Great Leaders - Inspirational Lessons in Leadership

Overview

In this stimulating and rewarding book John Adair poses the questions, who are the great leaders in history and what have they got to teach us today about the nature and practice of leadership?

In asking to what degree true leadership can be identified and developed, he explores the make-up and achievements of historic leaders. He explores the cardinal qualities of inspiring, communicating and decision making but he also touches on the value of humour, intuition and imagination.

This thought-provoking book is a unique approach to leadership by a writer internationally acknowledged as a major influence on leadership studies. There are points to ponder throughout the book, helping to draw out the lessons and concepts for the reader. 

It features among others: Alexander the Great, Amundsen, Attila, Attlee, Bevan, Boudicca, Mike Brearley, Caesar, Churchill, de Gaulle, Einstein, Eisenhower, Elizabeth I, Gandhi, Sir Edmund Hillary, Ho Chih Min, Hsun-Tzu, Jefferson, Jesus, Jonnah, Kennedy, Lao Tzu, Lincoln, Machiavelli, Mandela, Montgomery, Mosley, Napoleon, Nehru, Nixon, Pericles, Plato, Reagan, F D Roosevelt, St Paul, Scott, Shackleton, Socrates, Washington, Wellington and Xenophon. 

Contents

Part One

• Leadership through knowledge
• Leadership skills
• The servant leader
• The ability to give direction
• Making the right decisions
• The art of inspiring while informing

Part Two

• The roots of British tradition
• The gentleman leader
• Nelson
• Polar explorers
• Leadership in a changing world

Part Three

• Charisma
• Women as leaders
• Styles of leadership
• Leaders for tomorrow

Reviews

‘Any of us who aspire to, and recognize the need for some form of leadership can only improve our performance by studying the past. John Adair’s latest book is a valuable addition to the thinking that has gone into the subject… I believe that it is a ‘must read’ book .. He is without doubt one of the foremost thinkers on the subject in the world.’

Sir John Harvey-Jones, leading industrialist and ex-CEO of ICI

‘I discovered once again how rare it is to come upon a book about leaders with depth, conceptual bite and historical context. It was a relief and a joy.’

Warren Bennis, major US management guru and writer

The Author

JOHN ADAIR is widely acknowledged as one of the most significant influences on management and leadership development in both business and military spheres. He studied history at Cambridge University and holds higher degrees from the Universities of Oxford and London. He became the world's first Professor of Leadership Studies at the University of Surrey and is internationally known as a consultant. He is the author of many respected books on management and leadership.