Description
Book SynopsisThe unprecedented challenges of today—a world-wide pandemic, climate disruption on a global scale, and an economic instability that knows no boundaries—require a leadership grounded in a profound and unflinching awareness of our interconnectedness and the existential stakes before us.
The Path to Authentic Leadership frames the dilemmas of leadership within the insights provided by the Ouroboros, the mythic snake willing to destroy parts of itself so that it can be renewed. Like the Ouroboros, today’s leaders must be prepared to enter into a dynamic, uncertain, and ever-changing environment with the capacity to reflect, adapt, let go of what is no longer working, and create solutions that are not only renewing, but sustainable.
Drawing from his decades of training in psychoanalysis and the systems-psychodynamic method, Kets de Vries discusses the effects of the pandemic in the context of the seven deadly sins, the impact of shame, evil, the lure of charisma and even the perils of procrastination. Also, he explores the inner theatre of white-collar criminals and the super-rich. He comments on the role of magic in management and the paradoxical role of koans, serving as catalysts for change.
From there, he goes on to outline a path toward organizational transformation, turning again to the self-renewing process presented by the Ouroboros. This dynamic is applied to his 7C sequence for organizational transformation—Context, Confrontation, Clarification, Crystallization, Cascading, Consolidation, and Continuity. Its enactment is brought to life through the story of a troubled CEO and the careful, step-by-step advice offered by an experienced executive consultant.
Throughout, Kets de Vries reminds us that the path to authentic leadership will be meaningless unless it is guided by a deeply held commitment to serve as a force for good.
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Dancing with the Ouroboros
• Discusses the etymological origins and symbolism of the ouroboros.
• Aligns the transformation and renewal seen in the ouroboros to psychological
theory, referring in particular to the concept of “twice borns.”
• Shares his own drive to reinvent himself professionally throughout his life.
• Discusses his own life’s goal to create stronger, more ethical leaders who
are willing to engage in the kind of renewal suggested by the ouroboros.
• Reviews the main themes of the chapters to follow.
Chapter 1: Covid and the Seven Deadly Sins
• Explores the seven deadly sins in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and
Issues related to leadership and work life.
• Discusses how leadership might be reimagined post-pandemic, looking at the female leadership during the pandemic and the seven virtues.
Chapter 2: Is There Banality in Evil?
• Examines the origins of evil from a psychological perspective, asking what makes a person, action and even organization ‘evil.’
• Analyses obedience to authority and its relationship to evil acts.
• Discusses group dynamics and the famous Milgram and Zimbardo studies.
• Examines how we can prevent evil and looks at early childhood development.
Chapter 3: The Psychology of White-Collar Criminals
• Analyses the psychological factors behind white-collar crime.
• Looks at the Fraud Triangle and the Fraud Diamond as tools to examine
the factors and conditions that can put people and organisations at greater
risk for committing this type of crime.
• Examines ways to prevent white-collar crime, with special focus on organisational culture and leadership development.
Chapter 4: The Dance Macabre of Shame
• Offers a psychological inquiry into the profound impact shame can have on people.
• This chapter is framed by a story of an HR executive who seeks to understand the destructive perfectionism of one of her sales directors.
• Explains the differences between shame and guilt and provides both an evolutionary
and psychological perspective on shame.
• Provides a step-by-step protocol for overcoming shame.
Chapter 5: Catching the Thief of Time: The Perils of Procrastination
• Analyzes the “thief of time”—procrastination—from a psychological perspective
• Offers actional steps to help turn around procrastination and become more productive.
Chapter 6: The inner theatre of the super-rich
• Provides a psychological examination of the super-rich, breaking their inner world down
in terms of ten behavioral themes.
• Considers whether the super-rich are afflicted by the so-called “Dark Dyad” of narcissism
and psychopathology.
• Concludes with a discussion of wealth management and the new move by the
super-rich to participate in efforts like the “Giving Pledge” and other more ambitious forms of philanthropy.
Chapter 7: The Hell with Charisma
• Discusses the dark side of charisma in light of recent political leaders and populist
movements.
• Examines the psychological components at work, including charisma and transference.
• Looks at Plato’s model of philosopher-kings and the need to revitalize civil education.
Chapter 8: Transformation Challenges
• Presents a step-by-step guide to a transformation challenge in an organization,
utilizing the 7C sequence.
• The process is framed within the story of a newly appointed CEO who needs to
launch such a transformation and seeks the advice of a consultant.
• The 7C sequence is explained within the context of the ouroboros dynamic.
• Touches on key issues in the transformation such as altering the company’s
reward structure and the need to create small wins.
Chapter 9: Creating Emotionally Intelligent Organizations
• Here the same consultant from Chapter 8 reappears to guide an overly left-brain oriented
founder to move toward in creating a more emotionally intelligent organization.
• Discusses the benefits of emotionally intelligent organizations, including increased self-
awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management.
• Provides a specific, step-by-step approach to instilling a more emotionally intelligent
organization described as authentizotic.
Chapter 10: Magic and Management
• Discusses the allure of astrology and pseudoscience, against the backdrop
of the human need to manage uncertainty.
• Analyzes the darker side to these approaches from a psychological point of view,
particularly as it pertains to management.
• Concludes with a discussion of how one can adopt a more empowering way to manage
and make critical decisions in life.
Chapter 11: Koans as Agents of Changes
• Introduces the basics of Buddhist koan practices, giving examples.
• Discusses the parallels between koan work and the psychoanalytic method.
• Gives examples of how koan-like interventions can help jolt the awareness
of leaders and organisations.
Concluding Comments
• Reiterates and expands on the significance of undertaking the journey towards transformation and authenticity—a journey that is often the hallmark of those who
come to lead effectively and ethically.
• Analyses the classical image of the phoenix, the immortal bird who is reborn wiser and stronger from the ashes of its predecessor.
• Looks to the Old Testament story of Jacob wrestling with the angel as a symbolic example of this journey toward authenticity.
• Discusses the important of creative destruction – a central element of the symbolism
seen in the phoenix, story of Jacob and the ouroboros.
