Winning from Within

August 5, 2013
Harvard Law lecturer Fox’s system addresses the performance gap—the disparity between what we know we should do in our interactions with others and what we actually do—by explaining the internal landscape of the mind as a set of negotiators, each with its own strengths and perspectives. Her language is geared toward a corporate mindset, imagining the principal aspects of self that govern interaction with others as an executive team: the “Dreamer”/CEO, the “Thinker”/CFO, the “Lover”/v-p of HR, and the “Warrior”/COO. Her “Board of Directors,” or higher-level functions, is comprised of the “Lookout,” who notices and reports on each voice’s urges before taking action; the “Captain,” who takes stock of all inner and outer concerns and chooses the best path at each moment; and the “Voyager,” who guides your life path overall. Lessons of “outer advancement through inner development” emphasize balance: making sure the “Big Four” all participate—and do so equally—and finding your center to act in alignment with values and presence. It’s all good shorthand for practical introspection and guidance toward making lasting improvements, not by focusing on behavior or personality type, but by integrating all the parts that make us who we are. Agent: Linda Loewenthal, David Black Agency.

October 15, 2013
Negotiation-expert Fox presents a road map for understanding our inner self and then avoiding common traps as we interact with the world around us in business and everyday life. She explains her seven-step approach, including The Big Four Team in all of us: the Dreamer, our internal CEO who creates possibilities, and sets strategic vision; the Thinker, our internal CFO who clarifies perspectives, analyzes data, and manages risk; the Lover, our internal VP of HR who cares about people, feels emotions, and manages; and the Warrior, our internal COO who brings about performance, takes action, and reaches goals. The author also describes our Transformers, the inner Lookout, who signals what is going on inside us (feelings and impulses); the inner Captain, who coordinates the Big Four and chooses our best next move; and the Voyager in all of us, who seeks growth through new experiences and opportunities. Fox reports that the ability to lead yourself is today's new leadership requirement, and this timely book is a must-read for library patrons interested in all levels of management.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)