The Leader on the Couch

This book is a nice compliment to an earlier book by Manfred Kets de Vries, Leaders, Fools and Imposters. It is easy to read, accessible and provides managers and executives important content that should promote self, other and organizational insights. Part One has as its focus leadership pathologies. In particular narcissistic leaders as well as other types such a dramatic, controlling, dependent and self-defeating are described and explained in terms of the workplace problems they generate. Borrowing from Karen Horney, leadership is also examined from the perspectives of moving away and against others. This section is very helpful to anyone trying to better understand life at work that is irrational and at times punishing. Part Two explores ways to change these leadership dynamics including a description of the author's extensive seminar for senior executives aimed at promoting reflective leadership. In particular the chapter on executive coaching reveals the many sobering challenges involved in providing this service and well worth reading. Anyone offering or contemplating providing executive coaching can benefit from reading this chapter including executives who coach others. Part Three describes unconscious group and organizational dynamics that are under appreciated and many times undiscussable without external facilitation. The book concludes with the hope that authentic organizations and leaders can be nurtured into existence. Many elements of an optimal organizational culture are described and are worth noting. They are aspirational in nature. Unfortunately one might wonder if these are attributes are truly realizable in any meaningful way.

When Manfred Kets de Vries uses stories - from his own experience, history or Zen parables - to show how you can use psychology to understand the workplace, his points are clear and seem immediately applicable. Admittedly, his discussion of the theories that frame and guide his work vary from instructive to somewhat obscure, and his classifications of personality and organizational types may seem arbitrary, but when he explains the processes involved in change, he is realistic and humane. Philosophically or psychologically inclined readers may really want a more thorough explanation of de Vries' concepts, such as how unconscious structures interact with cultural ones. Those who take a less theoretical approach may not be as intrigued. getAbstract thinks that readers who exert some conscious patience will find the author's core points about the role of the unconscious in the business world insightful and useful.

Wow this book takes identifying the office players to a new level. He gives you an understanding of how they got where they are, what they respond to and what they can do to benifit the organization. Also can be a great mirror for the reader if they are able to accept the results. I look forward to his next book and I won't wait this long to purchase it.