A presentation on the Book "How to Work For an Idiot" by Dr. John Hoover

2. Two Questions
o How many of us have worked before ?
o How many of us were very happy with there
bosses ?
Think ..WHY ?

3. Remember...
o According to a survey, about 83.6 % of
employees worldwide do not get a chance to
choose their boss.
o In India this “percentage” is around 96.4 %
“You may have a chance to select
COMPANY, but not your BOSS”

4. What if you fail to get a boss you
would like to work with ?

5. HOW TO
WORK
FOR AN
IDIOT
Survive & Thrive ...
Without Killing Your Boss
BY : Dr. JOHN HOOVER

6. About the Author
Dr. JOHN HOOVER
• Former executive with Disneyland Entertainment
Division and McGraw-Hill
• Consulted on variety of projects for clients including
Delta Air Lines, Hilton Hotels, IBM, Printronix, Sanyo
Fischer & Xerox.
• Managing partner of second firm in a US to publish
books-on-tape, featuring well-known authors like
Herbert Benson, Peter F Drucker ,Tom Hopkins and
many more..
Who dared to call BOSS an Idiot ?

7. About the Author contd...
Dr. JOHN HOOVER
• Previously authored about Six different books in
similar field
• Well known teacher of Business Planning,
Communications, Entrepreneurship,
Organisational Behaviour, Management Principles
etc.
• And a lot more.....

8. Introduction
o The Origin :
• The miserable failure of seminar titled “How to manage people
who are Smarter, More talented, and Productive than you are”
To a group of bosses.
• Then emerged the idea of letting employees educated rather
than bosses.
o The Experiences:
• The gist of earnings during PhD, Dual Master Degree and years
of work experience as middle manager, executive, entrepreneur,
consultant etc.
• Thoughts of a teacher: Collaborative leadership, creativity,
responsibility, empowerment and Organisational behaviour.

9. o The Ground Realities :
• Practical workplace strategies
• Learning is easy, acting is difficult.
• Situational solutions and examples
o The way of presentation:
• Satirical but Sensible
• Light-hearted but Heartfelt
• Maintained level of dignity and respect

10. •How the Students become Teacher
•Example:
Psychology Class & The right corner of a
class room
• Ignore , slow down, act rebellious
-when it is displeasing
• Act , work , show enthusiasm
- when it is pleasing
Who Will Manage Whom ?

11. Bosses- Types
• Good Bosses
• God Bosses
• Machiavellian Bosses
• Sadistic Bosses

12. Bosses- Types
• Paranoid Bosses
• Buddy Bosses
• Idiot Bosses

13. Analyse your boss...
43%
19%
8%
7%
6%
17%
The Boss Mix
Good
Idiot
Paranoid
Buddy
God
Machivallian

14. Judging Boss
What to observe ? What to learn ?
Public Criticism
• Screams in public ?
• Appreciation when
alone ?
Inconsistent
• Sticks to decision ?
• Different work all
the times ?
Planning Skills
• Last moment
tasks,
• Unwanted
emergencies
• Stress
Excessive
Micromanaging
• Causes retard in
performance
• Trust decreases

16. Why only Bosses ?
More important : Analyse your self...
?
?
?
?
?
?
How about you ??
Good
Idiot
Paranoid
Buddy
God
Machivallian

17. How will “We” Improve ?
• Be a great performer
• “ Bad boss is not an excuse for being bad employee”
• Try to put everything in writing
• Notes
• Deadlines
• Tasks /priorities

18. • Rely on networks
• Be good to all – A liftman / Office boy
sometimes knows more than your boss
• Be aware of everything going on
• Never talk negative about boss to anyone
• Know your rights
• Don't allow your boss to cross the line
• If ever in problem, never report without solid
evidences. It is risky.

19. Start facing some Facts
• Your boss has more power than you in the office
• You may not like your company or the boss, but you
like your salary
• You have more power than your boss outside the
office
• The boss can not control your thoughts or emotions

20. Be Prepared...
• Punishment for competent behaviour is not always part
of a conspiracy, sometimes bosses just don't know any
better.
• Be Stupid , Be smart :
Act tactfully, learn when & where ?
After all :
Your success is linked to your boss’s - you either
succeed together or fail together
Why not succeed…

21. After reading “How to work for an Idiot”,
I feel I have become a better boss myself.
– Stew Leonard, owner of Stew Leonards Inc.
The Review

22. Wish you all have “Great Bosses” in
future
Thank You