YOU'RE THE BOSS

Organizational consultant Wallace has plenty to tell about how the corporate bosssubordinate relationship really works--and through a combination of straight talk and pertinent vignettes, she tells it winningly. Each of 20 chapters begins with a faulty assumption that may torpedo the unwary. ""Take the job, worry about the boss later,"" and you may end up in a no-win situation. ""Climb the promotional ladder rung by rung,"" and you may needlessly limit your opportunities. In the first case, the pitfall can be avoided by a combination of research into the firm and its employees, of savvy questions to the prospective boss in an interview, and (in the extreme) of prising information from the ""same barber or hairdresser."" Some other insights into the corporate hierarchy: observe the niceties of the (almost-military) chain of command; beware the self-made boss (but be aware of your role in encouraging his meddling, too); find ways to make ""putting off until tomorrow"" pay for you; and cater ""to the caprice and vagaries of the chairman's or other big chief's ego,"" since it's ""a big part of organizational life."" Wallace's suggestions may especially suit women new to middle-management or lower positions, and uncertain of how to play the game (like the secretary who blamed the boss for ruining her promotion chances, but in fact never really demonstrated initiative in her job). Reasonable and realistic.