cover image Alpha Male Syndrome

Alpha Male Syndrome

Kate Ludeman, Eddie Erlandson. Harvard Business School Press, $26.95 (276pp) ISBN 978-1-59139-913-1

Alphas-who are predominantly male-may be aggressive achievers who get things done, but their potential for explosive anger and ruthless competitiveness can be bad for business. Husband-and-wife consulting team Ludeman and Erlandson (Radical Change, Radical Results) steer Alphas and those who work with them away from dysfunction and towards productivity in this action-oriented book that may miss its overconfident primary target. The authors, who have coached clients including Michael Dell, delineate the four major types of alpha males, their strengths and weaknesses, and ""action steps"" for both alphas and their colleagues. Commanders are ""take-charge types... with a burning desire for victory"" whose ""high expectations lead to frustration and rage."" Ludeman and Erlandson advise them to expose some vulnerability to promote healthy working relationships and offer colleagues ways of handling commander anger, like standing your ground. Visionaries are passionate dreamers who might ignore nuts and bolts, strategists are analytical geniuses who can come across as know-it-alls and executors are results-oriented but overly critical. Since arrogant alpha males, often blind to their shortcomings, will be impatient with coaching (and self-help books), their beleaguered colleagues may be the ones poring over this account.