Book Title: The Madness Behind The Method
Author: Dr. Joe Perez
Reviewer: Stephen Misori
Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Madness-Behind-Method-Teaching-Mentoring/dp/B0CYXNDMZB
In The Madness Behind the Method, Dr. Joe Perez provides a refreshing guide to leadership, blending metaphor with practical strategies to inspire growth in both leaders and teams. Through vivid imagery and nature inspired concepts, he introduces readers to ‘Whisperwood,’ a metaphorical garden that embodies his vision for a thriving workplace.
The author focuses on three core aspects of leadership – coaching, teaching, and mentoring – outlining concrete actions to enhance personal and professional growth.
Perez use of storytelling, case studies, and real-world examples not only makes his lessons memorable but offers relatable insights that stay with the reader. He emphasises the importance of aligning team goals with organisational objectives, and his chapters on ‘Planting the Seeds’ and ‘Harvesting Growth’ offer hands on strategies for funding, retention, and goal setting.
With study questions and wrap up points at each chapter’s end, Perez encourages self-reflection, making this book both an instructional tool and an engaging read. For leaders at any level, this book serves as a blueprint for fostering relationships, purpose, and growth in the workplace.
As he walks readers to the mythical Whisperwood Forest, he introduces key elements of his leadership philosophy. Through three symbolic guides – Terra, Ari, and Arbor – Perez brings to life the concepts teaching, coaching, and mentorship.
Terra, a cartographer of knowledge, emphasises structured growth, while Ari, a dancer of the forest winds, teaches flexibility and resilience.
Finally, Arbor, the seasoned storyteller, offers wisdom and grounding. Together, they shape the journey of Petal, a young sapling who learns to blend knowledge, adaptability and inner strength.
Perez’s rich metaphors highlight the need for a balance of structured learning, adaptive coaching and insightful mentorship in leadership. Petal’s journey beautifully demonstrates that true growth requires more than reaching a destination – it thrives on harmony between diverse approaches.
The forest setting, poetic language and memorable characters make this book a masterclass in both storytelling and leadership, inviting readers to see beyond conventional approaches and nurture potential with purpose.
In chapter one, Perez artfully combines metrics with metaphors, making complex concepts relatable while underscoring the tangible impact of mentorship in driving career advancements. This chapter, rich with narrative yet grounded in research, sets the stage for a compelling exploration of how leaders can weave together these approaches to foster personal and professional growth.
In this context, this book is both a guide and an invitation for leaders to cultivate workplaces where potential is nurtured, empowered and realised.
In chapter two, the author uses the enchanting imagery of Whisperwood Forest to introduce Emphasis as a transformative approach, focusing on Education, Experience, and Evolution within each methodology.
Perez emphasises that success in teaching, coaching and mentoring lies in fostering personal engagement and growth at an individualized pace, not rushing through shortcuts or rote memorisation.
The use of case studies, in this well researched book, add practical depth, showcasing how professionals, from surgeons to architects, benefit from mentorship and coaching grounded in experience and personal evolution.
For instance, a mentoring program at Atelier X bolstered creativity and problem solving, making interns feel valued and enhancing professional growth.
Perez’s blend of engaging metaphors with actionable insights invites readers to cultivate a workplace culture where teaching, coaching and mentoring are powerful, personalised tools for sustained growth and fulfilment.
In chapter three, Perez highlights the strategic impact of aligning individual growth with corporate objectives, navigating through compelling examples from Google to Toyota. With precision, he emphasises how a focus on skill refinement fosters productivity, job satisfaction and talent retention.
The narrative illustrates how targeted initiatives yield not only personal fulfilment but also measurable organisational benefits. His case studies and insights from neuroscience add dimension, particularly as he explores the role of selective attention in learning.
Using a striking metaphor of the brain’s ‘attention symphony,’ Perez ties research to practical strategies, showing how nurturing focus can enhance both teaching and productivity.
This chapter offers a clear message: targeted development, when embedded in purposeful focus, cultivates resilient employees and sustained organisational success.
Perez also delves into the transformative role of goal setting in fostering personal and professional growth. It offers a poetic yet practical approach to growth, using a musical metaphor to describe how teaching, coaching and mentoring each play a part in guiding individuals toward achievement.
He likens goal driven development to a symphony, where each method – teaching, coaching and mentoring – harmonises to build an engaged, skilled workforce.
He illustrates his insights with powerful examples, such as the 2017 Gonzaga Bulldogs’ journey under performance coach Chris Macken, showing how goal setting translated into on field consistency.
