Lead Your Boss: The Subtle Art of Managing Up

What if you proactively managed your relationship with your boss?! In response to those who constantly grumble about their boss, John Baldoni points out that subordinates can have a huge influence on this relationship. He suggests a number of techniques to play an active role in the organization, whether or not you're on the management committee. For example, how can you develop your assertiveness to provide constructive and stimulating feedback? How can you develop your creativity to contribute strategic ideas, which might end up being implemented by others? Etc. If there is one message to take away here, it's that helping the boss and the rest of the team to succeed is the best way to build your own success.
A book full of good sense, which doesn't provide revolutionary managerial thinking, but still helps to put the boss-subordinate relationship into perspective and think about the subordinate's positioning in a positive and proactive way.