Some Achieve Greatness: Lessons on leadership and character from Shakespeare and one of his greatest admirers

by John Bell

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.” William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night Around the globe people have been crying out for “Leadership”: demanding it, begging for it. From the farcical spectacle of short-lived Australian prime ministers shoving each other through the revolving door to scandalous failures of governance in Australia’s financial institutions and the moral abyss in church leadership, to the mess of Brexit and the chaotic unpredictability of the Trump administration, and now the greatest leadership challenge since World War Covid-19. Stable, reliable, sensible leadership has been in short supply. We often resort to the word ‘Shakespearean’ to explain our dramatic times. And indeed, we can learn a lot from Shakespeare about leadership – good and bad. The world’s greatest analyst of human behaviour and motivation; a man well acquainted with crises of leadership in tumultuous times; a man whose dry wit, bottomless empathy enabled him to encapsulate countless valuable life lessons that still ring with relevance today. As someone who has spent a good deal of the last seventy-something years studying, performing and directing Shakespeare’s plays, John Bell has absorbed quite a few valuable lessons in life, character and leadership from the bard, and then put these to good use running two successful theatre companies. Some Achieve Greatness contains invaluable lessons on leadership, drawn from John Bell’s extensive relationship with Shakespeare and his own experience as a cultural leader, illustrated with an irreverent and contemporary set of cartoons by Cathy Wilcox.

Genres: Nonfiction, Classics

364 pages, Paperback

Published May 4, 2021

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is as much a great summary of some of the most well known Shakespearean plays as it is about leadership.

John Bell intersperses comment on Shakespeare’s treatment of leaders and leadership with stories of his own experience as a leader.

He takes a few barbed swipes at privilege and the patriarchy:

“Happily we are witnessing the gradual disintegration of this archaic social fabric, but we can only wonder at the tenacity of the gilded darlings clinging to the wreckage”

Indeed.

As a leadership coach this is a great addition to my library. If only to locate the key leadership elements of the Bard’s plays.

[Delwyn Riordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book after hearing John Bell in conversation with Phillip Adams on ABC radio Late Night Live, it didn’t disappoint.
Shakespeare has much to say about leadership; it’s importance, the fallibility of leaders, ruthless ambition, and more. Bell draws on his deep knowledge of Shakespeare’s works to highlight some key messages and to place them alongside some of the models of leadership we see today.
I highly recommend both the book and the radio interview (Monday 3 May, ABC Australia Late Night Live)

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Shakespeare and have seen John Bell interpret many of The Bard's greatest roles, so when I heard about this book I knew it would be one I loved. Whilst Bell's leadership lessons here don't really break new ground, the analysis of Shakespeare's characters accompanying his real world experience as a leader really cemented a clear vision of ethical, effective and contemporary leadership for me.
But what I really loved about this book was it's discussion of Shakespeare. It felt like a long, boozy lunch with a wise friend, discussing great art - the prose was convivial yet erudite and the book flowed so easily.

[Vivienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book as a result of seeing Virginia Trioli's interview with John Bell at the Sydney Writer's Festival, and I enjoyed both the interview and the book.
I don't think that this is in any way a ground breaking book in terms of John Bell's statements on leadership/achieving greatness but then, it doesn't pretend to be. What is fascinating though, is Bell's explanation/interpretation of many Shakespearean characters, and often also their real life equivalents, in terms of their qualities (or lack thereof) of greatness, leadership etc. He uses these insights cleverly to align with properties that he sees are essential to leadership in the real world, often also giving examples from his own experience in the Bell Shakespeare company.
Also interesting, and something of which I would like to have seen more, his parallels with current leaders and political figures, some stated quite pointedly others merely suggested.
This is a quick, and surprisingly easy read , enhanced, I'm sure, by having seen the interview. ***

[Peter Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE BEST leadership manual I have ever read…

This is THE BEST leadership manual I have ever read. It's a little unkind to call John Bell's work a leadership or management manual. But Bell has used his deep knowledge of Shakespear's to provide us with timeless guidance on how to improve the way we act within society, not just at work.

I heard an interview with Bell where he discussed this book. It (the book) sounded interesting. The reading of it has proven this.

This book is well worth a read,
Peter

[Charlotte Clutterbuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wide-ranging reflection on the qualities of leadership and how Shakespeare might help us to better understand its perils (ambition, arrogance) and wisdom (courage, integrity). As well as drawing on his years of experience leading the Bell Shakespeare Company, Bell enriches his discussion with quotations and examples from Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Eleanor Roosevelt and others. It's a pity more political leaders haven't read this book: 'Looking back on your life, how do you want to feel about what you've done?' And all of this comes with marvellous illustrations by Cathy Wilcox.

[Michael Rodenburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some interesting contemporary links with Shakespeare's work. I was hoping for more material I could use in the classroom but this was aimed more at a corporate audience.

[Peter Rothwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shakespeare's tradgedies are undeniably profound. There is, however, nothing more tragic than the modern day self-help book. John Bell brings the two together nicely in a short and fun read.