Title:  Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box
Author:  The Arbinger Institute
Format: Hardcover, 175pp.
ISBN: 1576750949
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Pub
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Leadership and Self-Deception is another one of those parable stories we love to read (and write - if you haven't read, Teacher's Pet or Judge for Yourself, click here)  It's the story of Tom, who has just started working as a senior manager for Zagrum Company. 

"You have a problem," Bud, the executive vice president tells Tom.  "A problem you are going to have to solve if you are going to make it at Zagrum."  The problem is self-deception, the inability to see that one has a problem. 

The subtitle of the book is "Getting Out of the Box".  Bud explains to Tom there are two ways of looking at every set of behaviors: in or out of "the box", the term for being self-deceived (versus "thinking outside the box" - different use of the box).  In the box, we see ourselves and others as mere objects - headcount, "that woman," "little people", "worker bees".  Out of the box, we see others as real people with names, families and interesting stories. 

L&S-D does not promote group-hugs or singing "Kumbaya".  Zagrum Company is the industry leader (we never do learn what industry), and the characters are hard-nosed professionals who do not tolerate sub-par performance.  But the way Zagrum employees accomplish their mission is revolutionary: they work with, disagree with and reprimand one another from "out of the box" - they focus on the humanity of their colleagues, rather than their own self-interest.

In many ways, L&S-D does not promote anything new.  Even though we have heard many of the lessons before, we don't always really learn them.  It makes a compelling business case and reminds us how much we contribute to the situations we don't like.  As Tom says: 

Once I get in the box, I need the other guy to keep being a jerk so that I'll remain justified in blaming him for being a jerk.  And since when I'm out of the box I neither need nor provide others to be jerks, I can actually ease, rather than exacerbate, tough situations. 

To order Leadership and Self-Deception,  click here.