Peter Block and his book, Flawless Consulting, had a big impact early on in my career when working in Professional Services. The idea that we should focus on the relationship and process, rather than techniques and business outcomes, was a different view than I had been trained to focus on during my in-house training and to some extent my MBA.
Years later, I had the opportunity to join Peter’s organisation, Designed Learning, as an international associate, delivering the content of the same book.
On this page, I have compiled a series of links to summaries and resources related to Peter’s work. While not exhaustive, it should serve as a good starting point for those interested in his ideas and body of work. The book summaries I have created are not a substitute for reading the books; rather, they are an opportunity for me to revisit and review them, and hopefully, encourage you to work through them as well.
What makes Peter Block’s work stand out
For me, it’s not a single book, but the way his ideas connect across all his work. Peter offers a fresh perspective on how organisations and communities can function, rooted in trust, partnership, and shared purpose. At the core of his thinking, are five principles:
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Accountability without control – Responsibility should be chosen, not imposed. Peter Block advocates for trust-based agreements that shift us from compliance to commitment.
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Transformational conversations – Real change starts in dialogue, conversations that invite new thinking and move us from fear to possibility.
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Community and belonging – This starts with small group conversations about what matters to those present.
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Stewardship – Leadership is reframed as service: holding power on behalf of others, not over them.
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Citizenship over consumerism – In organisations, this means fostering initiative rather than dependency. In communities, it means seeing ourselves as co-creators, not passive recipients.
These principles are not abstract ideals, The books are full of examples, techniques and protocols for creating workplaces and communities where people matter, and where change feels both personal and shared.
Peter Block book summaries
This section is work in progress. Initially, these are the six core books of Peter Block. I will add his books written in partnership and earlier works over time.
Flawless Consulting – A timeless guide for consultants and all in advisory roles, seeking impact without control.
The Empowered Manager – A values-based approach to leading from within an organisation.
Stewardship – A bold alternative to traditional leadership, based on partnership and shared responsibility.
The Answer to How is YES (Acting on what matters) – A manifesto for reclaiming purpose and saying yes to what matters.
Community (The structure of belonging) – A roadmap for building deep connection and creating authentic community (within and beyond organisations).
Activating the Common Good – A call to reclaim our shared humanity by acting collectively for the well-being of our communities through connection, commitment, and care.
Peter Block direct resources
Peter Block – His own website with a myriad of ideas, links and resources.
Designed Learning – The website for Peter’s development company that delivers open and inhouse training based around the books Community, The Empowered Manager and Flawless Consulting.
Youtube Channel for DL – The Designed learning Channel
Peter’s older Youtube channel – Some fantastic resources from 5 years or so, so not so old.
Peter’s bookstore – The online store to all of his books.
This page is one of a series of HUB pages with resources on a range of topics that interest me in leadership, coaching and facilitation.