Leadership and Self‐Deception: Getting out of the Box

Citation

Mann, S. (2010), "Leadership and Self‐Deception: Getting out of the Box", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 31 No. 7, pp. 666-667. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437731011079709

This is a new edition of the book originally published nearly a decade ago and is written by four individuals who make up “The Arbinger Institute” which is an international organisation, based in the USA, set up to help solve problems created by “self‐deception”. According to the authors, self‐deception obscures the truth about ourselves, corrupts our views of others and inhibits our ability to make wise and helpful decisions. This undermines our leadership potential at every turn, they claim.

The book consists of three main parts: self‐deception and the “box”, how we get in the “box” and how we get out of the “box”. Using on‐going vignettes that run through the book, the authors lead us to understand how we are “in the box” when we are experiencing self‐deception. A fictional organisation complete with fictional characters are used to guide us through the whole process from discovering self‐deception to learning how to get out of the self‐deception box. Unlike other business self‐help books, this is a story book – it does not give us lists of “top tips” or complicated theories. It simply weaves an engaging tale about likeable and believable characters to help us understand the problem of self‐deception – and what to do about it. There are more “technical” elements, with diagrams and lists, but these are incorporated within the on‐going story so seem to flow naturally within the narrative.

The disadvantage of this unusual style, is that this is not a book that can be dipped in and out of, or read out of order. It needs to be read from start to finish, novel style. He advantage is that this makes it a different kind of read and may well have appeal to those of us jaded by the plethora of business self‐help books out there. A novel approach that is engaging and intriguing is likely to hook the reader in – and keep them hooked.

The book does end with some of the more traditional pointers that you might expect from a business book and this helps bring the material together in a cohesive way. The book ends by showing us ways is which the lessons of the book can be applied, for example in areas such as applicant hiring, team building, conflict resolution and personal growth.

Overall, this is an intriguing book with an easy style that engages the reader throughout. Definitely recommended!