WHAT I'M READING: Own Your Armor, by Michelle Brody, Ph.D.

I like to think that I needed this book several decades ago.

In reality, I don't think it would have moved the needle.

I was too ego-centric to see myself in the colorful characters in the book.

Using her background as a psychologist, Michelle Brody gives is a look at what is happening when a team becomes dysfunctional.

It's not because of the "bad apples" that everyone is blaming.

Instead, it's due to armor, and the threats that cause us, yes US, to put it on.

She starts by outlining the 3 team members who seem to be causing the most issues on the team - the chaos clearer, the finger-pointer, and the flexor.

Then she reminds us that the culture of a team isn't just about a few people, it's about ALL the people, and goes on to show how the 5 other team members aren't as innocent as you may think.

As humans, we are forever responding and reacting to what goes on around us, putting up walls in some cases, and taking them down in others.

When it comes to work, where our financial livelihood may be on the line, the threats can seem even greater.

If you are part of a team, or manage a team, I HIGHLY recommend this book for you to read, even if nothing seems to be amiss. It might prevent it from becoming so.

Thanks, Kate Crawshaw for recommending it! I loved it!

Originally posted on LinkedIn with comments.

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