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The Nine Types of Leader
Book

The Nine Types of Leader

How the Leaders of Tomorrow Can Learn from the Leaders of Today

James Ashton
Kogan Page, 2021
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Well Structured
  • Concrete Examples
  • Insider's Take

Recommendation

Offering insights gleaned from hundreds of interviews with titans of industry, renowned journalist James Ashton delineates the strengths and weaknesses of nine leadership styles. Invoking lively stories, he explains why some types quickly go out of vogue, while others prove increasingly salient to a new generation of leaders. Ashton’s thoughtful and entertaining taxonomy illuminates the qualities leaders will need to successfully shepherd their organizations in the future. His well-researched, enjoyable account can help you discover your own leadership style and how best to deploy it. 

Summary

Successful executives share many qualities, but their approach to leadership can vary widely across nine categories.

The most effective leaders blend credible purpose and believable authenticity with the ability to deliver results that satisfy shareholders in the short term and serve their organization in the long term. These qualities enable leaders to face the triple challenges of a global recession, demands for a stronger social contract and an increasingly flexible workforce.

Chief executives share many qualities: confidence, a tendency to arrogance, good grooming, and a competitive and domineering nature. But their paths to leadership vary, as does their approach to it. Their family background, training, organizational environment and personal qualities lead each to fall into one or more of nine categories: Alphas, Fixers, Sellers, Campaigners, Diplomats or – the type of leader most likely to guide the organizations of the future – Humans.

Tough and visionary, Alphas have a strong, solo style – one that’s quickly going out of vogue.

Alphas give strong, solo leadership to big, complex corporations. They provide a fixed point around...

About the Author

James Ashton is a financial journalist and media consultant who specializes in conducting in-depth interviews with global leaders. He currently hosts the business podcast Leading with James Ashton.

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