BEYOND AUTHORITY; JULIA MIDDLETON

In a thought-provoking, insightful and entertaining new book, Julia Middleton - the founder and CEO of Common Purpose, explores leadership "beyond authority."

For almost two decades, Common Purpose has been inspiring and equipping active citizens: bringing people together from public, private and voluntary sectors. Its original, "signature" year-long programme has expanded to more than 50 locations across the UK as well as to South Africa, Germany, Netherlands - with several more countries in the pipeline. The original programme for emerging leaders in their late 20s-late 30s has been supplemented with programmes for schoolchildren and students; and a national programme: Open Ground.

Julia draws on the experience of her Common Purpose participants, speakers and partners; interspersed with analogies and anecdotes from her own vibrant family and social life.

To lead "beyond authority," you need to put yourself in others' shoes; create opportunities to get outside your comfort zone; and learn from younger as well as older minds. There may only be one letter difference between "networking" and "not working" - and Julia accepts that networking has a bad reputation and can be self-serving and exclusive. Done well and for the right reasons, it is a critical skill for modern leaders.

One of the techniques enhancing the value of "Beyond Authority," is a series of hypotheticals where Julia paints a scenario; and invites 3-4 of her pool of leaders to say what they would confronted with this particular dilemma.

Useful? *****
Well-written? ****
Practical? *****
Inspirational? ****
Value of Money? ****
Overall? ****

Reviewed by David Grayson, Director of the new Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility, Cranfield School of Management.