Mars and Venus in the Workplace: A Practical Guide for Improving Communication and Getting Results at Work

Effective communication is a crucial life skill, and John Gray's Mars and Venus series has helped millions peacefully sort out emotional issues in their personal relationships. Now he turns his attention to the professional side of life with Mars and Venus in the Workplace. The concepts remain the same, but are in an entirely new setting; as he says in the introduction, "although gender differences are often not as obvious in the workplace, they are there and are often misunderstood."

Gray proceeds to cover a variety of situations typical on the job, from solving revenue problems to negotiating a raise. With his important points printed in bold type, and plenty of prioritizing lists and straightforward examples, this is an easy read that allows you to focus on finding the solutions you seek, rather than wading through research terminology.

If you are new to Gray's work, the continual gender-based assumptions may feel outdated, but know the author understands that no one is all male or all female and that we all have areas of sensitivity. The recurring gender pronouns are a simple way of teaching us what years of private practice have shown him: humans of both gender can benefit greatly by listening effectively, being verbally straightforward, and analyzing the reactions of others. --Jill Lightner