Father Factor: How Your Father's Legacy Impacts Your Career

by Stephan B. Poulter

The father factor is the conscious understanding, awareness, and appreciation of the critical influence that your father had, still has, or could have in your career development and future potential. Noting that the father-son or father-daughter relationship is one of the least understood relationships in adult life, Dr. Poulter helps you become acutely aware of the immeasurable impact (negative or positive) that your father has on your ability to relate to other people. From this recognition you will also learn to move past the career roadblocks that frequently stem from the lingering effects of your father's influence.Defining five main styles of fathering, Dr. Poulter devotes a chapter each Superachiever FatherThe Time Bomb FatherThe Passive FatherThe Absent Father (whether physically or emotionally)The Compassionate / Mentor Father.By becoming aware of how your father related to you, particularly in a destructive relationship, you'll understand how your career relationships in many ways mirror your degree of comfort with your father's emotional legacy. In this way, career roadblocks-often based on interactions with people on the job-will be more easily transformed into career building blocks that will lead to advancement and success.

Genres: Psychology, Parenting

239 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2006

Reviews

[Franky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never underestimate the impact the first man in your life had on your development overall. Accurate descriptions of "types" and their patriarchal significance vis-à-vis progeny psyche and behavior. Excellent exercises included really got me thinking. Like me, you might want to share the book with a besty when you're done.

[Hans Drayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read the book in the Dutch translation. The first chapters are the most interesting. It is an important subject and I have learned al lot. But it repeats the same learnings again and again and that does not strengthen the book at all.
At the other hand it offers a lot of learnings. So I still can recommend the book. But for the Dutch readers: you must overcome the (as I see it) typical American way. It looks as if there is only one way to overcome your father factor and be successful in (working) life.

[Sander]

Clear structure of different types of roles of how a father can have impact on your career

[C.N.KARAMOLEGOS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Great book, with depth, on a very hard to find subject. Well recommend on father and son issues. Very helpful.

[Tope O. Adedolapo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. Very insightful

[Andi]

This book was not what I expected. After hearing the author on a nationwide radio show, I was intrigued enough to pick up his book. I made it 1/3 of the way through, and lost complete interest.

Maybe I would've found it more interesting if I was currently pursuing a career out of the home? If I was stuggling in the work place and trying to find answers to move up the corporate ladder?

It did make me think about how my own father impacted my career to become a teacher. I had never connected that together, but it made sense because he always wanted to be a high school teacher.

But, all in all, what I read was a complete snoozer. ;)

[Jed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Also part of career counselling. I wasn't terribly convinced that my father's approach to life and work has influenced mine. At the beginning, I thought it was interesting. Now, 2 years later, I can hardly remember anything from it.

[cynthia Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was pretty cheesy/self-helpy & repetitive, but I got a few good insights out of it. I will give him points for keeping things positive and not engaging in the psychological "blame game."

[Maria]

This is so terrible and simplistic and nothing more than a pep-talk for people who have no discrimination. Awful.

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is excellent. I recommend this for anyone working with children especially.