Confession: I started this book with a slightly closed mind. I’ve read a lot of leadership books with so-called “new” methods to solving all cultural and organizational problems. Then when I realized it was written in an allegorical format with fictional characters, I just about threw the book in the trash. I’ve always felt that business or principle based books written in a story format were a gimmick to make 15 pages into 200 pages–a book with more pages appears more legit.
I’m happy to report I stuck with it and really appreciated what it taught and how it made me reevaluate my approach to leadership. What really surprised me was after I finished it how much it stuck with me–I kept thinking about it.
Many of the principles taught can be found in other behavioral book like Crucial Conversations; however, Leadership and Self-deception help me review and internalize good communication on a deeper level.
I’ll be discussing some of the principles in the book as it relates to LDS leadership in future posts. Topics covering the core principles of the book:
- The Problem Beneath Other Problems
- The Deep Choice That Determines Influence
- Life in the Box
- Collusion
The big take away here is to go read this book. I’m interested in hearing your thoughts as well. It would be a fantastic ward council activity to have all auxiliary leaders read and discuss this book.
If you have read this book, how have you applied the principles into your church leadership?
What do we do in a council where half the members literally can’t read and the other half just don’t? So many times I want to suggest that someone read a book, an article, a something, and then remember that they can’t read and/or comprehend, so what’s the use? I find the lack of literacy here in the Midwest truly frustrating. I’ve read the book, at the suggestion of my husband, and found it quite informative. I probably should read it again now that I actually have a leadership position.
Life changing book. Changed the way that I look at the stories I tell myself (to steal from Crucial Conversations) and as such how I treat others. James Ferrell, author of The Peacegiver, is part of the Arbinger Group.
One of the few leadership books I’ve read that talk about really caring about the people we work/serve with. It’s one I like to revisit and remember the lessons (funny, just like they do in the book).
I was first introduced to this book during my undergraduate program. I spent time with my professor, also a member of the church, discussing the principles and how they apply to the church. He mentioned there is a book by some of the authors, with a more religious approach called, Bonds That Make Us Free. It follows the same principles but it goes into more depth.
My company actively uses Leadership & Self-Deception in our leadership training so I have been fortunate to have been surrounded by it. When I served as Executive Secretary, I had my Bishop read it, but we never got as far as asking the entire Ward Council to read it as well.