Being a team leader for 12 years, my experience is that most self-improvement programs and apps capture our attention with their beautiful interface and catchy slogans; the Jordan Peterson Self Authoring Suite is different. It has removed all the unnecessary and is single-mindedly aimed at helping you become a better person.
The Jordan Peterson Self Authoring program is a very useful in-depth journaling exercise aimed at understanding your past so you can design your future. Past, Present and Future Authoring allows you to explore each period. The writing exercises provide greater insight into unresolved traumas, current behaviors, and future goals.
Jordan Peterson’s exploration into the theory of self-authorship encompasses his experiences as a clinical psychologist. The result is the Self Authoring Suite, which provides the tools for a comprehensive self-examination. The program allows you to develop traits that will enable you to achieve increased self-management and professional growth.
I started using the program for my personal development and then realized what impact it could have on my team. The self-authoring program is now an essential piece of the puzzle when building highly effective teams.
Does Jordan Peterson Self-Authoring Work?
There have been many positive reviews of Jordan Peterson’s self-authoring work. Many people believe the Self Authoring Suite helped them identify and set goals. Meeting key performance indicators is usually a measurement of success for many employees. This can be a great benefit in the workplace.
Self Authoring was a topic in an article in Oprah Magazine and one in NPR. The latter’s title was “The Writing Assignment That Changed Lives.” This particular article focused on the academic achievements of participants in the program. Arguably, this is a testament to how effective his program is. But this success can also be easily translated into a work environment.
This isn’t surprising as it’s a concept based on proven scientific research. People with self-authoring minds are highly ambitious and welcome leadership roles. They thrive on using their talents and skills to benefit an organization. They’re also keen on contributing to the company to help achieve its goals.
The program helped me look at my life and goals from new perspectives; it has allowed me to look at my future clearly and precisely. The main benefit I gained from completing the exercises was a solid understanding of my inner wants and desires. I later turned this understanding into actionable steps leading me toward my now deeply connected goals.
People with self-authoring minds are highly ambitious and welcome leadership roles. They thrive on using their talents and skills to benefit an organization.
How This Program Can Develop Your Leadership Skills
Jordan Peterson’s writing exercises give you an in-depth view of your past, present, and future. This can provide you with a better sense of self. The result is a lasting, positive impact on your mental and physical health.
Jordan Peterson’s Past Authoring
This session helps you confront past demons that may hinder your progress. One of the essential traits required is effectively leading and managing others. This self-awareness is critical to self-management.
One of my teammates said that doing the work in Past Authoring was taxing both psychologically and physically (which I very much agree with). However, he came out with a MUCH better understanding of himself about the team. He could also let go of some of his traumatic memories and focus on the present.
The past authoring program asks you to divide your life into seven epochs, and then it invites you to write how they have impacted your life. This, as you can imagine, can be very difficult for some, but it most certainly will be helpful for everyone since it will allow you to understand who and why you are the way you are.
Past authoring is an excellent way for your team and yourself to understand why you react to things with many emotions and why some things don’t bother you.
Jordan Peterson’s Present Authoring
This session helps participants understand their personality traits. Reviewing your positive and negative (or faults and virtues, as the program calls it) traits will create actionable insights into your leadership style. The exercise can help you develop strategies to eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors.
Understanding and focusing on your strengths will help you become an expert. Expertise is mastering your strengths, not fixing your weaknesses.
Expertise is mastering your strengths, not fixing your weaknesses.
You can look at it this way, dedicate just enough time to build your weaknesses up so they are no longer obstacles toward your goals. Then commit most of your time and resources to expand and improve your strengths.
The exercise will also help you recognize strengths in your employees that you can build on. This can be highly motivating for them and will increase their productivity.
Jordan Peterson’s Future Authoring
This session helps you envision how you’d like your life to be. Creating a plan to achieve this reality is the key to achieving it. For every goal that you select, It will generate a sub-task; in this subtask, you will explore why you chose this goal and how important it is to you.
This aspect is vital. This is the part where you select which goals are the most important. Many people I meet need help prioritizing, which means that when the resources are scarce, they tend to take a step back and get nothing done.
Instead, by having a clear goal hierarchy, you know exactly what to do first and what needs to go if you cannot do all of it.
By having a clear goal hierarchy, you know exactly what to do first and what needs to go if you cannot do all of it.
This part of the program is a more developed and highly functional SMART goal-setting system. If you are like most, you have probably tried this system before, but it didn’t significantly impact you; that’s probably because to use SMART goal setting effectively, you need to know the psychology behind its structure.
This knowledge of your psychology is the value of the future authoring exercise and why it is so powerful.
Goal setting is a significant element in planning for a rewarding future. This habit is easily transferred to a work environment. This provides you and your coworkers with a clear direction. Working toward attainable goals will also motivate your team without team building.
Is the Future Authoring Program Worth It?
Considering the low price, the immense value, and the potentially life-changing impact, the Future Authoring program (included in the Self Authoring Suite) is worth it! I recommend it to any new or experienced leader wanting to understand their history and design their future fully.
If you value science-backed self-improvement, are willing to work, and don’t need a fancy interface, it’s a program worth completing. Here are some of the more tangible outcomes you can expect:
- Better performance (in the area you chose to focus on)
- Improved relationships with others
- A more positive outlook which your actions will reflect
- Greater ability and drive to achieve more
- Less anxiety and a greater focus on attaining your goals
- A clear purpose
These will impact both your personal and professional life.
How Long Does It Take To Finish The Self-Authoring Program?
Completing the full Self Authoring Suite will take 8-13.5 hours of active writing. The estimated time is 13.5, and it took my team and me an average of 9h. The suite is mentally challenging, so with the needed rest between sessions; it usually takes 2-3 weeks to complete. Below you can read how long each of the three programs takes to finish.
Jordan Peterson’s Self-Authoring Suite consists of three programs:
Past Authoring (4h) allows you to:
- Identify and work on past trauma
- Translate it into your narrative
- Understand the experience
- Take an in-depth look at some of your major memories
Present Authoring (1.5h+3h) allows you to:
- Uncover your strengths
- Identify and work on your weaknesses
- Understand your way of thinking
- Acknowledge your habits
Future authoring (5h) allows you to:
- Develop your life strategy
- Gain greater clarity and insight
- Map out your future
- Identify stumbling blocks or complications
You can choose to purchase the Suite or each of the programs individually. One program takes four to five hours to complete. However, the recommendation is that you take sufficient breaks after doing each. This ensures your mind is well-rested and fresh to get the most significant benefit.
The great thing is that once you purchase the program, it doesn’t expire. You can take as long as you need and return to the program as often as you want.
Is the Self Authoring Program Confidential?
The self-authoring program is confidential. They do, however, retain your work on their servers. This facilitates the ability to return to your work as needed, but your work isn’t reviewed or read.
Your credit card information also needs to be retained. Processing takes place directly via Stripe or PayPal. Your personal information isn’t shared with any other third parties.
How Much Is the Self-Authoring Program?
You can purchase the Full Suite of self authoring program for $29.90. This includes the Past, Present, and Future Authoring series.
You can also choose to purchase each series separately at $14.95 each.
Final Thoughts
The self-authoring program removes everything unnecessary and keeps only what is effective and useful; it doesn’t have any fancy interfaces, cool apps, or automated analysis. It is all up to you to make it work.
If you’re willing to put in the time and energy, there is a significant opportunity to learn something new about yourself so that you can improve your relationships and your business.
Self-authoring might be a relatively new concept to many, but it’s been around for at least a decade. The self-authoring theory has developed and evolved over this short period. Theorists in this field, including Jordan Peterson, have conducted extensive research.
The benefits of self-authoring can have a positive impact on both your personal and professional life. They’ll help you become an effective leader enabling you to build a team driven by success.
