Deep Change: Discovering the Leader Within

I found this slightly more self-helpy than other books I've read on leadership, but nonetheless it is an easy and interesting read. At its heart is the interesting idea that if you want to change something around you, you have to look at what you need to change within yourself. Also central is the idea that we are either engaging in change or accepting the slow path to death. I didn't like this idea, as I don't think organisational flows and patterns are this simplistic. Nonetheless, I would recommend this book because of it is a quick and easy read, not overly burdened with leadership theory, and there is enough in it to provoke thought and reflection.

Like Ghandi’s maxim—“be the change you want to see”—Dr. Quinn believes that to effect deep change, it starts from changing within oneself. This is book is both intended to inspire and provide a guidebook for such a focus. In four sections, Quinn defines "deep change," discusses the need for personal change, provides insights into the perceptions of an internally driven leader, and challenges the reader to develop a vision that includes the creation of excellence. Each chapter provides specific guidance by inviting the reader to deeply reflect on a set of questions. I love the premise behind the book and it is a valuable departure from the how-to books that just skate the surface of leadership.

I read this for a leadership class. I found most of it unconvincing and irrelevant to me as a leader of my organization. Having said that, I could imagine that this framework might be helpful to middle managers within large bureaucratic organizations.