Working in Adversarial Relationships

ARYANNE OADE has worked as a Chartered Psychologist since 1991. She has appeared on C4 speaking about customer complaints handling; has given an address on 'Creativity in Business' at the British Association for the Advancement of Science and has appeared on Radio 4 speaking on the same topic. Aryanne has spoken at both the Leeds and York Institute of Directors Breakfast Meetings on 'Politics, Power and Profit'; and once at the British Psychological Society's Annual Conference on 'Stress Levels Among South Yorkshire Probation Officers.' She is a member of the British Psychological Society's Special Group in Coaching Psychology and holds general membership at the Division of Occupational Psychology. She is also a Member of the Association for Coaching.   Aryanne regularly coaches senior-level clients on the complex interpersonal issues surrounding handling adversarial, political and challenging colleagues. She has worked on these issues with clients from investment banking, consultancy and professional services firms, as well as variety of other global organizations. Since 1994 Aryanne has designed and delivered over 140 bespoke executive coaching programmes and over 110 tailored professional skills workshops for managers and leaders across the UK, Europe and North America.

• Overview How To Use This Book  What is an Adversarial Working Relationship?: The Behaviours and Dynamics in a Relationship Characterised by Little Trust or Support  The Impact of Adversarial Behaviour at Work: The Consequences of Oppositional Behaviour for Workplace Relationships Low Trust, Low Support: The Cornerstones of an Adversarial Approach  Selective Adversarial Behaviour: Colleagues Who Sometimes Use an Adversarial Approach and Who Sometimes Don't Working with Adversarial Peers: Getting Things Done Through Influence Managing Adversarial Team Members: Confronting Counter Productive Behaviour  Reporting to an Adversarial Manager: Handling a Boss with Organisational Authority and an Adversarial Mindset Adversarial Allies: A Narrative Case Study

'Aryanne Oade has written a highly practical guide book for people at any level of an organization who find themselves in an adversarial relationship. The step by step approach to understanding and learning to manage such relationships gives the reader hope and a fresh perspective that these relationships can improve. Reading this book is like having a personal coach at your fingertips. This reader friendly book is filled with compelling insight, real-life illustrations and practical to-dos. I can't imagine any person who won't find a mirror image in every section of the book.' - HY POMERANCE Ph.D, Chief Talent Officer, New York Life Insurance Company 'Aryanne has taken on this sensitive topic and treated it with consideration and care. I found the book to be both practical and challenging. I particularly liked the variety of case studies from different sectors and found the end-of-chapter questions stimulating. Aryanne's engaging writing style coupled with her extensive experience ensures that the reader gains valuable knowledge and understanding of this important topic.' - KEVIN B. MACCOURT, Head of Learning and Development, AIB 'Working life is filled with all kinds of human relationships, and unfortunately not all of them are positive. People who approach their work and their colleagues in an antagonistic and negative way are a normal part of almost all workplaces. When faced with the stresses and challenges that this entails it is difficult to know where to turn for advice. Aryanne Oade's latest book provides just that advice. Not afraid to deal with the difficult issues, the book speaks with the voice of experience to provide everyone at work with real strategies for navigating the sometimes toxic relationships they find themselves in. Intelligent, readable and practical, the book is a must for anyone who seeks strategies for productively dealing with adversarial work relationships.' - PROFESSOR CARL H. RHODES, Professor of Organization Studies, Swansea University 'In her latest book Working in Adversarial Relationships Aryanne makes a compelling case against the harmful effect of people acting and behaving in an adversarial way towards their colleagues. She intelligently offers a rational as to why these people behave the way they do. Her book is filled with gems that the reader is easily able to spot as they turn the pages. Her case studies keep the issues very real so that everyone can identify with their experiences from their own workplace. The part I enjoyed most about the book was that, as I read the pages, it felt like I was having a one-to-one session with Aryanne herself (real value for money). In writing this book Aryanne has put together powerful, pragmatic and very practical solutions that she expands and navigates her way through. The book provides a suit of armour to those who need to influence their most troublesome adversarial colleagues in the work place. In short this is a must read book.' - TOORAJ SHADNIA, Senior Project Manager, Tube Lines