Changing on the Job, Second Edition: How Leaders Become Courageous, Wise, and Steady in an Anxious World

by Jennifer Garvey Berger

Genres: Nonfiction

278 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2024

Reviews

[Larkin Tackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an intellectual crush on Jennifer Garvey Berger, have read nearly all of her books, and am beginning to connect with her Cultivating Leadership community. Her use of the Theory of Adult Development as a foundational framework for coaching and systems improvement is incredibly compelling. She writes that "we each construct the world we live, and the way we do changes over time." Originally developed by Bob Kegan at Harvard, Garvey Berger uses the theory to segments four forms of mind or levels of "complexity fitness" that shape how we see the world -- self-sovereign (one only sees one's own perspective), socialized (becomes embedded in the perspectives of other people/orgs/theories), self-authorized (can take others perspectives while maintaining own), and self-transforming (see and takes others perspective while continuing transforming own). Garvey Berger calls on and supports us to use this framework as we do our work. She writes, "I have come to believe that perhaps the ultimate reason for development is this: to deepen and expand our capacity for love of ourselves, one another, those we'll never know, and the entire biosphere." I agree and I'm in!

[Racer_rajesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, the key concept presented here is mainly how the adults learning works. Some of the examples used really drives the points home. The language used in the book is very simple and easy for busy leaders. Good work, must read for Managers, Teachers !

[Aisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last book of 2025 (also one of the first I started). An ongoing back of the mind theme through the year. Coaching, development, teams, organisational psychology, all things I want to dig into more this year.