Taking Charge

"It’s a funny book, I know, but it’s actually a book I give out to people who are taking new leadership positions. Sometimes I think we over-intellectualise leadership, and that there are simple statements that mean a lot. I always liked the one in the book about a group of people committed to a shared vision who could achieve the impossible. It was somewhat like Margaret Mead’s quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Or, “Accept blame as well as fame.” I think that’s very timely in a competitive world, certainly in the progressive community, when we’re all in search of fame but no one really wants to accept blame, responsibility and accountability. Support Five Books Five Books interviews are expensive to produce. If you're enjoying this interview, please support us by donating a small amount . There’s another one I like about “exerting your will through persuasion, not intimidation”, which is about how you build a team around a common set of values and ideas, and not just run a command-and-control organisation. I found the book useful if you’re going to make changes, be a progressive and be a leader. It helped me think about my own leadership style and my own responsibilities to other people in fairly simple, enjoyable soundbites. It is on a personal level, as opposed to books about policy change at the macro level. It’s helpful for me to see it as: How do I exert my own influence? How do I find my own leadership style? What kinds of remark help trigger the whole issue about accepting blame, not just fame? The issue of accountability is huge for a leader. A lot of things that are said about shared responsibility, about reaching for the stars because you might just hit the moon, are statements that in many ways are the Cliff Notes version of very serious work about leadership. I always think what’s important is that you’re constantly being reflective while trying to make changes in your leadership style and leadership role."