Introduction

In a nutshell, this book is about an alternative leadership logic, encompassing principles, perspectives, priorities and practices more appropriate to the business and particularly organisational demands of the twenty-fi rst century. It requires courage, determination and an open mind just to read, much less consider implementation of the proposed action plan contained in the fi nal two chapters. It is fundamentally about providing leaders with the cognitive tools to consistently and effectively get the job done. It is not about ethics, morals, corporate social responsibility or other ‘abstract’, nebulous or non-‘practical’ subjects. Nor is it about a new management process or system which will miraculously ‘turbo-charge’ the prevailing ‘knackered’ leadership logic and culture which everyone is afraid to bin. It is about the consideration, understanding, acknowledgement and effective application of principles, perspectives, priorities and practices which will consistently deliver operationally effective leadership and optimal organisational performance over the long term.