What is it?

A workshop inspired by insights from the book, "Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box" by The Arbinger Institute.

Why is it useful?

Leaders who see others as people rather than objects create more positive and productive environments. This leads to better collaboration, increased trust, and improved outcomes.

Objective

To help participants recognise and overcome self-deception, improve their relationships, and become more effective leaders.

Resources Required

• Time: 3 hours.
• Number of People: About 4-20.
• PowerPoint slides or a whiteboard for the presentation.
• Supporting slides-
• Case Study Handouts.
• Action Plan.
• Flip charts for recording discussions.
• Marker pens.

Process

Step 1: Introduction to Self-Deception and the Box (45 minutes)

Objective: To introduce participants to the concept of self-deception and what it means to be "in the box."

Activity: Group Discussion and Case Study

1. Explanation: Begin with a brief presentation on the concept of self-deception, using examples to illustrate what it means to be "in the box" (seeing others as objects) versus "out of the box" (seeing others as people).
2. Case Study: Provide participants with a short case study or scenario that exemplifies someone being "in the box" (e.g., a leader who blames their team for a project failure without recognizing their own role).
3. Group Discussion: Break the participants into small groups and have them discuss the case study, identifying where self-deception is occurring and how it affects relationships and outcomes. Each group should then share their insights with the larger group.

Step 2: Self-Reflection and Identifying "In the Box" Behaviour (60 minutes)

Objective: To help participants identify their "in the box" behaviours and understand their impact on their relationships and leadership.

Activity: Personal Reflection and Sharing

1. Self-Reflection Exercise: Ask participants to reflect individually on a recent situation where they felt frustrated or disappointed with someone else. Have them write down their thoughts and feelings, focusing on how they might have been "in the box" during that situation.
2. Guided Questions
   • How did you view the other person in that situation? (As an object or as a person?)
   • How did you justify your behaviour at the time?
   • How might self-deception have played a role in the outcome?
3. Sharing in pairs: Participants pair up and share their reflections after reflecting individually. Encourage them to discuss how they might approach the situation differently if they were "out of the box."

Step 3: Practical Strategies for Getting Out of the Box (60 minutes)

Objective: To equip participants with practical strategies to get out of the box and build better relationships.

Activity: Action Planning and Role-Playing

1. Action Planning: Instruct participants to choose one relationship or situation in their lives where they want to "get out of the box." Have them create a simple action plan that includes specific steps they plan to take to see the other person as a person, empathise with their perspective, and change their approach.
2. Role-Playing: Have participants role-play their action plans in pairs or small groups. One person plays themselves, and the other plays the individual or group they are working to get "out of the box" with. Afterwards, discuss what was effective and what could be improved.
3. Group Debrief: End the workshop with a group discussion on the key takeaways and how participants can continue practising thinking outside the box in their daily lives.

Workshop Close (15 minutes)

1. Recap: Summarise the key insights from the workshop and encourage participants to continue practicing getting out of the box.
2. Q&A: Allow time for any final questions or comments.
3. Follow-Up: Consider providing resources or scheduling a follow-up session to check progress.