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Office Superman
The ultimate guide to becoming an invaluable asset at work, this clever and thoroughly enjoyable business book offers 21 powerful career strategies for getting ahead and staying ahead--presented through the lens of the Superman mythology. Created in collaboration with DC Comics, it equates the image of Superman--an archetypal superhero who symbolizes bravery, heroism, and superiority at its purest--with excellence in the workplace, and features memorable artwork that spans the entire 70-year history of Superman comics. Subjects include working effectively with superiors and coworkers, solving problems, standing out and fitting in, achieving daily excellence, practicing sound ethics, communicating effectively, creating customer satisfaction, and much more.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Alan Axelrod
177 books54 followersAlan Axelrod, Ph.D., is a prolific author of history, business and management books. As of October 2018, he had written more than 150 books, as noted in an online introduction by Lynn Ware Peek before an interview with Axelrod on the National Public Radio station KPCW. Axelrod resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 1, 2017
Rating - 5.3
The learnings about the origination and version of Superman were interesting but the novelty soons wears off & you start to notice that Axelrod only references a few comics & covers the same issues
From a business perspective, Axelrod covers very basic stuff (dress code, attitude) that offer no value to someone w any sort of professional acumen: An indirect stereotype against the comic reader
Interesting Thoughts
Be all that you can be - not boundless potential but a certain limitation. Most of the time, we are conditioned to expect little from ourselves and less from others.
Getting laid off used to be an unthinkable catastrophe, now it is par for the course
Every culture has heroes with supernatural strength and the ability to fly
The original Superman could not fly rather leap tall buildings, he was strong but not unimaginably so, faster than a train not a speeding bullet
We have become too familiar w inflation, especially in entertainment - each new flick has to be bigger and better than the last one
Goals - well-defined, challenging but not unrealistic and motivational
Perform self-audits
Action may bring failure but inaction is failure
Luck matters but what you do with it is more important
Original Superman was a bald megalomaniac whose ambition is to rule the universe
Superman was borrowed from Nietzsche who had the premise of Ubermensch in Thus Spake Zarathustra
In the context of business, when you put others first you will be rewarded
The apparent security of the lowroad is an illusion - if you reject the challenging tasks you will have failed before you started
JFK was and still is an inspiration
Balance - how you put yourself across as a person and how you put yourself across as a business person
Vocal qualities include tone and pitch but more important is the pace of delivery
Have a natural smile
If two people are yelling, neither can hear
Gossip and rumors are common in the workplace but they undermine morale and the spirit of collaboration
Resolving conflict is not about erasing all disagreement but about preventing disagreement from becoming unproductive conflict
Delegating tasks and monitoring their progress are essential leadership processes. Convey constant interest in the project at hand and excited anticipation over the results
Useful feedback only addresses issues that can be corrected - good criticism motivates not inhibits. Approach criticism as a mentor not as a judge
A defensive response to criticism is rarely productive - make sure the criticism is changeable
Praise is so important that if you are the leader of a group of three or more people, you should consider establishing a program of reinforcement meetings
Put emphasis on results
Develop an optimistic vocabulary
AIDA - Attention Interest Desire Action
Do not focus on the sales event rather the sales process
Non-verbal elements account for 93% of the impact of a speech
Rapport is a relationship of mutual trust and emotional affinity
Achilles Heel - a vulnerability
The business community is built on relationships some which will be cemented by personal affection
Arms folded across the chest indicate that you are listening but not hearing
Own up to your mistakes
Replace should have with next time
In the absence of competition , business dies and with it goes the entire economic structure
The learnings about the origination and version of Superman were interesting but the novelty soons wears off & you start to notice that Axelrod only references a few comics & covers the same issues
From a business perspective, Axelrod covers very basic stuff (dress code, attitude) that offer no value to someone w any sort of professional acumen: An indirect stereotype against the comic reader
Interesting Thoughts
Be all that you can be - not boundless potential but a certain limitation. Most of the time, we are conditioned to expect little from ourselves and less from others.
Getting laid off used to be an unthinkable catastrophe, now it is par for the course
Every culture has heroes with supernatural strength and the ability to fly
The original Superman could not fly rather leap tall buildings, he was strong but not unimaginably so, faster than a train not a speeding bullet
We have become too familiar w inflation, especially in entertainment - each new flick has to be bigger and better than the last one
Goals - well-defined, challenging but not unrealistic and motivational
Perform self-audits
Action may bring failure but inaction is failure
Luck matters but what you do with it is more important
Original Superman was a bald megalomaniac whose ambition is to rule the universe
Superman was borrowed from Nietzsche who had the premise of Ubermensch in Thus Spake Zarathustra
In the context of business, when you put others first you will be rewarded
The apparent security of the lowroad is an illusion - if you reject the challenging tasks you will have failed before you started
JFK was and still is an inspiration
Balance - how you put yourself across as a person and how you put yourself across as a business person
Vocal qualities include tone and pitch but more important is the pace of delivery
Have a natural smile
If two people are yelling, neither can hear
Gossip and rumors are common in the workplace but they undermine morale and the spirit of collaboration
Resolving conflict is not about erasing all disagreement but about preventing disagreement from becoming unproductive conflict
Delegating tasks and monitoring their progress are essential leadership processes. Convey constant interest in the project at hand and excited anticipation over the results
Useful feedback only addresses issues that can be corrected - good criticism motivates not inhibits. Approach criticism as a mentor not as a judge
A defensive response to criticism is rarely productive - make sure the criticism is changeable
Praise is so important that if you are the leader of a group of three or more people, you should consider establishing a program of reinforcement meetings
Put emphasis on results
Develop an optimistic vocabulary
AIDA - Attention Interest Desire Action
Do not focus on the sales event rather the sales process
Non-verbal elements account for 93% of the impact of a speech
Rapport is a relationship of mutual trust and emotional affinity
Achilles Heel - a vulnerability
The business community is built on relationships some which will be cemented by personal affection
Arms folded across the chest indicate that you are listening but not hearing
Own up to your mistakes
Replace should have with next time
In the absence of competition , business dies and with it goes the entire economic structure
August 4, 2020
Little more than a love letter to corporate capitalism. The facts and history about Superman were pretty cool but the advice it gives regarding business were stilted, cliche and stereotypical.
December 12, 2013
What does it take to have a job, family, and hobbies? It takes a SUPER person to understand all three have got to play a pivotal role in succeeding in life. Not one or two but all three to fell achievement, love, empathy, commitment, honesty, character, teamwork. This author had written over 40 books on leadership from Napoleon, Lincoln, Patton and now a comic book character is used too describe what it takes to be super in the workplace. Fun book to read,
March 7, 2014
I found this book in a hotel lounge, among many others. It was an interesting read, but not for the office lessons. It was for the Superman history and trivia. The so-called office lessons are really basic, maybe someone starting out after college can find this book useful.
Didn't finish it, but it was nice to learn some stuff about the Man of Steel that I didn't know.
Didn't finish it, but it was nice to learn some stuff about the Man of Steel that I didn't know.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews