many books about leadership, but none quite like this one. The first two chapters followed a familiar pattern—a brief introduction to a manager’s responsibilities followed by guidance on planning your approach. Then came the third chapter: Punishment! I was surprised the authors began with this topic rather than motivation or engagement.

Written by two Polish authors, this book is specifically designed for Polish managers leading Polish employees. Having previously read books focused on Agile practices and IT management for knowledge workers, I initially thought this more generic approach might not be applicable to my field. However, I was drawn in by the engaging writing style and found it enjoyable to read. The examples often present extreme situations followed by thoughtful analysis, offering a valuable perspective.

The book reminds me significantly of Effective Manager and its second edition , but with important adaptations for Polish work culture. For instance, the authors note that while Poles generally complain frequently, unlike in many other cultures, this doesn’t necessarily indicate negative attitudes. Rather, it might actually signal concern, commitment to proper task execution, or genuine engagement. The book also includes excellent references to Transactional Analysis as a foundation for communication, with examples of difficult conversations and strategies for handling them.

In summary, despite initially approaching it somewhat skeptically, I found this to be an excellent management book that incorporates plenty of humor. It serves as a solid instruction manual for new managers, while offering valuable insights even for those with more experience. Although it’s a good book, I would caution against applying its recommendations directly in multinational organizations without adaptation to diverse cultural contexts.