I was recommended this book by my line manager as something that might be a good read as I started my new role as a team lead. It’s only a short book at around 150 pages, and consists of a series of articles that were originally posted on the Harvard Business Review website and have been adapted for book form. 

Covering topics such as resolving conflict, stressful conversations, dealing with difficult people or mean colleagues, passive aggressive or stressed people, each chapter was small but mighty. 

Each chapter contained at least one case study of a situation related to the topic (with names changed of course) which really helped bring both the situation and the solution to life. 

Although written for an american audience, most of the material translated well for a UK setting - but as with all business books like these, it’s up to you to pick and choose which tips will work for you and which are better left ignored. 

Not all the chapters are relevant to me right now, but I have left lots of sticky notes through the book and I can definitely see it being the kind of book I come back to in certain times of stress.