by John Amaechi (Author)
An inspirational new take on leadership that proves you too can inspire and motivate your followers
In It's Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders, author, chartered psychologist and Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School, John Amaechi, delivers an impactful discussion of the dull, ordinary, energy-expensive, and transformative behaviours that define the world's best leaders.
The book walks you through the seemingly obvious but difficult-to-nail mindsets and intentions you'll need to adopt to influence and motivate others. You'll learn strategies and techniques you can apply immediately to help those who follow you to flourish and maximise their potential.
Inside the book:
- Easy-to-follow explanations of the straightforward behaviours you can model to improve your ability to lead others
- Habits you can adopt immediately to motivate others in any setting, from the boardroom to the classroom or the battlefield
- Data-driven insights into the tiny, little things that great leaders do every day and how to incorporate them into your emotional and behavioural repertoire
An essential read for managers, executives, board members, and other business leaders, It's Not Magic will also prove invaluable to entrepreneurs, founders, teachers, military leaders, academics, and anyone else expected to motive and inspire others to achieve great things.
Front Jacket
In It's Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders, author, chartered psychologist and Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School, John Amaechi, delivers an original and practical discussion of the dull, difficult, routine, and completely transformative behaviours that characterise the world's best leaders.
Amaechi explains the mundane--but effective--mindsets and intentions you need to adopt to influence, inspire, and motivate others to realise their full potential. He walks you through the strategies and techniques you can apply immediately to help those in your team and in your organisation perform at their best and work with each other to achieve extraordinary things.
It's Not Magic contains a practical blueprint for finding your authentic voice, silencing negative internal monologues, and navigating a complicated social and professional landscape. The book explores hands-on tactics for building your leadership style, from the power of an authentic presence to systematically constructing a library of experiences and learning the art of perceptive listening. You'll also discover how to clarify your communication techniques and storytelling abilities, as well as transform perceived weaknesses into unique strengths.
The author builds on the foundations he laid out in his bestselling leadership book, The Promises of Giants, and uses extensive research and personal experience to demystify the elements of inspiring leadership. The book is perfect for managers, executives, entrepreneurs, founders, and other business leaders interested in getting the most out of the people who follow them. It's also a crystal-clear roadmap for leadership consultants, coaches, and professionals who help others find their most authentic leadership voices.
Back Jacket
Praise for IT'S NOT MAGIC
'It's Not Magic reveals essential principles for leading with greater impact and reminds us that in the ordinary lies the power to lead extraordinarily.'
DOC RIVERS, Head Coach, Milwaukee Bucks
'Riveting and important. By expertly and often beautifully demystifying self-awareness and self-improvement, Amaechi makes them superpowers within all our reach.'
JAMES O'BRIEN, Broadcaster and Writer
An inspiring new take on leadership from a bestselling author and renowned psychologist
It's Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders, by organisational psychologist and bestselling author John Amaechi, is a powerful new discussion of the straightforward, everyday behaviours that separate the world's best leaders from the rest.
The book offers easy-to-follow explanations you can start modelling today to transform your ability to lead people. You'll learn new habits that will motivate people in any setting, from the boardroom to the classroom to the battlefield. You'll also find data-driven insights into the small things that great leaders do every day and discover how to incorporate them into your emotional and behavioural repertoire.
Author Biography
JOHN AMAECHI is an organisational psychologist and the Leadership Transformation Expert at APS Intelligence Ltd. He is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Chartered Psychologist with expertise in human resources. Amaechi is also a Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School in the United Kingdom.
Number of Pages: 288
Publication Date: September 15, 2025