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A Question of Leadership: Leading Organizational Change in Times of Crisis
Whether planned or unexpected, change presents leaders with their toughest sustained challenges – regardless of the leader's seniority or the organisation's size. For many leaders, change brings drama – and the replaying of familiar stories.
In A Question of Leadership , Keith Leslie provides a wide range of illustrative case studies derived from both research and his first-hand experience in the public and private sectors as a former partner at both Deloitte and McKinsey. Each chapter first provides an engaging narrative that presents a relatable leadership dilemma, before an analysis of what works and when (often reaching seemingly counterintuitive solutions), followed by a selection of research which supports this thesis and, finally, actionable advice for leaders who find themselves in comparable circumstances (or may do so in the future).
Alongside their individual takeaways, each of these case studies are united behind an overarching the failure of many change initiatives (research shows that approx. 60-70% fail) is caused by the leader's inability to fully consider the consequences and magnitude of the situation. Whether they consider it 'just a game', or they are 'gaming the system', they often fail to recognise the full consequences of the change initiative. Across business and society, the prevalence and impacts of such short-sighted mistakes has become more overt than ever following the onset of the ongoing pandemic.
A Question of Leadership also places an emphasis upon one element of corporate leadership and change initiatives that is frequently overlooked yet more important than mental health. The book provides expert advice on managing mental health (both that of the leader and their team) within stressful, high-pressure environments. This is a timely and essential guide for any business leader looking for the most effective strategies and approaches when it comes to change initiatives. Keith Leslie explores the corporate consequences of the worldwide pandemic, and analyses how leaders can adapt and improve to ensure the continued livelihood and prosperity of their organization and employees in the wake of crises.
In A Question of Leadership , Keith Leslie provides a wide range of illustrative case studies derived from both research and his first-hand experience in the public and private sectors as a former partner at both Deloitte and McKinsey. Each chapter first provides an engaging narrative that presents a relatable leadership dilemma, before an analysis of what works and when (often reaching seemingly counterintuitive solutions), followed by a selection of research which supports this thesis and, finally, actionable advice for leaders who find themselves in comparable circumstances (or may do so in the future).
Alongside their individual takeaways, each of these case studies are united behind an overarching the failure of many change initiatives (research shows that approx. 60-70% fail) is caused by the leader's inability to fully consider the consequences and magnitude of the situation. Whether they consider it 'just a game', or they are 'gaming the system', they often fail to recognise the full consequences of the change initiative. Across business and society, the prevalence and impacts of such short-sighted mistakes has become more overt than ever following the onset of the ongoing pandemic.
A Question of Leadership also places an emphasis upon one element of corporate leadership and change initiatives that is frequently overlooked yet more important than mental health. The book provides expert advice on managing mental health (both that of the leader and their team) within stressful, high-pressure environments. This is a timely and essential guide for any business leader looking for the most effective strategies and approaches when it comes to change initiatives. Keith Leslie explores the corporate consequences of the worldwide pandemic, and analyses how leaders can adapt and improve to ensure the continued livelihood and prosperity of their organization and employees in the wake of crises.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published May 11, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 19, 2021
This book was Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 7/18, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet and Stevo's Novel Ideas. Failure is caused by the leader's inability to fully consider the consequences and magnitude of the situation. Leslie is spot-on when he says that leading with a power-based model erodes trust, especially during a crisis.
Find more Business Books of the week on my Goodreads Listopia page at https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9..., and find many more recommended books on my Amazon Influencer page at https://www.amazon.com/shop/stevo4747 or by searching for me on Google.
Find more Business Books of the week on my Goodreads Listopia page at https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9..., and find many more recommended books on my Amazon Influencer page at https://www.amazon.com/shop/stevo4747 or by searching for me on Google.
November 15, 2025
It was a good read with a real world references. Unlike many leadership books it doesn't use big words that usually confuse the matter rather than convey a message to a reader. If you start reading it now, don't expect a "recipe" for successful change process, it gives some 'guardrails' but not a solution.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews