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Deep Change: Discovering the Leader Within
Don't let your company kill you!
Open this book at your own risk. It contains ideas that may lead to a profound self-awakening. An introspective journey for those in the trenches of today's modern organizations, Deep Change is a survival manual for finding our own internal leadership power. By helping us learn new ways of thinking and behaving, it shows how we can transform ourselves from victims to powerful agents of change. And for anyone who yearns to be an internally driven leader, to motivate the people around them, and return to a satisfying work life, Deep Change holds the key.
Open this book at your own risk. It contains ideas that may lead to a profound self-awakening. An introspective journey for those in the trenches of today's modern organizations, Deep Change is a survival manual for finding our own internal leadership power. By helping us learn new ways of thinking and behaving, it shows how we can transform ourselves from victims to powerful agents of change. And for anyone who yearns to be an internally driven leader, to motivate the people around them, and return to a satisfying work life, Deep Change holds the key.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 1996
107 people are currently reading
1209 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
April 13, 2012
I have assigned this book to students in my leadership classes for years because it provides a means for people to examine their own feelings, experiences and cognitive maps around leadership. Quinn's basic thesis is that all people must be undergoing an ongoing process of "deep change" or they will slip into "slow death." This dynamic is particularly relevant in the workplace and speaks to people in jobs that are spirit killing rather than life giving. Quinn suggests a number of strategies that people can use to continue to learn, grow and change in life-giving ways. However, then he applies these sames principles to the systems and dynamics of organizations themselves and suggests that many organizations and companies are declining because of their unwillingness to face the challenges of ongoing development and change. Quinn's basic contention is that organizational change begins with the people within the organization taking the risks demanded by their own need for deep change, which can eventually lead organizations either to expel such persons (and continue in their own demise) or respond in ways that give new meaning purpose to the organization and the people working and leading there.
Given my own questions and struggles with my current workplace, I revisited this book and found it as challenging and insightful as when I read the first time many years ago. While Quinn writes as a business professor and consultant, and has no overt religious intent, the principles he discusses are deeply spiritual and applicable no matter what one's faith or religious commitments.
Given my own questions and struggles with my current workplace, I revisited this book and found it as challenging and insightful as when I read the first time many years ago. While Quinn writes as a business professor and consultant, and has no overt religious intent, the principles he discusses are deeply spiritual and applicable no matter what one's faith or religious commitments.
February 18, 2018
The authors work on organizational culture made me curious to read this book on change and leadership.
Confronting slow death and deep change is in our time of digital transformation an important topic.
It’s great on how he relates the personal change and organizational change.
For me the book combines to provide deeper general insights with a pragmatic concrete and actionable view.
Confronting slow death and deep change is in our time of digital transformation an important topic.
It’s great on how he relates the personal change and organizational change.
For me the book combines to provide deeper general insights with a pragmatic concrete and actionable view.
September 28, 2021
This is a very insightful book into how to lead at work with integrity.
March 1, 2024
More for organizational change. I was a bit disappointed in this. Basic steps and walk through.
November 9, 2019
This book makes my top 10 list for leadership/management books. Coupled with its companion book: “Building the Bridge While Walking on It” (same author), these two books have had a profound impact on me personally and on me as a leader.
I highly recommend both books.
I highly recommend both books.
April 30, 2013
Foundational in Spiritual Formation for me. I read this book right out of College, and it resonated deep within.
October 6, 2019
I felt the need to give this text a re-read, and honestly I got a lot from it. I first read this when I was 19 and was both skeptical of and frustrated by the text. It provided a framework for creating change but it was largely in the context of management particularly in the business world. And so, I did what teenagers do best when they think no one could possibly understand them: I wrote the lessons off.
But now, I’m at the point in my life where grappling with change is a necessity, so I thought I’d give it a read once more. I wasn’t wrong, the book relies heavily on management but there are themes of transformational leadership theory threaded throughout most of the chapters. Focusing on those themes and really reflecting on the questions that end each chapter really helped make a lot of points I missed six years ago. More than that, it helped provide a framework for me to move forward and deal with some of the concerns I’ve had based on changes in my life.
