Seven Secrets of Inspired Leaders: How to achieve the extraordinary by the leaders who have been there and done it

Management Services, Autumn 2006

Seven Secrets of Inspired Leaders: How to achieve the extraordinary by the leaders who have been there and done it, by Phil Dourado and Dr Phil Blackburn Published by Capstone Publishing, 2005 ISBN 1841126500 Price: £14.99

Phil Dourado is is a writer, editor and analyst and has written for a wide range of international newspapers and magazines. Dr Phil Blackburn is co-founder of the 'Inspired Leaders Network. There are over 80 leaders featured in this book although some of them are just mentioned in passing and the book tends to concentrate on the star names. There are the usual examples on how to achieve breakthrough results that may be similar to the work of Tracy Goss, Fernando Flores but at least in this book it is told by real leaders actually doing it. The inspirational leadership style of Greg Dyke who was the Director General of the BBC is chronicled and is used as an interesting example.

There are a great many books on leadership and this book is full of good ideas and looks at leadership from a different perspective. It is an interesting read especially as the people mentioned are well known and in the public eye. The common factor that 'good' leaders have is inspiration and this is emphasised throughout the book.

Overall this is a thought provoking look at leadership.