Job Therapy: How to Build Awesome Work Relationships and Fix the Ones That Aren't book cover

Job Therapy Summary

How to Build Awesome Work Relationships and Fix the Ones That Aren't

Tessa West
3.47(141 Reviews)

Job Therapy Summary Overview

Feeling trapped in your job? "Job Therapy" by NYU psychologist Dr. Tessa West reveals why career dissatisfaction isn't about bad bosses - it's about unmet psychological needs. Based on 1,500+ recruiter interviews, this guide transforms how you view work relationships forever.

Key Themes in the Job Therapy Summary

  • career identity crisis
  • workplace relationship dynamics
  • professional burnout profiles
  • job satisfaction psychology
  • career transition strategy

Best Quotes from the Job Therapy Summary

  • Career unhappiness is a relationship problem rather than just burnout.

  • Career development is rarely linear and often requires personalized solutions.

  • Exploring options isn't the same as leaving.

  • Most professionals experience career unhappiness as a relationship problem.

  • You can feel highly identified with a career even when it brings little satisfaction.

Characters in the Job Therapy Summary

  • Tessa WestAuthor and researcher of workplace dynamics
  • TimothyTechnology expert facing a crisis of identity
  • Colin Wayne LeachIdentity expert who developed assessment tools

About the Author

About the Author of Job Therapy

Tessa West, author of Job Therapy: Finding Work That Works for You, is a Professor of Psychology at New York University and a leading expert in workplace dynamics and interpersonal communication.

With a PhD from the University of Connecticut, her research on relationships and organizational behavior has been published in top-tier journals like Psychological Science and funded by the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.

West’s work bridges academic rigor and practical application, offering actionable strategies for navigating career dissatisfaction and fostering fulfillment. She is also the author of Jerks at Work: Toxic Coworkers and What to Do About Them, a practical guide to managing difficult workplace relationships.

A frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal and a sought-after media commentator, West has appeared on Good Morning America, CNN, and NPR, and her insights are regularly featured in The New York Times and Forbes. Her frameworks on job satisfaction and productivity are taught in top MBA programs and utilized by executives worldwide.

Download Summary of Job Therapy

Get the Job Therapy summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.

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