There’s no shortage of issues in play today to confound organisations. As the world grows ever more ambiguous and uncertain, people at work look to their leaders like never before for certainty, stability and hope. 

Yet tragically, too few leaders appear to possess the skills to motivate, inspire and create the conditions for optimal teamwork and organisational success. John Amaechi’s latest book seeks to address that. It’s not magic investigates the human capacities that can be cultivated, practiced and honed over time that lead to high team performance.

Amaechi argues – compellingly – that leadership is a verb rather than a noun. It requires self-knowledge and continuous self-enquiry to examine the impact of words and behaviours on those around us. It demands the willingness to sit in a constant state of adaptation, to meet the emergent needs of each context as it arises.

It’s Not Magic positions humane leadership at the heart of organisational success. Active listening, being brave enough to show vulnerability, choosing words and actions with care, helping people feel safe enough to become a better version of themselves – each of these deliberate acts go a long way towards nurturing collective success. Which is just the antidote to the toxic rise of autocracy so prevalent in the world right now.