The Power of Balance: Transforming Self, Society, and Scientific Inquiry

by William R. Torbert

Presenting a new theory of power, a new practice of management and a new theory of social science, this volume contradicts the following received that `all power corrupts′; that all organizational structure constrains; and that social science is `purer′ the more it is divorced from action. Torbert presents a conceptualization of power that generates productivity, justice and inquiry; develops a theory of `liberating structure′ through which organizations can generate continual quality improvement; and introduces a new paradigm of engaged social science - `action inquiry′.

Hardcover

First published March 1, 1991

About the author

Bill Torbert is currently a founding board member of Global Leadership Associates and Amara Collaborative, as well as Leadership Professor Emeritus at Boston College. Recent recognitions include: the 2010 Outstanding Scholar Award from the Western Academy of Management; the 2012 re-publication of his 2005 HBR article “Seven Transformations of Leadership” as one of the Harvard Business Review’s top ten leadership reads ever; the 2013 Center for Creative Leadership Walter F. Ulmer Jr. Award for Career Contributions to Applied Leadership Research; and the 2014 Chris Argyris Career Achievement Award from the Academy of Management.

Torbert received a BA, magna cum laude, in Political Science & Economics and a PhD in Administrative Sciences, both from Yale University, holding a Danforth Graduate Fellowship during his graduate years. He founded the Yale Upward Bound (War on Poverty) program and the Theatre of Inquiry, and taught at Yale, Southern Methodist University, and Harvard prior to joining the Boston College faculty in 1978. Most of all, though, Bill takes great pleasure and pride (not to mention occasional pain) in the ongoing development of his closest friends and colleagues, of his three sons, Michael, Patrick, and Benjamin, and of their children.

Reviews

[Christina Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Insider joke: I think I will be able to call him "Bill" now.)