This provocative practical book, is the essential guide to the theory and practice of leadership - whatever your level in an organisation. It's both an indispensible yet entertaining guide to the core skills of leadership and a practical handbook for getting to the top and staying there - the single book guide to a successful career. A unique and brilliant combination of authoritative guidance and stimulating and entertaining advice, it includes novel material on career limiting moves, advice on what to do when you look like you are about to become an involuntary member of the cock up club and how to lead by following. New to the edition: * More focus on moments of truth, the tough stuff. E.g. firing people (and how not to be fired), conflicts, managing the awkward squad. * More on the politics of leadership: how to get to where you need to be to make things happen. * How to look, talk and act the part. Fundamentally different from most leadership books, it will: * Be for leaders at all levels- provide alternative perspectives on leadership- mix practical experience and theory * Provide the top ten tools and techniques that all leaders master * Highlight the perils and pitfalls of leadership and how to avoid them.
Jo Owen practices what he preaches as a leader. He has worked with over 80 of the best, and a couple of the worst, organisations in the world in a career which has crossed all the major continents and most industry sectors. He is a serial entrepreneur and founder of several successful start ups, including Teach First which is now one of the top graduate recruiters in the UK.
His leadership research is drawn from interviews and surveys with over 2000 managers at all levels, as well as research with traditional societies such as Mongol nomads, Saami reindeer herders, Laikipia in Kenya, Papua New Guinean tribes and even with French bureaucrats in The French Prime Minister's office and beyond in a study conducted with Oxford University
He has two new books coming out this year (Power at Work and Tribal Business School). He has presented two TV series as a trouble shooter in challenging schools.
Jo Owen is able to mix theory with a strong dose of reality and a wide range of stories from planet management that make his advice both credible and digestible.
His career highlights include:
' Putting the blue speckle in Daz
' Selling his blood in Afghanistan
' Becoming the best nappy salesman in Birmingham
' Becoming the Head of Research (in fact, the only researcher) for the SDP: the SDP promptly collapsed.
' Building a business in Japan without speaking any Japanese. Japan went from imminent world domination to the permafrost of recession.
' Getting sued for $12 billion
' Starting a bank
' Presenting two TV series for the world's most obscure channel: Teacher's TV.
' Co-founding three national charities in the UK: Teach First, Future Leaders and Start Up for offenders.
His speaking and training topics include:
' Leading edge leadership
' Managing change
' Tribal business school: lessons of survival and success
' Managing your boss (for CIPD and CMI among others)
' Making a difference
As a leadership and power commentator on broadcast media he comments on:
' Political and business leadership: failures, successes, challenges and solutions
