WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:
The author introduces leadership concepts through the technique of a dialogue between a teacher and student. The teacher is a stereotypical mentor who guides their protege through lessons on leadership via a socratic questioning session. It’s short, and I would say concise. I did appreciate that the temptation to bulk the storyline out wasn’t overwhelming, so the story flows quickly. It’s a bit cheesy, but I think still really good overall. It gets to the point and makes it well.
FIVE KEY TAKEAWAYS:
1. Leadership is simple in practice, but hard in application.
2. Leadership is never about the individual leader, but always about the team, the goal, and the greater good.
3. Leadership requires people to choose to take the hard right over the easy wrong. And that this choice will be repeated and required constantly.
4. Authority and leadership are inherently different. One does not confer the other.
5. Leadership is an applied practice. You can study it, but knowing the theory and carrying it out are very different.
THINGS TO GUIDE A NEW LEADER:
You will need to put your needs last, and to resist the temptation of status and privilege. This isn’t easy!
THINGS TO REMIND AN EXPERIENCED LEADER:
The trappings of leadership are only as useful as the ability they confer to improve your team and achieve the goal. By themelves, they constitute only the glorification of individual ego.
THE QUOTE I’D TWEET:
“Leadership is based on influence-through-persuasion at the front end, combined with accountability at the back end”
3 THINGS TO PUT INTO PRACTICE:
1. Look for subtle signs you’re not holding people accountable. Leaders hold others accountable. Tyrants punish though - don’t stray into that territory.
2. Take stock of your personal goals. Are they aligned with the team’s goals? If not, what’s the delta and how are you going to realign your goals?
3. Remember that self-leadership is still leadership. You can influence yourself.
INSPIRED READING
The author, Timothy R Clarke, sounds fascinating. I am going to do some research and see if there is anything else out there by the same author.