REVIEW: David C. Tate/Marianne S. Pantalon/Daryn H. David — Conscious Accountability (BOOK)

David C. Tate, Marianne S. Pantalon, and Daryn H. David’s book is titled Conscious Accountability: Deepen Connections, Elevate Results. The topicality of the book is particularly interesting, as it deals with what I consider to be a postmodernist, corporate philosophy. It’s not something that in and of itself is necessarily tangible, but all of the elements and components making up said intangibility legitimize it. Such an attribute is indicative of Tate, Pantalon, and David’s background in psychology.

“We, the authors, come to the work around conscious accountability in a number of ways,” they proclaim. “We are (psychologists) who bring theoretical and practical expertise on human behavior change. We are executive coaches who have walked alongside people through their journeys to greater personal satisfaction and team performance. We are also educators who teach strategies for greater personal and leadership effectiveness to graduate students, faculty members, healthcare professionals, executives, and leaders from around the world. But primarily, we come to this work as fellow human beings who strive to ‘walk the talk’ every day in our professional and personal lives. And, like you, we experience the challenges associated with work, life, and relationships, complete with all of the ups and downs.”

It’s the kind of affability one used to scoff at, particularly if one was a seasoned expert and professional specializing in topics related to business, leadership advice, and self-help. But these days, many are making statistically-backed arguments for how even a shred of humanity interlinked with the traditionally cold practices of the corporate jungle shares a symbiotic relationship. This is something the authors reflect themselves in how they approach communicating said ideas literarily.

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Conscious-Accountability-Connections-Elevate-Results/dp/1950496716

“We have considered what our own role is in creating safe spaces that allow people with different lived experiences and beliefs to find common ground and build something productive from there,” they state. “We have had to adjust our writing process and be more specific and clear with each other in what we can do, and by when, as schedules shift and circumstances change. We have experienced what it is like to practice (conscious accountability), with some successes, some failures, and lots of learning along the way.”

This kind of contrition is refreshing, nourishing even. There’s no sense Tate, Pantalon, or David have a healthy sense of ego that might be affecting their capacity for objectivity. It’s just straight truths with these guys, and that in and of itself is something to be seriously commended. “We believe that conscious awareness is the thing that helps us become more accountable,” Tate, Pantalon, and David write. “How does that work? When are we more aware of ourselves (what we need, want, and value), we can communicate our expectations more clearly. When we are more aware of others (what they need and want, and the context in which they are operating), we can better understand them, honor their expectations of us, and respond to them with empathy.”

It’s words like these, articulated with knowledge and precision, that gives me hope for a better future. Not just in the workplace, but in general.

Colin Jordan