The book does a great job of being useful at personal and organizational levels if you are willing to work with it and leave your teenage skepticism at the door. I think that this is a book everyone should read because it drive home the point that leadership occurs at all levels and that sometimes the hardest place to be a leader and effect change is within your own life. Harnessing some of these ideas will help me be a more effective me and a more effective leader to those I work with.
But now, I’m at the point in my life where grappling with change is a necessity, so I thought I’d give it a read once more. I wasn’t wrong, the book relies heavily on management but there are themes of transformational leadership theory threaded throughout most of the chapters. Focusing on those themes and really reflecting on the questions that end each chapter really helped make a lot of points I missed six years ago. More than that, it helped provide a framework for me to move forward and deal with some of the concerns I’ve had based on changes in my life.
The book does a great job of being useful at personal and organizational levels if you are willing to work with it and leave your teenage skepticism at the door. I think that this is a book everyone should read because it drive home the point that leadership occurs at all levels and that sometimes the hardest place to be a leader and effect change is within your own life. Harnessing some of these ideas will help me be a more effective me and a more effective leader to those I work with.
October 24, 2024
“The land of excellence is safely guarded from unworthy intruders. At the gates stand two fearsome sentries – risk and learning. The keys to entrance are faith and courage.”
For anyone who cares about living a meaningful and intentional life, this book offers wisdom and practical tools. Someone who works in a corporate setting would find it immediately applicable; those who do not may simply apply the personal growth tools to the benefit of any endeavor.
A patient’s family member recommended this book to me when I worked in oncology at a hospital. One of my questions on rounds was to ask them about books and make conversation. Another patient recommended Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, and I will always remember these. It took me ten years to find the right timing to read this book, and sure enough, the timing is on point. I anticipate looking backward ten years from now and seeing how it influenced this pivotal season.
For anyone who cares about living a meaningful and intentional life, this book offers wisdom and practical tools. Someone who works in a corporate setting would find it immediately applicable; those who do not may simply apply the personal growth tools to the benefit of any endeavor.
A patient’s family member recommended this book to me when I worked in oncology at a hospital. One of my questions on rounds was to ask them about books and make conversation. Another patient recommended Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, and I will always remember these. It took me ten years to find the right timing to read this book, and sure enough, the timing is on point. I anticipate looking backward ten years from now and seeing how it influenced this pivotal season.
May 12, 2019
I think the author does a very good job presenting concepts that could be very useful for a novice business reader. I get that the author wants to brand his way of looking at the world with the concept "deep change", but I cringed every time the words were mentioned. It seemed like propaganda. I did not feel it was necessary. You put the title on the book, there is no reason to repeat it hundreds of times throughout the book. It just turned me off from an otherwise intelligent view of organizational change.
February 14, 2020
Like this book. I especially liked to compare the transformational leader depicted in the book in reference to a transformational pastor, my vocation. Leaders need to be learners and risk takers. If you are not risking your job every couple of years you are not much of a leader. Also the empowering of people and having change start from the bottom to reach the top is a great concept. In reality, it is really a melody of top down setting the vision and having people from the bottom up to reach for it. Good stuff with many applications. I wonder how this empowering the many works on an organization of volunteers?
March 10, 2020
This is definitely a book to keep, reference and re-read. A big take away for me was four questions to ask yourself:
1. How can I increase my own sense of meaning and task-alignment?
2. How can I increase my own sense of impact, influence, and power?
3. How can I increase my own sense of competence and confidence to execute?
4. How can I increase my own sense of self-determination and choice?
These might be questions to ask on the daily.
1. How can I increase my own sense of meaning and task-alignment?
2. How can I increase my own sense of impact, influence, and power?
3. How can I increase my own sense of competence and confidence to execute?
4. How can I increase my own sense of self-determination and choice?
These might be questions to ask on the daily.
January 20, 2025
“A lot of life is learning how to get lost with confidence.”
