Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World by Ashley Goodall, Marcus Buckingham

The world of work is ever-changing, and some of the accepted truths about leadership, productivity and success are long overdue for re-examination. In his book Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World, author and professional leadership coach Ashley Goodall examines nine key beliefs about work and argues for a different way of looking at them in order to be successful in today’s job market. The book looks at the traditional interpretations of important concepts in leadership and how it can affect employee morale, performance, and job satisfaction.

Goodall begins by confronting the first of the nine lies, “Change is hard". This is a common idea for many workers and managers, who often look at the process of changing businesses or introducing new practices as something difficult and undesirable. But, as Goodall posits, change is not always bad, and that embracing it can often lead to a better work environment and more successful outcomes. Goodall uses insights from industry leaders and anecdotes from his own experience to make the case that leaders should take an active role in change initiatives and that companies should look to embrace experimentation and seek out new opportunities.

The next lie Goodall examines is “I need to be an expert.” Many feel pressure to have all the answers when it comes to business decisions, however Goodall argues that it’s more important to be agile and willing to learn. He encourages leaders to keep an open mind and avoid the pitfalls of trying to be perfect in every situation. Instead, leaders should recognize the importance of leveraging their network of access, mentors, and advisors to help problem solve.

The third lie Goodall addresses is “happiness is overrated”. This is an especially important one for employees, who often get burned out or feel unappreciated in their jobs. Goodall notes that working to make sure team members are happy and motivated is a vital part of effective leadership. He outlines how an organization should be creating a space where employees feel valued, inspired and engaged.

Goodall also looks at four other misconceptions about work: “Work-life balance is a myth”; “Strategy is a job of the top”; “Innovation is a failure”; and “Accountability is a must-have”. He tackles them each in turn and argues that in order to be a successful leader in the current business landscape, leaders must be willing to challenge the traditional way of doing things and look to new strategies, methods, and practices to achieve goals.

Finally, Goodall examines the ninth lie, “Management is the same as leadership.” He explains that these two terms don’t mean the same thing and can’t be used interchangeably. Goodall argues that management should be about creating and facilitating an environment for people to be productive and empowered, while leadership should be about creating a vision and inspiring others to follow.

Nine Lies About Work is an invigorating and refreshing look at the preconceived ideas of work and leadership. Goodall makes a convincing argument that many of the popular misconceptions and accepted truths are outdated, especially in today’s ever-changing business climate. By examining each of the nine lies in turn and providing insights from his own experiences and those of fellow leaders, Goodall offers a new perspective to those seeking to become a successful leader in the modern era.