Ahead of the Business Book Awards 2020 Gala Dinner on the 23rd of March, we are introducing you to the authors of the shortlisted books for this year’s ceremony. This week we are talking to Ian Mills, Mark Ridley, Ben Laker and Adam Pacifico, authors of The Leader’s Secret Code, shortlisted for the category: ‘Leadership for the Future‘.
Ian Mills: CEO of Transform Performance International. Has held leadership roles in FMCG, financial and technology sectors. Co-founded the business in 1999. Written two previous best-selling books. Proud grandad!
Mark Ridley: Founder of Transform Performance International. Strategist, chair, facilitator with clients in over 60 countries. Co-author of two other best-selling books. Loves his music!
Ben Laker: Professor at Henley Business School and regular contributor to Forbes. Ben is academic adviser to Transform Performance International and is also seen on TV as a regular pundit on BBC and Sky News. Loves the movies and went to the Oscars!
Adam Pacifico: Has a background in law and is a barrister. Worked with Duke Corporate Education and is now continues to work globally with leaders, providing them with truly inspiring experiences so they become equally inspiring leaders. Loves his football!
Why you wrote the book
We wanted to give leaders something to help them make sense of today’s business world, which was based on research.
We are living in the age of disruption and most leaders know that this VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world will continue to accelerate into the future. This means that the leadership behaviours of the past will not necessarily yield the same success going forward. In addition, macro-economic factors mean that that the leadership emphasis will become progressively more centred on digitisation, data analytics, artificial intelligence – much of which wasn’t even on the radar 10 years ago. The ‘human factor’ in leadership will be more important than ever before.
What value the book offers
Leadership ideas based on research, not just opinion. The research that led to The Leader’s Secret Code identified that there is a common set of beliefs, held by top-performing leaders, that sets them apart. These same beliefs will set a foundation for high performing leadership behaviours now and in the future. The book explores 7 ‘Destination Beliefs’ and 14 ‘Journey Motivators’ all of which add up to a personal leadership journey. To help bring the research to life the book also includes interviews with thirteen ‘iconic’ leaders, chosen from diverse backgrounds, but all with leadership stories to share.
What you have gained from publishing the book
- New data to drive new conversations about leadership
- New friendships and professional associations
- A sense of personal and collective achievement
- Massive support from all over the place – and we are incredibly humbled and grateful for it
Learn more about The Leader’s Secret Code
What makes a great leader? What beliefs, attitudes and behaviours are linked to being a top performing and influential leader, especially in these uncertain times? What impact does culture, industry and business context have? And do formal training and education make a difference?
This book is for any business manager or executive, or indeed anyone involved in leading a team in their company, who wants to learn the secrets of successful leadership. Based on interviews and analysis (qualitative and quantitative) with some of the world’s best performing leaders, across a mix of industries, cultures and context, the authors present a rigorous evaluation of how leaders behave and how they are driven. In doing so, they reveal the secret code behind consistent and high-level success in leadership and management.
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