Take time to think, build trust, make time for yourself - these are three essential acts for today's leaders. But how do you do it - against a backdrop of crammed diaries, complex decisions, hybrid working, exponential data growth, disruptive change and a volatile global environment? Inspired by three exceptional musical artists, this book encourages you to reclaim your leadership potential and find renewed inspiration by pausing, noticing and focusing on fundamental aspects of leadership, and rebuilding a foundation that fosters growth, adaptation and longevity. This book will help you to: Understand the complex barriers to thinking time and how to overcome them Discover a practical framework to (re)build and deepen trust Put yourself on your list of priorities, identify what you need for sustained success and forge new positive habits Create space to pause, breathe and reflect, and take action on the things that really matter
Andy Dent is a consultant, coach and director at The Oxford Group. He is passionate about helping leaders and organisations embed habits, mindsets and working conditions that lead to high performance. Caroline Taylor is the managing director of The Oxford Group and an experienced organisational development consultant and coach. Supporting leaders to build their agility and confidence to navigate, influence and drive change in today's dynamic environments is her passion. Catrina Hewitson is a consultant, facilitator, team coach and long-standing associate of The Oxford Group. She loves helping people find their confidence, voice, courage and purpose.
Praise - Foreword - Introduction - Part One: The Neglect Of Thinking Time - 1 The Story Of Moon Safari By Air - 2 Why We Neglect Thinking Time - 3 Making Time To Think - 4 How To Stop Neglecting Your Thinking Time - Part Two: The Neglect Of Building Trust - 5 The Story Of Low by David Bowie - 6 Why We Neglect Building Trust - 7 Building Trust: Three Tensions - 8 How To Stop The Neglect Of Building Trust - Part Three: The Neglect of Self - 9 The Story Of Lemonade By Beyonce - 10 Why We Neglect Ourselves - 11 Time For Self - 12 How To Stop The Neglect Of Self - Conclusion - Acknowledgements - The Author
'What has evolved over the last decade and more - around leadership - is the real understanding that leadership as an "activity" is not a hierarchical right earned based on seniority of position or job role but one that is earned by acts of doing and behaving from one's whole self in the most authentic of ways, and yes, of course, combined with drawing upon one's own experiences. This book is a great reminder of just that, drawing, in this instance, from leaders in music. The point of leadership and leading - it occurs everywhere - and in all settings and walks of life. The "art of leading" is to role model doing it outstandingly well!' - Kirstie Donnelly, MBE, Chief Executive Officer, City & Guilds 'This book skilfully pulls together the challenges that resonate with the leaders of today. It explores and gets to the heart of what sits beyond the neglected but essential acts and diagnoses practical ways to redress these acts. There is deep appreciation for the tensions that leaders face, while also building a compelling case for change and a starting point to create time for more conscious thinking, connection and self-care. This book is a must-read for all leaders committed to getting the best out of themselves and their people.' - Jude Baliti, Head of Partner Development, Talent and Coaching, Big 4 Consulting Firm 'There are many valuable insights to be taken from this book, and most of them aren't rocket science - just a reminder of the basics that we often forget. The simple art of improving our attention management and focusing on getting the right things done for the right reasons can only be achieved by giving ourselves more time to think and reflect in what can be a frantic world. Taking time out to read this book will remind you of some of the habits that we really should be getting back into!' - Gary Shewan, Learning and Development Business Partner, Legal & General 'This important book challenges leaders to move beyond the relentless pursuit of productivity and embrace the rhythms that sustain long-term success. Because the best leaders - like the best artists - know that the space between the notes is just as important as the notes themselves. Organisations move at the speed of trust. Take lessons from Bowie, Air and Raye!' - Stephen Greene, CBE, CEO, RockCorps 'While the use of the term VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) has dropped out of regular use, it feels like that is exactly the world that leaders are operating in now. Therefore, having a structure and ideas for how to create time to understand the VUCA world, gain the trust of those that you need to work with to be successful and enable you to be resilient, is a must read. This book sets out a series of strategies that allow you to be successful in the VUCA world and take care of yourself and your team at the same time.' - Noel McGonigle, MBA, HR Director, Savills UK, Europe and Middle East 'This book lands at a moment in time when it is most needed. Like the "boiling frog" we have not adequately noticed nor addressed the growing pressures leaders face. The authors of this excellent book have noticed, and they bring real credibility as long time students of the art and practice of leadership to identify and redress areas which have too often been neglected. Inspired by music and ground-breaking creative artists, the authors bring to life enduring principles of leadership, like making time to think, building trusting relationships and the perennial challenge of self-care. I have been beautifully challenged and helped to build better leadership habits: I will take time to think - "to go slow to go fast"; I will be more trusting in order to win greater trustworthiness and I will be "properly selfish" so I am there for the people I have the privilege to lead. Thank you!' - Farren Drury, MBE, Leadership and High Performance Coach 'The distillation of the latest thinking and research coupled with practical solutions make this an essential read for all leaders and those interested in leadership development. Written in an accessible style there will be something to take away in every chapter.' - Peter Coats, Group Protection Academy Manager, Legal & General
