I’ve experienced good organisations and less so in my working life. Likewise, I've experienced the good and less so of leadership. In leading teams and organisations during my career, I, too, have been an example of both, so I’m passionate about helping leaders grow their capability to ‘avoid the less so’ and lead well, with humanity and greater consciousness, to create workplaces where people flourish and organisations that contribute positively to the future of our world.
Like many people, I discovered Brené Brown through her eponymous TED talk on Vulnerability; that compelling insight is showcased here, too. I love the way this book takes us to the heart of what it means to lead with courage. Too often, we confuse bravado (behaviours) with bravery when it comes to leadership.
Brown’s version of courage and daring are very different and really resonate, embracing vulnerability as a key strength, coupled with empathy and integrity to breed a culture where people speak up, conversations are robust, and mistakes are welcomed as learning opportunities.
What really works for me is the storytelling and personal anecdotes, backed up by research, creating a practical and inspiring read.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Brené Brown has taught us what it means to dare greatly, rise strong, and brave the wilderness. Now, based on new research conducted with leaders, change makers, and culture shifters, she’s showing us how to put those ideas into practice so we can step up and lead.
Don’t miss the five-part HBO Max docuseries Brené Brown: Atlas of the Heart!
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BLOOMBERG
Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and…
We can spend our time hiding behind the sofa as a volatile and uncertain world emerges around us. I chose Scharmer’s book and vision to ensure my sofa is for sitting, not hiding. For me, Scharmer is a revolutionary for a better world, inviting us to develop and lean into awareness, consciousness, presence, system thinking, and the recognition that all is connected to resolve the crises facing our world.
I like the scale of the shared vision and the practical guidance to shift from short-termism to leading in a way that secures a more positive future for the planet. Among the gems of this book for me are the hope-giving real-world examples of Scharmer’s Theory U in action—no more hiding.
We have entered an age of disruption. Financial collapse, climate change, resource depletion, and a growing gap between rich and poor are but a few of the signs. Otto Scharmer and Katrin Kaufer ask, why do we collectively create results nobody wants? Meeting the challenges of this century requires updating our economic logic and operating system from an obsolete “ego-system” focused entirely on the well-being of oneself to an eco-system awareness that emphasizes the well-being of the whole. Filled with real-world examples, this thought-provoking guide presents proven practices for building a new economy that is more resilient, intentional, inclusive, and…
In my view, this book is a game-changer. Sinek probably agrees, given that it became a bestseller and has seen him become one of the most influential thinkers on leadership of our time. The Golden Circle—Why, How, What—at the heart of the book flips conventional leadership thinking on its head, getting clear on purpose (the why) rather than starting with the what.
I love the way Sinek brings his thinking and the power of purpose to life with real-world examples, from the Wright brothers, the ‘founders of powered flight,’ through Martin Luther King Jr. to Jobs and Apple.
As a believer in the importance of Emotional Intelligence in leadership and life and a fan of Goleman’s work bringing it into the mainstream workplace, this book was a must-read for me. Often, leaders forget their impact on others. I love how this book reminds us of the shadow leaders cast and their responsibility for it.
One of the standouts for me is how we transmit and receive signals that affect our emotional state and that of others, courtesy of the wiring of the emotional centre of our brain. This is a timely reminder to take care.
The book’s blending of science, research, real-life examples, and case studies makes the strongest case for emotionally intelligent leadership, while the inclusion of practical exercises and reflection points provides a great workout.
This is the book that established "emotional intelligence" in the business lexicon and made it a necessary skill for leaders.
Managers and professionals across the globe have embraced Primal Leadership, affirming the importance of emotionally intelligent leadership. Its influence has also reached well beyond the business world: the book and its ideas are now used routinely in universities, business and medical schools, and professional training programs, and by a growing legion of professional coaches.
This refreshed edition, with a new preface by the authors, vividly illustrates the power and the necessity of leadership that is self-aware, empathic, motivating, and collaborative…
Power has gotten a bad rap over the years due to its selfish/self-interested misuse in all walks of life. For me, Rometty’s book resets the dial with its refreshing focus on using power for the greater good and creating positive change in organisations and wider society.
I really liked the book's blend of memoir, practical advice and tools, and the core concept of good power—shifting from the traditional notion of leadership as control and power to a practice that puts empathy, inclusion, and service at heart. Ultimately, the book is about meaningful, positive change…something we can surely all get behind.
Former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty delivers a powerful combination of memoir, leadership lessons, and big ideas on how we can all drive meaningful change.
Ginni Rometty led one of the world's most iconic companies, and in Good Power she recounts her groundbreaking path from a challenging childhood to becoming the CEO of IBM and one of the world's most influential business leaders. With candor and depth, Rometty shares milestones from her life and career while redefining power as a way to drive meaningful change in positive ways for ourselves, our organizations, and for the many,…
Whether it’s climate, cost, or conflict–the world is in crisis. The problems are too big for governments to solve alone. Businesses and their leaders must get involved if a better, less challenged world is to be created for all. In this book, Lorraine Flower and I provide a daring blueprint for that involvement and for business to lead the way—setting out the why, what, and how of a new leadership ‘operating system’—Conscious Leadership.
In exploring five principles, five qualities, and five practices of Conscious Leadership, the opportunity for business leaders to lead differently, more expansively, and more impactfully is unfolded. Case studies featuring the work of a growing (though not yet enough) number of conscious business leaders demonstrate what’s possible.
After Dr. Shawn Jennings, a busy family physician, suffered a brainstem stroke on May 13, 1999, he woke from a coma locked inside his body, aware and alert but unable to communicate or move. Once he regained limited movement in his left arm, he began typing his story, using one hand and a lot of patience.
With unexpected humour and tender honesty, Shawn shares his experiences in his struggle for recovery and acceptance of his life after the stroke. He affirms that even without achieving a full recovery life is still worth…
Locked In Locked Out: Surviving a Brainstem Stroke
After Dr. Shawn Jennings, a busy family physician, suffered a brainstem stroke on May 13, 1999, he woke from a coma locked inside his body, aware and alert but unable to communicate or move. Once he regained limited movement in his left arm, he began typing his story, using one hand and a lot of patience.
With unexpected humour and tender honesty, Shawn shares his experiences in his struggle for recovery and acceptance of his life after the stroke. He affirms that even without achieving a full recovery life is still worth…
