How To Grow Leaders

Although the subject of this book is not fundamentally original, the personality of the author and the tone of the book sets it apart from the crowd. Internationally recognized as a pioneer of leadership development, John Adair spent several years in the British army and then continued to provide advice on officer training, before starting his career as professor and consultant. As such, the reflections of the squadron leaders of the battle of England, Lawrence of Arabia or Churchill, along with quotes from Xenophon or Seneca, occupy a considerable place in his conception of leadership.
This somewhat atypical tone should not mask the real qualities of the work. Chapters 1, 2 and 4, in particular, constitute a very clear and convincing statement of what leadership is, and the qualities that a good leader must possess. In the second part, the author describes seven principles that, in his view, form the very basis for leadership development. We felt that the most innovative and concrete advice concerned principles 1 (on the use of theoretical training), 2 (on selection criteria) and 4 (on managing careers and choosing experiences to which leaders-in-training should be exposed).