Dr. Perez choice of words is rich and evocative, making it both insightful and enjoyable, as he seamlessly merges strategy with inspiration.
In chapter five, he introduces readers to the transformative power of the ‘shaking,’ ‘waking,’ and ‘making,’ approaches in mentorship. Using vivid forest metaphors, he breathes life into these concepts, showing how they enable leaders to invigorate learning and innovation within organisations.
Perez challenges the stagnant norms of traditional development, emphasising that tailored mentorship fosters vibrant growth and self-actualisation.
This chapter includes an insightful case study on Google’s Project Oxygen, where the tech giant identified key qualities – like empathy and active listening – as essential managerial skills, countering the conventional focus on technical expertise.
In chapter 6, he uses the allegory of a forest to illustrate how summaries transform knowledge from passive understanding to active, embodied wisdom. He emphasises that in teaching, clear, memorable takeaways serve as bridges from learning to mastery, while coaching relies on actionable summaries to push individuals toward personal progress.
Mentoring, however, stands apart, as its summary focuses on deeper reflection and self-realisation, guiding mentees like Sarah – a biotech researcher in Perez’s case study – through complex ethical considerations to holistic, responsible practice.
Perez provides readers with a roadmap to cultivate development that extends beyond skill, aiming for a transformative approach to professional and personal evolution. This book inspires leaders to shape not only careers but also the ethical landscapes within their fields.
The book also explores the crucial role of relationships in professional development. He posits that the synergy between teachers, coaches and mentors forms a guiding chorus, essential for nurturing growth and mastery.
He invites readers to reflect on their personal experiences, encouraging them to analyse influential relationships that have shaped their journeys.
Perez emphasises the transformative potential of informal relationships, illustrating how unexpected insights from colleagues can catalyze growth. He skillfully illustrates the importance of trust and vulnerability in mentoring dynamics, framing these connections as an orchestra that harmonises the individual ‘s professional journey.
In chapter eight, he emphasises the delicate balance between pushing and pulling in leadership, proposing that the right blend can lead to remarkable growth. With insightful takeaways on the dynamics of adhesion and cohesion, Perez encourages leaders to recognise and harness the unique strengths within their teams.
His reflective study questions invite readers to engage deeply with the material, fostering a thoughtful examination of their own professional journeys. The chapter serves as a compelling reminder that true advancement lies in the intersection of individual ambition and shared vision, making it an essential read for anyone committed to cultivating meaningful professional relationships.
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Through a humorous anecdote about a misguided HR chief, he illustrates the vital lesson that leaders must genuinely know and invest in their employees. He journeys into a personal reflection on the lasting impact of mentorship, using the heartwarming tale of his brother Oscar.
This transformative nature of dedicated mentorship, illustrates how small acts of kindness can leave profound marks on individuals.
Perez encourages readers to embrace the ‘madness’ in their own journeys, advocating for innovative professional development that prioritizes personal connections and genuine growth. This concluding chapter encapsulates the essence of the book, leaving readers inspired to challenge the status quo and create meaningful change within their organisations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Joe Perez, a transformative figure in IT, health & human services, and higher education, holds advanced degrees, including a doctorate in education with dual minors in computers and theology. From educator to a distinguished IT career, he has thrived in roles like Business Intelligence Specialist at NC State University and Senior Systems Specialist/Team Leader at the NC Department of Health & Human Services. As fractional CTO at CogniMind, he drives innovation and efficiency.
Featured on multiple Times Square billboards and ranked Top 10 Thought Leader on Thinkers360, Dr. Perez’s influence is undeniable. An Amazon best-selling author with multiple #1 New Releases, more than 18,000 LinkedIn followers, several magazine columns, and numerous certifications to his credit, he’s a much sought-after international keynote speaker, data viz/analytics expert, and process improvement specialist. He also co-hosts an online talk show.
A recipient of the IOT Industry Insights 2021 Thought Leader of the Year award and named Gartner Peer Community’s 2023 Ambassador of the Year, he speaks at numerous global conferences, expanding his reach to more than 20 countries and earning recognition by several highly-esteemed Thought Leader communities.
Passionate about teaching, he inspires excellence as a speaker, workshop facilitator, podcast guest, and conference emcee. He dedicates time to his family, contributes through musical talents, and engages in community service via his church’s Spanish and military ministries, where his monthly military newsletter, The Patriot News, has gained widespread recognition. His commitment to innovation, relentless drive, and unwavering integrity define Dr. Joe as an exceptional leader.
