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Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World Hardcover – April 2, 2019

4.6 out of 5 stars 1,083 ratings

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Forget what you know about the world of work

You crave feedback. Your organization's culture is the key to its success. Strategic planning is essential. Your competencies should be measured and your weaknesses shored up. Leadership is a thing.

These may sound like basic truths of our work lives today. But actually, they're lies. As strengths guru and bestselling author Marcus Buckingham and Cisco Leadership and Team Intelligence head Ashley Goodall show in this provocative, inspiring book, there are some big lies--distortions, faulty assumptions, wrong thinking--that we encounter every time we show up for work. Nine lies, to be exact. They cause dysfunction and frustration, ultimately resulting in workplaces that are a pale shadow of what they could be.

But there are those who can get past the lies and discover what's real. These freethinking leaders recognize the power and beauty of our individual uniqueness. They know that emergent patterns are more valuable than received wisdom and that evidence is more powerful than dogma.

With engaging stories and incisive analysis, the authors reveal the essential truths that such freethinking leaders will recognize immediately: that it is the strength and cohesiveness of your team, not your company's culture, that matter most; that we should focus less on top-down planning and more on giving our people reliable, real-time intelligence; that rather than trying to align people's goals we should strive to align people's sense of purpose and meaning; that people don't want constant feedback, they want helpful attention.

This is the real world of work, as it is and as it should be. Nine Lies About Work reveals the few core truths that will help you show just how good you are to those who truly rely on you.

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From the Publisher

workplace, leadership, management, talent, feedback

leadership, management, strategy, talent

feedback, management, leadership, talent

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Nine Lies About Work, by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall, the year's best management book, challenges the assumptions that underlie contemporary managerial practices, many of which date back to Drucker's day. In doing so, the book offers a glimpse of a new management paradigm that may prove to be better suited to the times." -- strategy+business magazine

Named one of "Our 10 favorite new books for people managers" by SHRM (Society for Human Resource Managers)

One of the Financial Times "Business Books of the Month"

Named a Bloomberg Businessweek pick

Named one of "14 business books everyone will be reading in 2019" by Business Insider

Named one of "10 Leadership Books to Watch for in 2019" by the Washington Post

Named one of "10 Business Books You Need to Read in 2019" by Inc. magazine

Named one of "The 19 New Leadership Books to Read in 2019" by Adam Grant on LinkedIn

"Nine Lies is utterly readable, often entertaining, and not just polite, but carefully reasoned and argued using some unusual real-world examples and even some from literature." - Human Resource Executive (hrexecutive.com)

"leads to some free thinking about the way we do our jobs and how we can approach what we do in a different way." -- Financial Times

"If a business book teaches me something new--and offers a fresh perspective on leadership--then I know it's a rare find in the category. Nine Lies About Work is just such a book. It's so thought provoking, I contacted the authors to speak with them directly." -- Forbes

"…should be on every boss's bookshelf." -- Management Today

"a stimulating, no-nonsense, research-based look at things you likely believe that aren't true – and how to apply the new findings." -- The Globe and Mail

"The act of work is human. Leading and following and working together is about human interaction and human relationships. The workplace, and the marketplace beyond it, is about emotions and attention and the desire to be seen. It is about trust and, yes, it is about love. I am always grateful to be reminded of that, to see it again clearly, to have it acknowledged. Nine Lies About Work is a great reminder, and a great guide." -- 800 CEO READ

"Give a copy of this book to everyone in your organization who's leading a team and make it essential reading." -- The Hamilton Spectator

"If you're looking for a refreshing read that challenges the conventional wisdom of the business world, this is a book for your shelf." -- TD magazine (Association for Talent Development)

"There is much we can learn about managing and leading our schools from its pages." -- Inside Higher Ed

Advance Praise for Nine Lies About Work:

In today's complex world, we instinctively seek simplicity. But in many cases, it's easier to lie to ourselves than it is to face the harsh reality--to see more of what want to see than how things really are. In Nine Lies About Work, Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall shine a light on just how dangerous those lies can be, especially in the context of our careers. Combining engaging stories about the modern workplace with nuanced quantitative analysis, Nine Lies About Work debunks the myths that surround leadership, planning, and balance in the corporate world. Everyone who reads this book is sure to be a better employee, but more importantly, a better leader. -- Gen. Stan McChrystal (Ret’d), United States Army

About the Author

Marcus Buckingham is a global researcher and thought leader focused on unlocking people's strengths, increasing their performance, and pioneering the future of how people work. He is head of all people and performance research at the ADP Research Institute and the author of several bestselling books, including StandOut 2.0: Assess Your Strengths, Find Your Edge, Win at Work (Harvard Business Review Press).

Ashley Goodall is Senior Vice President of Leadership and Team Intelligence at Cisco. Previously he was Director and Chief Learning Officer, Leader Development, at Deloitte. He is the coauthor, with Marcus Buckingham, of two Harvard Business Review cover stories, "Reinventing Performance Management," in April 2015 and "The Feedback Fallacy," in March/April 2019.