For anyone who is an entrepreneurial role or is looking to develop leadership skills this is a must read. Quinn does a great and might I add SUCCINCT job of describing how best to reflect on and implement your own personal skills and attributes into a professional and organizational landscape. Really enjoyed this book and will pass on it to a lot of colleagues and friends.
For anyone who is an entrepreneurial role or is looking to develop leadership skills this is a must read. Quinn does a great and might I add SUCCINCT job of describing how best to reflect on and implement your own personal skills and attributes into a professional and organizational landscape. Really enjoyed this book and will pass on it to a lot of colleagues and friends.
March 6, 2025
This book was written in the 90s, and it’s amazing how relevant it still is today. I really appreciated the way the author presented a topic and then gave the reader reflective questions to ponder at the end of each chapter. The only concept he presented that I question in today’s business environment is risk taking. The concept of psychological safety has emerged since this book was published, and I don’t see how anyone in any company would « risk their life for the mission » so to speak.
April 11, 2017
This is a solid 2.5. I think the book is full of good advice and would probably be a fantastic read if you didn't read a lot of business books. I felt like there were a few gems in this one but for the most part it was longer than it needed to be and didn't do a very good job of telling the stories that would have earned it more stars.
May 15, 2020
How you be part of an organizational transformation, or you can even imagine further evolving culture.
Someone needs to jeopardize his/her job, You need to dispute the narratives and concentrate on doing the right.
Transcendent book for whoever sometimes sense that has the intuition of directing people's behavior and influence them to do better.
Someone needs to jeopardize his/her job, You need to dispute the narratives and concentrate on doing the right.
Transcendent book for whoever sometimes sense that has the intuition of directing people's behavior and influence them to do better.
November 30, 2024
Literally changed my thinking about change. *grin*
Everyone wants others to change, but what are we willing to change ourselves to make that happen? It’s an important question to consider. It’s rare that someone else is the only one that needs to change in any organization.
Everyone wants others to change, but what are we willing to change ourselves to make that happen? It’s an important question to consider. It’s rare that someone else is the only one that needs to change in any organization.
February 19, 2018
Outstanding!
Best quote: "Ultimately, each of us has exactly as much power as we really want."
Best quote: "Ultimately, each of us has exactly as much power as we really want."
December 26, 2018
Read for the master’s - good concept of if you’re not growing, you’re dying.
March 31, 2020
This was a little outdated and took me a while to connect with, but I do feel I have grown in my thinking about leadership from this read.
November 10, 2020
Great book on leadership with some impactful thoughts for personal application.
December 3, 2020
A lot to think about in this book. Really powerful stuff.
May 27, 2021
It's a must read.
June 8, 2022
I read the book for a leadership course. I believe the information that it contains can be applied to both one's personal and their corporate lives. I would recommend people read it.
July 25, 2019
Inspired by spending too much time with this book.
February 21, 2022
It’s a pretty interesting read… the only caveat is that it’s a little repetitive
February 23, 2016
I've also posted this review in my blog...
We have a choice; we can change or we can experience slow death, according to Robert Quinn, a professor of business at the University of Michigan. In this book, Quinn discusses how individuals and organizations can bring about transformational changes that helps create excellence and alters the culture of organizations. It’s risky business to make “deep changes†as they are sweeping and irreversible. But such changes are also essential for survival. The leader who navigates such changes sails across unpredictable waters and must be somewhat of a maverick. The organization tries to make life predictable and systematic; deep change requires one “to build the bridge as you walk on it.†It’s more of a spiritual process, requiring faith and the commitment to do what one knows is right, even in the face of great opposition. The organization, the status quo, will always resist. Such a leader must be willing to maintain the course and to create a compelling vision to bring others along on the journey.
Quinn’s book has four basic sections. The first deals with the need for change. He then discusses personal change (with a valuable chapter on building integrity), changing the organization and then ending with a section on “Vision, Risk, and the Creation of Excellence.†In each section, he discusses both what is necessary for the organization and for the individual leader to be about if change is to be successful. At the end of each chapter are useful questions for the reader to ask about his or her life and the organizations that the reader belongs. I often spent more time pondering these questions than I spent reading the book as they tended to make the book more applicable to all sorts of settings.
