Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
Audiobook6 hours
Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told to Do Is Wrong
Written by Ira Chaleff and Philip Zimbardo
Narrated by Dave Clark
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
()
About this audiobook
When It's Smart to Say No
Nearly every week we read about a tragedy or scandal that could have been prevented if individuals had said no to ill-advised or illegitimate orders. In this timely book, Ira Chaleff explores when and how to disobey inappropriate orders, reduce unacceptable risk, and find better ways to achieve legitimate goals.
The inspiration for the book, and its title, comes from the concept of intelligent disobedience used in guide dog training. Guide dogs must recognize and resist a command that would put their human and themselves at risk and identify safer options for achieving the goal. This is precisely what Chaleff helps humans do. Using both deeply disturbing and uplifting examples, as well as critical but largely forgotten research, he shows how to create a culture where, rather than “just following orders,” people hold themselves accountable to do the right thing, always.
Nearly every week we read about a tragedy or scandal that could have been prevented if individuals had said no to ill-advised or illegitimate orders. In this timely book, Ira Chaleff explores when and how to disobey inappropriate orders, reduce unacceptable risk, and find better ways to achieve legitimate goals.
The inspiration for the book, and its title, comes from the concept of intelligent disobedience used in guide dog training. Guide dogs must recognize and resist a command that would put their human and themselves at risk and identify safer options for achieving the goal. This is precisely what Chaleff helps humans do. Using both deeply disturbing and uplifting examples, as well as critical but largely forgotten research, he shows how to create a culture where, rather than “just following orders,” people hold themselves accountable to do the right thing, always.
Author
Ira Chaleff
Ira Chaleff is the founder and president of Executive Coaching & Consulting Associates and chairman emeritus of the Congressional Management Foundation in Washington, DC. He is the founder of the Followership Learning Community of the International Leadership Association and has been named one of the 100 “Best Minds on Leadership” by Leadership Excellence magazine.
Related to Intelligent Disobedience
Related audiobooks
Almost a Psychopath: Do I (Or Does Someone I Know) Have a Problem With Manipulation and Lack of Empathy? The Influential Mind: What the Brain Reveals About Our Power to Change Others Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Being Right: The perfect guide to spotting bullshit, avoiding cheap tricks and winning arguments Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Don't Know: In Praise of Admitting Ignorance and Doubt (Except When You Shouldn't) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Think: Why You Should Question Everything Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Can Read You Like A Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cracking the Curiosity Code: The Key to Unlocking Human Potential Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Tell: The Little Clues That Reveal Big Truths About Who We Are Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Uses of Delusion: Why It's Not Always Rational to Be Rational Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Understanding Other People: The Five Secrets to Human Behavior Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Never Be Lied to Again: How to Get the Truth In 5 Minutes Or Less In Any Conversation Or Situation Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wisest One in the Room: How You Can Benefit from Social Psychology's Most Powerful Insights Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Awkward: The Science of Why We're Socially Awkward and Why That's Awesome Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Find Out Anything from Anyone, Anytime: Secrets of Calculated Questioning From a Veteran Interrogator Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Personality: What Makes You the Way You Are Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dark Persuasion: A History of Brainwashing from Pavlov to Social Media Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave, and Exterminate Others Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Leadership For You
How To Win Friends And Influence People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Win Friends and Influence People: Updated For the Next Generation of Leaders Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Box Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, Third Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Freakonomics Rev Ed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership 25th Anniversary: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Radical Candor: Fully Revised & Updated Edition: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone's Mind Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Spark: How to Lead Yourself and Others to Greater Success Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears into Your Leadership Superpower Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Microstress Effect: How Little Things Pile Up and Create Big Problems—and What to Do about It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Entreleadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Dichotomy of Leadership: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Principle-Centered Leadership Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Brain Rules (Updated and Expanded): 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance--What Women Should Know Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/525 Ways to Win with People: How to Make Others Feel Like a Million Bucks Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related podcast episodes
ENTJ Personality Type Advice - 0091: ENTJ Personality Type Advice 0% found this document usefulThe Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout 0% found this document usefulBody Language Tactics w/ Scott Rouse 0% found this document useful140: Surviving Larry (w/Daniel Levin and Zach Heinzerling) 0% found this document usefulW. Keith Campbell || The New Science of Narcissism 0% found this document usefulTCT: How to Spot A Sociopath/Psychopath w/ Richard Lettieri 0% found this document useful
Related articles
Secrets of the Canine Mind TIMEArticle
Secrets of the Canine Mind
May 13, 2017
8 min readNo, You Can’t Feel Sorry for Everyone: The idea of empathy for all ignores the limits of human psychology. NautilusArticle
No, You Can’t Feel Sorry for Everyone: The idea of empathy for all ignores the limits of human psychology.
Apr 14, 2016
The world seems to be getting more empathetic. Americans donate to charity at record rates. People feel the pain of suffering in geographically distant countries brought to our attention by advances in communications and transportation. Violence, see
5 min readPeople Who Pay People to Kill People The AtlanticArticle
People Who Pay People to Kill People
Jun 11, 2019
3 min readThe Many Possible Meanings of the ‘Masculinity Crisis’ The AtlanticArticle
The Many Possible Meanings of the ‘Masculinity Crisis’
Jun 26, 2018
2 min readHow Psychopaths See the World The AtlanticArticle
How Psychopaths See the World
Mar 12, 2018
5 min readThere Are No True Rebels: We follow others no matter how hard we try. NautilusArticle
There Are No True Rebels: We follow others no matter how hard we try.