Change the world of work. Join the coalition: freethinkingleader.org

Author social media/website info:
Buckingham: MarcusBuckingham.com, @mwbuckingham
Goodall: linkedin.com/in/ashleygoodall/, @littleplatoons

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harvard Business Review Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 2, 2019
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1633696308
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1633696303
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 1,083 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
1,083 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book insightful, with one noting how it provides a refreshing view on counterproductive HR practices. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its readability, with customers describing it as an absolute "must read" and very well written. Additionally, they appreciate its entertainment value, with one customer highlighting how the shared experiences make it engaging.

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26 customers mention "Insight"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, with one customer specifically noting its applicability to HR professionals and another highlighting its refreshing perspective on counterproductive HR practices.

"...In fact, these guys present an almost step-by-step roadmap for successful leadership, and do so in an easily readable and fun book...." Read more

"...This book is a great addition to my workplace skills library-now if only my boss would accept my offer of loaning to to him to read!" Read more

"...So it is fitting that the foremost expert in employee engagement in the world would bring us yet another octane booster to add to our tank...." Read more

"...This book will challenge your belief, and all so-called classic theories/ best advice in all-time best-selling books...." Read more

21 customers mention "Readability"17 positive4 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an absolute must-read that is good throughout.

"...finished reading Nine Lies About Work and believe this is an absolute “must read” for those of us who live in the work world and more importantly..." Read more

"...While it's good the entire way through, the final lie if the book -- regarding leadership -- was worth buying this book for in itself...." Read more

"...Great book!!!!" Read more

"Fantastic book that challenges the cliches usually used to describe perfect (unreal) leader...." Read more

10 customers mention "Readable"8 positive2 negative

Customers find the book readable and well-written, with one customer noting how the author vividly unveils the truths about work.

"...step-by-step roadmap for successful leadership, and do so in an easily readable and fun book...." Read more

"...However, the author has perfectly brought this to our attention...." Read more

"...before the well-researched truths of this entirely engaging and highly readable book become accepted concepts...." Read more

"...little too casual with a lot of interventions mid-sentence, a lot of run on sentences, and just odd sentence structures throughout...." Read more

So powerful, profound and impactful!
5 out of 5 stars
So powerful, profound and impactful!
I've been listening to this book and there isn't a chapter, idea or study that hasn't blown my mind! It's so counter culture, so opposite from what we're told we need to be doing and ARE doing! Who knew that negative feedback makes you go into fight or flight, your 'smart' and creative brain shuts down and if this happens often enough, your ability to climb out of 'bad' performance actually decreases?!? It's so logical, I'm not sure why it's escaped us before now! If more people in leadership would listen and adopt these theories, our productivity and engagement in the workplace would soar!!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Since moving from independent practice of clinical psychology to the corporate world, I have been involved in various aspects of leadership development. I have been a fan of Marcus Buckingham’s work and have probably read all of his earlier books. I just finished reading Nine Lies About Work and believe this is an absolute “must read” for those of us who live in the work world and more importantly for those who are leadership positions and/or provide leadership development programs.

    I have shared my enthusiasm for this book with many of my colleagues and have also included a warning: Buckingham’s book (and research) challenges many of the ideas believed to be “sacred” in the world of work. For example, he emphasizes the importance of focusing on strengths rather than the need to be “well-rounded” (Lie #4). He presents data indicating that people cannot reliably rate others (e.g., performance reviews, certain assessments and surveys, etc.; Lie #6). And these are just two of the nine lies. I take notes in the back of books and by the time I finished there was no space left for entries secondary to so many key points I want to remember.

    When I travel I can typically read an entire book. Full disclosure: it has taken me several flights and some dedicated time to read “Nine Lies.” For me, there is much to be consumed and processed and I would encourage slow reading.

    If there were more than 5 Stars this book would get them!

