Consultant's Journey A Dance of Work and Spirit

In a career spanning forty years, Roger Harrison, consultant, trainer, and theorist, has influenced every phase of the birth and growth of the discipline of organization development (OD) - from its beginnings within the sensitivity training seminars of the fifties to its current role in shaping the way organizations respond to the present chaotic times. His work with such top multinationals as Shell International, Imperial Chemical Industries, and Xerox has brought him recognition worldwide as an expert in the real-world practice of OD, while his challenging vision has strongly shaped the way two generations think about the nature of organizations and the potential of the OD profession. Candid, sometimes funny, often surprising, Harrison's autobiography places his professional success in a life context, telling the story of his growth from a young academic with an "authority problem" into a seasoned consultant and an influential figure in the international business community. At the same time, Harrison reveals the shadow side of his life and his profession. He deals frankly with the ambition, greed, and hunger for power that often lurked behind his greatest professional achievements - and impoverished his personal life. He shares his experience of the loneliness of a consultant's vocation, the danger of burnout, and the constant risk of failure when you practice at the cutting edge of your profession. Finally, he relates his struggle to free himself of the "warrior mentality" and pursue a course toward the human values of love and healing, a spiritual quest that leads him to change his life - and his vision of OD - on the deepest levels.