How To Transform Relationships And Unleash Positive Results

Today brings the fourth edition of Leadership and Self-Deception, by The Arbinger Institute. Previous editions during the past two decades have inspired readers and taught them that to effectively lead our teams, careers, and relationships we must be honest with ourselves about who we are and what motivates us.

The book will show you how to identify self-deception and reverse its impact on personal and professional relationships—a critical skill in our polarizing times. The new edition of the book applies fresh insights into timeless concepts with a broader, more diverse set of characters.

Self-deception is the action or practice of allowing oneself to believe that a false or unvalidated feeling, idea, or situation is true.

“Self-deception is the most debilitating of organizational issues. This is because problems cannot be solved if the people responsible for the problems remain resistant to the possibility that they may need to change,” according to The Arbinger Institute.

Self-deception can inhibit your effectiveness and degrade your leadership. For example, as explained by TEDx speaker, Gregg Vanourek, self-deception can:

Limit your growth and potential since you are not facing up to your weaknesses.
Prevent you from seeing beyond your own opinions and priorities.
Lead to unethical decisions and behaviors, including justifying poor behavior, such as intimidation, harassment, or bullying.
Inhibit your leadership effectiveness and thus organizational productivity.
Lead to crises because you are in denial about problems and your own role in them.

Told through an engaging story that everyone can relate to, Leadership and Self-Deception, will show you:

How to identify self-deception in your career, company, or community.
How self-deception can blind us to our true motivations and sabotage our outcomes.
How an Outward Mindset can transform your personal and professional outlook.

“Once we see ourselves clearly, we can navigate complex human interactions and transform to create positive change,” explains The Arbinger Institute.

Today, The Arbinger Institute shares these insights with us:

Question: Why do you think the book has resonated so well with readers since the original edition was published in 2000?

The Arbinger Institute: Would you brave a look into a mirror that exposed your worst behaviors but offered a path for transformation? Leadership and Self-Deception is that mirror! This book has connected with audiences for decades because it invites readers to examine their motivations and perspectives, serving as a timeless resource for anyone looking to improve their leadership skills and interpersonal connections.

Question: Why is the book's storytelling approach so effective?

The Arbinger Institute: This narrative uses real-life examples and relatable characters inside a fictional, easy-to-read narrative to fearlessly expose the ways we deceive ourselves. In short, it shines a spotlight on our blind spots. Using relatable stories, it reveals how self-deception hinders our success. But it's not just about exposing problems; it offers practical solutions. The book equips readers with tools to overcome self-deception, build stronger connections, and lead in a way that others want to follow.

Question: Tell us more about the benefits of participating in the Arbinger Book Club.

The Arbinger Institute: The Arbinger Book Club is your chance to connect with fellow readers and delve deeper into Leadership and Self-Deception’s applicable concepts and approaches that will change the way you live and lead. It's an opportunity to learn from others, challenge your own thinking, and gain a deeper understanding of how to create positive change in your personal and professional life. Join us for stimulating discussions, shared learning, and a supportive community of like-minded individuals.

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The Arbinger Institute is an international training, consulting, and coaching firm that specializes in conflict resolution and peacemaking—whether in families, in organizations, or between communities or nations.

Thank you to the book’s publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book.

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