Description
Book SynopsisLessons for leaders on resolving the ongoing struggle between instinct and the creative mind
Kings, heads of government, and corporate executives lead thousands of people and manage endless resources, but may not have mastery over themselves. Often leaders know that right action is important, but have little (if any) understanding of what prevents them from acting in accordance with their intentions. In this important book, leadership expert Richard Daft portrays this dilemma as a struggle between instinct (elephant) and intention (the executive) using the most current research on the intentional vs. the habitual mind to explain how this phenomenon occurs.
- Based on current research and real-life examples
- Offers leaders a method for directing themselves more productively
- Written by an expert in leadership, organizational performance, and change management
Through real-life examples and recent studies in psychology, management and Ea
Trade Review
"The book is terrific – it identifies an important issue for leaders, and tackles it in a very practical way, with plenty of techniques to choose from and many examples of them being used successfully. We all struggle with our inner elephant, and if you want to help get more control by your inner executive, this book would definitely help." (Globe and Mail, September 2010)
Table of Contents
Preface vii
Acknowledgments ix
Part One The Two Selves
1. The Problem of Managing Yourself 3
The Conflict Between Knowing and Doing
The Universal Failure of Willpower
The Divided Self: Executive and Elephant
Learning to Lead from Your Inner Executive
Purpose of This Book
2. Recognize Your Two Selves 15
Levels of Consciousness
Two Voices Within
Why Your Mind is Filled with Automatic Thoughts
Unfocused Elephant Mind Versus Focused Executive Presence
Small Box Versus Large Mind
Part Two Ways You May Mislead or Delude Yourself
3. Three Tendencies That Distort Your Reality 37
Your Internal Judge
Your Internal Magician
Your Internal Attorney
4. Every Leader’s Six Mental Mistakes 52
Reacting Too Quickly
Inflexible Thinking
Wanting Control
Emotional Avoidance and Attraction
Exaggerating the Future
Chasing the Wrong Gratifications
Part Three How to Start Leading Yourself
5. Engage Your Intention 71
Visualize Your Intention
Verbalize Your Intention
6. Follow Through on Your Intentions 90
Write Down Your Intentions
Set Deadlines
Design Tangible Mechanisms
7. Calm Down to Speed Up 107
Get Connected
Let ItHappen
Sit by Your Problem
Relax Your Body
Calm Your Elephant by Acting the Part or Making
a Gentle Request
8. Slow Down to Stop Your Reactions 125
Stop and Think
Stop Interrupting
Detach from Your Emotions and Impulses
Just Say No
Employ Punishment
Part Four Become Aware of Your Inner Resources
9. Get to Know Your Inner Elephant 147
Know Yourself
Solicit Feedback
Take Advantage of a Setback
10. Expand Your Awareness 162
Review the Day
Contemplate Creatively
Part Five Reach for the Heights
11. Sharpen Your Concentration 177
Focus Your Attention
Focus on Means, Not Ends
Slow Down, Look, and Listen
Focus on People
12. Develop Your Witness 192
Turn Inward to Develop Your Witness
Use Radical Self-Inquiry
Who Am I?
13. Reprogram Yourself 209
Repeat a Mantra
Prayer May Help, but Not the Way You Think
14. Mend Your Mind with Meditation 223
Why Meditate?
An Easy Way to Start
Two Essentials
Mindfulness Meditation
Try Visual Rather Than Verbal
Contemplative Meditation
Part Six Can You Lead from a People Frame of Reference?
15. Change Your Frame to See People 243
What is Your Frame?
From Leading Objects to Leading Humans
How to Change Your Frame
16. Change Your Frame to Ask Questions 261
From Answering Questions to Asking Questions
In All Things, Consult
17. Living and Leading from Your Inner Executive 275
Higher Consciousness Revisited
When Her Mind Went Quiet
Answers to Individual Questions
Final Thoughts
Notes 294
About the Author 311
Exercise Index 313
Index 317