As individuals who join organizations, we go through a transformation. At first, it’s all about what the organization can do for us in exchange for our competence. As our competence grows and we move deeper into the organization (or up a career level), we become managers. Here, our “competence†is still valuable, but one has to begin to also look out for the organization. Anywhere along the line, we might decide that change is too painful and opt for “peace and pay†as we wait to exit (or until retirement). Sometimes our competence even gets into the way of us seeing new ways of doing things (Quinn has a chapter on the Tyranny of Competence). Only a few are able to move on into the final stage and become “internally driven leaders.†These visionary leaders have the will to risk to bring about changes necessary for the long term survival of the company. They have a vision for which they are willing to die (or at least be fired over). Of course, just having a grand vision once isn’t enough. Transformation is a cycle that is repeated over and over in any organization.
I don’t read too many business books, but I found myself doing a lot of personal thinking as I read this book. It’s a valuable book and I recommend it.
We have a choice; we can change or we can experience slow death, according to Robert Quinn, a professor of business at the University of Michigan. In this book, Quinn discusses how individuals and organizations can bring about transformational changes that helps create excellence and alters the culture of organizations. It’s risky business to make “deep changes†as they are sweeping and irreversible. But such changes are also essential for survival. The leader who navigates such changes sails across unpredictable waters and must be somewhat of a maverick. The organization tries to make life predictable and systematic; deep change requires one “to build the bridge as you walk on it.†It’s more of a spiritual process, requiring faith and the commitment to do what one knows is right, even in the face of great opposition. The organization, the status quo, will always resist. Such a leader must be willing to maintain the course and to create a compelling vision to bring others along on the journey.
Quinn’s book has four basic sections. The first deals with the need for change. He then discusses personal change (with a valuable chapter on building integrity), changing the organization and then ending with a section on “Vision, Risk, and the Creation of Excellence.†In each section, he discusses both what is necessary for the organization and for the individual leader to be about if change is to be successful. At the end of each chapter are useful questions for the reader to ask about his or her life and the organizations that the reader belongs. I often spent more time pondering these questions than I spent reading the book as they tended to make the book more applicable to all sorts of settings.
As individuals who join organizations, we go through a transformation. At first, it’s all about what the organization can do for us in exchange for our competence. As our competence grows and we move deeper into the organization (or up a career level), we become managers. Here, our “competence†is still valuable, but one has to begin to also look out for the organization. Anywhere along the line, we might decide that change is too painful and opt for “peace and pay†as we wait to exit (or until retirement). Sometimes our competence even gets into the way of us seeing new ways of doing things (Quinn has a chapter on the Tyranny of Competence). Only a few are able to move on into the final stage and become “internally driven leaders.†These visionary leaders have the will to risk to bring about changes necessary for the long term survival of the company. They have a vision for which they are willing to die (or at least be fired over). Of course, just having a grand vision once isn’t enough. Transformation is a cycle that is repeated over and over in any organization.
I don’t read too many business books, but I found myself doing a lot of personal thinking as I read this book. It’s a valuable book and I recommend it.
January 11, 2015
Robert Quinn offers a unique challenge for the reader to look at ourselves and our vocational roles in each chapter. His introduction charges us to take risks (5) if we are to change.
Quinn's book is one of two books we are reading as a part of UUMC's Pastor's academy. Deep Change is not something you immediately think about regarding faith experiences from an organizational standpoint. The Methodist church encourages us to think about Scripture, Reason, Tradition, and Experience. These elements with God's grace can lead an active discussion.
I am most interested in the concept of the organization's inner voice. In a business perspective, I understand how the voice can be one calling for change. In the church change comes slowly depending on the topic. Quinn reminds us that "the individual (inner) voice maintains a self- intetest ... while the organiational voice wants to succeed." (203)
The concept of inner voice requires study and prayer in regards to the voice. Somethines one still hears, we haven't done it that way here too much. Great reading book with discussion questions for both the person and the organization. I would have like to have discussed this book while a McLane Company manger.