Oct 20, 2016
The notion that our choices are driven by our own personal thoughts and opinions seems so obvious that it is not even worth mentioning,” Jonah Berger writes in the opening of his 2016 book, Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces That Shape Behavior.
5 min readIn Truth Liz Earle WellbeingArticle
In Truth
May 6, 2020
2 min readWhy Are Humans So Kind, Yet So Cruel? The Christian Science MonitorArticle
Why Are Humans So Kind, Yet So Cruel?
Mar 6, 2019
Under different circumstances, humans can be the kindest, gentlest species or the most murderous. Evolution may hold clues to that Jekyll and Hyde nature.
5 min readLife As A Nonviolent Psychopath The AtlanticArticle
Life As A Nonviolent Psychopath
Jan 21, 2014
16 min read‘Please Don’t Convert to Whiteness’ The AtlanticArticle
‘Please Don’t Convert to Whiteness’
Aug 25, 2020
10 min readMessy, Always Late and Swear Like a Sailor? It Just Means You’re Super Smart | Arwa Mahdawi The GuardianArticle
Messy, Always Late and Swear Like a Sailor? It Just Means You’re Super Smart | Arwa Mahdawi
Jul 9, 2017
3 min readThe Situational Awareness Evaluation PART 2 RECOIL OFFGRIDArticle
The Situational Awareness Evaluation PART 2
Oct 11, 2022
7 min readBuild a Better Connection EntrepreneurArticle
Build a Better Connection
Mar 1, 2022
We judge people based on two factors—warmth and competence,” Van Edwards says. “So when you’re in an interaction, you want to have a balance of warmth and competence cues.” What are those? Here’s one example of each and then something to watch out fo
2 min readBody Talk Decoded WHOArticle
Body Talk Decoded
Nov 16, 2023
3 min readBODY LANGUAGE & THREAT RECOGNITION RECOIL Presents: ConcealmentArticle
BODY LANGUAGE & THREAT RECOGNITION
Feb 21, 2023
6 min readWhy Do We Love Collecting? Stamp CollectorArticle
Why Do We Love Collecting?
Dec 11, 2020
6 min readUnleashing Your Inner Spy RECOIL OFFGRIDArticle
Unleashing Your Inner Spy
Aug 10, 2021
11 min readModern Ccw Mindset RECOIL Presents: ConcealmentArticle
Modern Ccw Mindset
Dec 7, 2021
7 min readFrom The Editor WellBeingArticle
From The Editor
Dec 13, 2017
I started this job with the intention to never leave. What could possibly be better, I thought, than helping to synthesise empirical research and traditional wisdom and presenting it in a tactile, accessible format to an expanding circle of smart peo
2 min readFear NOT! New Zealand Woman’s WeeklyArticle
Fear NOT!
Mar 12, 2023
3 min readBaby On The Move Your FamilyArticle
Baby On The Move
Feb 17, 2020
2 min readHow to Talk About the Coronavirus The AtlanticArticle
How to Talk About the Coronavirus
Mar 31, 2020
4 min readFeeling Like an Impostor? You Can Escape This Confidence-Sapping Syndrome | Fiona Buckland The GuardianArticle
Feeling Like an Impostor? You Can Escape This Confidence-Sapping Syndrome | Fiona Buckland
Sep 19, 2017
3 min readThe 4 Skills Need to Make a Great Impression EntrepreneurArticle
The 4 Skills Need to Make a Great Impression
May 1, 2017
8 min readCheck Your Blind Spot MindfulArticle
Check Your Blind Spot
Aug 21, 2018
8 min readHow Your Brain Decides Without You: In a world full of ambiguity, we see what we want to see. NautilusArticle
How Your Brain Decides Without You: In a world full of ambiguity, we see what we want to see.
Nov 10, 2016
Princeton’s Palmer Field, 1951. An autumn classic matching the unbeaten Tigers, with star tailback Dick Kazmaier—a gifted passer, runner, and punter who would capture a record number of votes to win the Heisman Trophy—against rival Dartmouth. Princet
9 min readCode Red WellBeingArticle
Code Red
Apr 11, 2018
7 min readHow Your Brain Decides Without You: In a world full of ambiguity, we see what we want to see. NautilusArticle
How Your Brain Decides Without You: In a world full of ambiguity, we see what we want to see.
Nov 6, 2014
Princeton’s Palmer Field, 1951. An autumn classic matching the unbeaten Tigers, with star tailback Dick Kazmaier—a gifted passer, runner, and punter who would capture a record number of votes to win the Heisman Trophy—against rival Dartmouth. Princet
9 min readWhat Do Animals See in a Mirror?: A controversial test for self-awareness is dividing the animal kingdom. NautilusArticle
What Do Animals See in a Mirror?: A controversial test for self-awareness is dividing the animal kingdom.
May 15, 2014
The idea for a tool to probe the basis of consciousness came to Gordon G. Gallup, Jr. while shaving. “It just occurred to me,” he says, “wouldn’t it be interesting to see if other creatures could recognize themselves in mirrors?” Showing chimpanzees
8 min readBOOKMARK THIS read…listen…stream MindfulArticle
BOOKMARK THIS read…listen…stream
Dec 28, 2021
Jose Silveira, MD, and Patricia Rockman, MD • Oxford University Press This is an extraordinarily honest book about one of the hardest challenges we face: assessing and treating mental health problems and addictions. We’d like them reduced to a checkl
7 min read
Reviews for Intelligent Disobedience
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
2 ratings0 reviews