At this critical junction in the history of humankind, leaders that are
proficient in magical thinking aren't going to solve our problems.
Creating alternative realities is not the answer. We need a very
different kind of leadership--leaders who can resist the calls of
regression and whose outlook is firmly based in reality. We need leaders
who analyze and draw conclusions from, or use their own experiences as a
development tool, face their strengths and weaknesses, and critique
their own experiences in order to build new understandings. In this very
personal and entertaining book, Manfred Kets de Vries, one of the
"gurus" in the field of leadership studies offers his thoughts on
leadership and life, reflections written for executives and the people
who deal with them. As a psychoanalyst and leadership professor let
loose in the world of renowned global organizations--as a passionate
educator and scholar, or just a human being at the receiving end of
heart-rending emails--he examines the pitfalls of leadership and the
challenges for the professionals who work with senior executives in
today's AI-focused world. He points out why leaders can derail, and what
steps they can take to prevent this from happening. Ultimately, this
book encourages you to "Know yourself," but makes no bones about the
challenge it represents. Understanding our "inner theatre" will always
be an uphill struggle. Kets de Vries points out why deep dives into our
inner world are always fraught with many anxieties. Included in the many
subjects covered by the author are the loneliness of command, the
management of disappointment, the destructive role of greed, the impact
of stubbornness, the role of storytelling, the importance of wellness,
and the role of corporate culture. In addition, the book addresses the
important topic of how to create great teams and best places to work.
Furthermore, the book touches on endings- the ending of our career and
the growing realization of the inevitable ending of our life. As time
grows short, Kets de Vries emphasizes that we have no time to lose in
dealing with our anxieties, regrets, and the things we spend much of our
life determined not to see. Taking a deep dive into self-knowledge
requires courage and support, and he is here to guide you through it.