    Ed Nottingham, PhD, PCC
    Consulting and Clinical Psychologist
    Author, It's Not as Bad as It Seems: A Thinking Straight Approach to Happiness
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Leadership is widely praised and poorly practiced. Worse, we often equate leadership with management, a serious mistake. Buckingham and Goodal do a superb job of exposing what many of us already suspected -- all that corporate mumbo-jumbo about culture, planning, performance reviews, and other attempts to exert control aren't just baloney; they're counter-productive. What is actually effective are teams, and leading a team doesn't require as much magic as is commonly believed. In fact, these guys present an almost step-by-step roadmap for successful leadership, and do so in an easily readable and fun book. Importantly, their prescription is backed up by an almost obsolete concept: facts based on research. What they don't cover are the basic traits required to be a superb leader, but Marcus has addressed those in his previous books. Will this book change the dismal way in which corporations treat employees? Nope. But it might result in more highly successful teams. As the authors point out, that turns out to be far more important than the corporate PR nonsense.
    42 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I was a Supervisor/Principal in a past company and am seeing my current Supervisor/Principal struggle aimlessly on a day to day basis. I therefore bought this book to see if I was out of step with a current work place or if my supervisor/company culture was out of step with what I had come to expect from a modern work place. After reading this book, it turns out my ideas of how competency models, evaluations, supervisor attitude and workplace morale are used and evaluated for the betterment of the company were right! There are obviously many untrained, out of date, cynical and un-mentored directors and supervisors in many work places. Unfortunately, they are also the most prideful who cannot accept help, when offered. Knowing what is helpful for a workplace is great knowledge, however being able to inculcate this into an existing culture with stagnant, obstinate and experientially inbred supervisors can be very frustrating. The only think lacking in this book is teaching people how to improve a workplace they are not a current leader in. My next purchase will need to be one on ways to manipulate someone (in a good way, of course!) to do something they may not do otherwise. This book is a great addition to my workplace skills library-now if only my boss would accept my offer of loaning to to him to read!
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    There are probably more management help books than there are managers to buy them. Many of them regurgitate a lot of the same principles, albeit with slightly different variations on the theme. But when you mix insight and science you enter a rarefied altitude reserved for the giants in thought leadership. Strange that two of them would have the same first name? The lies resonate, because we all know these lies exist and create friction in the productivity machine. They impact the very fuel that makes things run, engagement. So it is fitting that the foremost expert in employee engagement in the world would bring us yet another octane booster to add to our tank. I am sure that this is a journey and not a destination, and can't wait to early order Malcolm's next book! Zeke Zoccoli EVP &CIO Addus Healthcare
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    “Lie” is quite a strong & exaggerating word which is used in this book. However, the author has perfectly brought this to our attention. This book will challenge your belief, and all so-called classic theories/ best advice in all-time best-selling books. At first I was confused, but the more I read, the more I realize it is so authentic & practical in this real world. Warnings: This book can give you a slap in your face, for your wake-up.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I love this book and I hope as many people read it as possible. Regardless of what industry you work in, what position you hold, where you are in your career, even if you're still in school; read this book! I started with the last chapter--Leadership is a thing". High school and college counselors, in fact, teachers, need to read this book as well because they are shaping the way the next generation thinks.

    Bravo Marcus & Ashley
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I’d recommend this to an avid reader willing to take the time to weave around simple and useful points. The examples are okay but as the book goes on, it deviates from examples in the workplace to examples of the greatest leaders in the world. While great, that’s overdone and doesn’t seem practical for workplace application.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Baz Gui
    5.0 out of 5 stars All what you intuited proven by hard data
    Reviewed in Canada on July 1, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This is now on the top of my list as a must read for anybody in the workforce.
  • Fabio
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good thinking
    Reviewed in Italy on August 12, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Nice book to challenge some process in the companies. Maybe a little redundant, but with many advices
  • Marko Cadez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Finally back to the roots ! Not only pointing misleading concepts but with directions for solutions
    Reviewed in Germany on December 7, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Finally back to the roots! If you are overkilled with all that organizational multibillion business of performance assessments, competence assessments, 360-degree assessments....this book restores you to default settings. It is structuring 9 lies we are living every working day (People care which company they work for; The best plan wins; The best companies cascade goals; The best people are well-rounded; People need feedback; People can reliably rate other people; People have potential; Work-liefe balance matters; Leadership is a thing). But more then a definition of a lie it is about theoretical concept behind. Concept of misleading belief that we can set exact objective "one-size-fits-all" tools for human diversity, complex inter personal interactions, joy, recognition seeking drive or moving people to follow. Great thing is that this book is going beyond this concepts bringing us to real mechanisms behind.
    Customer image
    Marko Cadez
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Finally back to the roots ! Not only pointing misleading concepts but with directions for solutions

    Reviewed in Germany on December 7, 2019
    Finally back to the roots! If you are overkilled with all that organizational multibillion business of performance assessments, competence assessments, 360-degree assessments....this book restores you to default settings. It is structuring 9 lies we are living every working day (People care which company they work for; The best plan wins; The best companies cascade goals; The best people are well-rounded; People need feedback; People can reliably rate other people; People have potential; Work-liefe balance matters; Leadership is a thing). But more then a definition of a lie it is about theoretical concept behind. Concept of misleading belief that we can set exact objective "one-size-fits-all" tools for human diversity, complex inter personal interactions, joy, recognition seeking drive or moving people to follow. Great thing is that this book is going beyond this concepts bringing us to real mechanisms behind.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
  • Guillermo R.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Imprescindible
    Reviewed in Spain on November 4, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Está lleno de reflexiones trascendentales.
    Report
  • Lucas Macedo
    5.0 out of 5 stars The best business book I've ever read in my life (so far)
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 4, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    9 lies well proved with data/facts and not opinions.

    I've applied with my team and the results were fast perceived. Strongly recommend if you want to implement some new management techniques