Quo Vadis?, 1st ed. 2021
The Existential Challenges of Leaders
The Palgrave Kets de Vries Library Series

Written at a time of global pandemic, when we have been forced to confront age-old existential questions?Why are we here? Where are we going??perhaps for the first time, Quo Vadis? is extraordinarily relevant to leaders, managers and anyone who wants to bring meaning and authenticity into their work and life. Manfred Kets de Vries argues that we need to address these fundamental and disturbing questions if we are to live fully and meaningfully. Too many people wake up on a Monday morning and do the same things they have done every Monday. They go to work and function on autopilot without questioning their purpose. But how can we make sure our lives are rich and fulfilling? How do we know we?re on the right track?

This is a book about death and the fear of death, about angst and absurdity; but it is also about endurance, honesty, well-being, responsibility, living with hard truths, creating meaning?and happiness.

Quo Vadis? makes us look full on at the things we prefer not to see. It is a short book that pulls no punches but is far from bleak. Instead, Kets de Vries shows that our life is enriched, and our ability to make meaning and find happiness is increased, when we acknowledge the inevitable price we have to pay for knowing our own mind and understanding our inevitable end.

Chapter 1: The oldest question.- Chapter 2: In the shadow of death.- Chapter 3: A Zen koan.-Chapter 4: Death as meaning-maker.- Chapter 5: Death anxiety.- Chapter 6: In search for answers.- Chapter 7: Psychologists to the rescue.- Chapter 8: Happiness and meaning.- Chapter 9: Meaning, health, and wellbeing.- Chapter 10: The art of meaning-making.- Chapter 11: Getting to the “how to”.

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries is the Distinguished Professor of Leadership Development and Organizational Change at INSEAD, the Founder of INSEAD’s Global Leadership Centre, Program Director of INSEAD’s top management program, “The Challenge of Leadership: Developing Your Emotional Intelligence”, and Scientific Director of the Executive Master’s program “Consulting and Coaching for Change”.

The Financial Times, Le Capital, Wirtschaftswoche, and the Economist have rated him among the world’s leading management thinkers. As a global consultant in executive leadership development, his clients have included many of the most important global organizations. He is the author of almost 50 books and hundreds of articles, the recipient of numerous awards, including two honorary doctorates, and chairman of the Kets de Vries Institute (KDVI), a boutique leadership development consulting firm.