Quinn's book is one of two books we are reading as a part of UUMC's Pastor's academy. Deep Change is not something you immediately think about regarding faith experiences from an organizational standpoint. The Methodist church encourages us to think about Scripture, Reason, Tradition, and Experience. These elements with God's grace can lead an active discussion.
I am most interested in the concept of the organization's inner voice. In a business perspective, I understand how the voice can be one calling for change. In the church change comes slowly depending on the topic. Quinn reminds us that "the individual (inner) voice maintains a self- intetest ... while the organiational voice wants to succeed." (203)
The concept of inner voice requires study and prayer in regards to the voice. Somethines one still hears, we haven't done it that way here too much. Great reading book with discussion questions for both the person and the organization. I would have like to have discussed this book while a McLane Company manger.
March 29, 2008
Great book on finding your voice as a leader, and also some key distinctions as one traverses the path of leadership. This book found its way to me from a client who I mentored and likewise mentored me via his brother's work in organizational development. The two way relationship stands despite the distance of several states and many children later.
Stories, parables, myths: a language that transcends all 'cultures'. Ahhhhhhhhh, this is a refreshing, concise, simple and brilliant work! Simple yet far from easy.
There is nothing easy about this work.
To change what is "out there" I must look inward and face my own myths, dragons, fears, shadows and shortcomings. This is a in depth look at what Covey relates as the "circle of concern" and "circle of influence."
The only way to change the world is to change myself. 12 plus years into the journey with a coach who has helped me keep myself on the journey, I am likely on the 10th version of myself as a person, parent and leader and looking forward to what the 11th, 12th and 13th versions of myself bring.
Stories, parables, myths: a language that transcends all 'cultures'. Ahhhhhhhhh, this is a refreshing, concise, simple and brilliant work! Simple yet far from easy.
There is nothing easy about this work.
To change what is "out there" I must look inward and face my own myths, dragons, fears, shadows and shortcomings. This is a in depth look at what Covey relates as the "circle of concern" and "circle of influence."
The only way to change the world is to change myself. 12 plus years into the journey with a coach who has helped me keep myself on the journey, I am likely on the 10th version of myself as a person, parent and leader and looking forward to what the 11th, 12th and 13th versions of myself bring.
August 13, 2011
In order for organizations to go through deep, systematic change, individuals must first go through and model that change. Quinn's book gives excellent insights and how both individuals and organizations go through this type of deep change.
He also spends extensive time talking about the role of "middle management" in change efforts and how many change efforts come from those who are not at the top of the organizational chart.
I believe this book would be an excellent read for both individuals and teams in organizations who have a desire to see change occur and want to add insights to their desires. I will certainly re-read this book in the near future and recommend it to many of my friends and co-workers.
He also spends extensive time talking about the role of "middle management" in change efforts and how many change efforts come from those who are not at the top of the organizational chart.
I believe this book would be an excellent read for both individuals and teams in organizations who have a desire to see change occur and want to add insights to their desires. I will certainly re-read this book in the near future and recommend it to many of my friends and co-workers.
April 13, 2013
This is an excellent book about what it means to need to change, in one's life or job, and what it takes to make serious and lasting change. It doesn't sugar coat the process, but does talk abut the fact that meaningful change comes from within, not just an organization but also within the people that make up an organization.
As a business professor the book is focused on change in the world of business, but the lessons are transferable to nonprofit, government, and personal settings as well. I particularly appreciated the emphasis on ethical action and risk taking. As each chapter ends with questions, there is also a mechanism for each reader to explore the concepts discussed in each chapter.
Highly recommended for anyone in a leadership position or anyone facing the need for change.
As a business professor the book is focused on change in the world of business, but the lessons are transferable to nonprofit, government, and personal settings as well. I particularly appreciated the emphasis on ethical action and risk taking. As each chapter ends with questions, there is also a mechanism for each reader to explore the concepts discussed in each chapter.
Highly recommended for anyone in a leadership position or anyone facing the need for change.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews