Book · The Human Map
The Human Map – A working book for leaders under pressure.
When you land in a new team, a new country or a crisis project, the hardest part is not the task. It is the people, the culture and the silence between words.
The Human Map by Michael Kirschberger is a practical navigation system for exactly those situations. It helps you see what is really happening between people — so that your decisions are not based on guesswork, but on a clear map of your system.
Available as Kindle eBook and paperback · Language: English.
Why this book exists
Most leadership books describe ideals. This one describes reality.
The Human Map grew out of years of conversations with leaders and teams: people who were competent and committed — but operating inside systems that were confusing, overloaded or quietly breaking down.
Instead of offering another list of leadership virtues, the book shows you how to:
- scan your real system in five core fields: orientation, communication, structure, rhythm, trust
- draw simple maps of what is actually going on between people
- translate those maps into concrete decisions and experiments
- talk about tensions without turning every issue into personal blame
It is a book you work with, not a book you read once and forget on a shelf.
What The Human Map gives you
A clear way to read your system.
You learn to scan orientation, communication, structure, performance rhythm and trust — without jargon. The questions and diagrams are simple enough to use in the middle of a busy week.
Language for difficult conversations.
Instead of attacking people or hiding problems, you get words and visuals that make tensions speakable: “This is the pattern we are running”, not “You are the problem.”
Concrete experiments, not vague inspiration.
Every field ends with experiments you can try with your team: small structural changes, new routines, precise conversations. You do not need extra time — you use the work you already have.
Inside the book
How The Human Map is built.
The book is structured as a sequence of building blocks. You can read it front to back — or jump directly to the field that hurts most in your system.
Core elements you will find:
- short, sharp chapters you can read in 10–15 minutes
- diagrams you can redraw with your own team
- reflection questions for real situations, not hypotheticals
- field guides for the five core areas of The Human Map
- examples of typical patterns in teams under pressure
In practice
Using The Human Map with your team.
The book is written so that you can turn reading into work — not private reflection only.
Three simple ways to start:
- Pick one field (e.g. orientation) and map just that with your team.
- Use one diagram in your next leadership meeting as a shared picture.
- Choose one experiment from the book and run it for 30 days.
You do not need a special workshop format to begin. You can start where you are, with the people you already have, inside the constraints you cannot change.
For whom is the book written?
The Human Map is for leaders who:
- carry responsibility for people and performance
- move across cultures, locations or organizations
- feel the load of complexity and silent expectations
- want tools that respect reality, not just theory
It works especially well if you combine it with a Human Map Seminar or workshop — but it also stands on its own.
A different kind of leadership book.
The Human Map will not tell you that everything is easy. It will help you see why things feel hard — and where to begin when you cannot fix everything at once.
You will not find idealized stories of perfect cultures. You will find tools for real organizations: messy, constrained, and still capable of clarity and trust.
Formats
Where and how to get The Human Map.
Kindle eBook
Instant access on your Kindle device or app. Ideal if you highlight, take notes and want the book with you in travel and project weeks.
Paperback
A physical copy you can work in, sketch over and put on the table in meetings. Many leaders use the paperback as a shared reference in leadership sessions.
With Seminars & Coaching
Combine the book with a Human Map Seminar or 1:1 coaching. The shared language from the book makes workshops faster and deeper — you start on page 50, not page 1.
Start with one map, not with a revolution.
If you feel that something in your system is out of balance — but you cannot yet name it — The Human Map is a good place to start.
Read one chapter, draw one diagram, try one experiment. That is enough to begin changing how you see your work, your team and yourself as a leader.