Leadership and Self-Deception by the Arbinger Institution

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Humans are self-centered beings at their core, no matter how ‘good’ a person really is. One can be as kind a person as possible, but in reality, they often will still put their own interests before others. Self-deception at is essence is a poison of the mind, hindering one from having a realistic understanding of the world that surrounds them. When people put themselves before others, consciously or not, they are often neglecting the best interests of the people in their lives. In the book Leadership and Self-Deception, the Arbinger Institution discusses the difficult problem of self-centered behavior that often is unnoticed. The book uses an example of a box – a box of blindness to the crippling self-deception many of us exhibit – to illustrate the fact that people are metaphorically trapped in the box of self-destructive hubris. Through the narrative of Bud Jefferson, vice president of Zagrum Company, the book illustrates the negative outcomes this self-centered behavior “inside the box” can bring, and points to ways to work on “getting outside of the box”.
Humans are fallen beings, born as sinners, living self-centered lives, often making decisions in our own best interests. The only being who has ever lived a life completely outside of the box is Jesus Christ, the son of God as a man on Earth. He did not care how people perceived him, he only cared about others, specifically those who others did not care the least bit for such as the diseased, the criminals, and the prostitutes. In the end, he sacrificed himself for the fallen, self-centered humans he created, the ultimate “outside of the box” act. No one since or before has been such a shining example of how to lead others and live free of self-deception and self-betrayal - ...

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...cted betrayal runs deep into our veins like a sickness, and soon transforms us into someone filled with hubris and unawareness our actions truly have on those who surround us. In the business world, this could hinder you from helping your company, as an employee or leader who intends to only help themselves can very easily bring down their company and those who make it up with their selfish behavior. One must become aware of their self-centered and deceptive behavior to fully “get outside of the box” they are living in. To do this, one must first look at the how to help the others around them before themselves, and ultimately to focus on what is going on outside of themselves, or to use a cliché, walk in the shoes of others before we judge them and to better support them in their shortcomings. The hope would then be that others will support you when you are in need.

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