I recently read “Other People’s Shoes, 40 questions for Leaders and Managers” by Ken Jarrold, CBE.
As a book on leadership and management, it very much establishes its own niche. Ken writes in a way that suffuses narrative, knowledge and biography, bringing alive many of the considerations modern managers and leaders must face in complex, evolving and diverse organisations.
Much of Ken’s experience is predominately in the NHS, to which he has committed so much of his working life, acquiring a depth and breadth of experiences therein upon which he reflects upon with gently structured narratives, reflective learning and incisive conclusions.
I had the pleasure of working with Ken for a number of years, and I would rate him amongst the very best of leadership within the public sector and would not be alone in that view. His focus upon practice virtues of the ‘servant leader’, not only reflects his personal credo, but precedes an increasing societal shift in leadership practice away from the more ‘heroic’ styles of leadership that were overvalued in the past.
Ken’s focus on transparency becomes very apparent in the discourse within his book which is easy to read, thought-provoking and intensely human. Most of all, his thinking comes from intelligence, human interest, compassion and lived experience, entirely congruent with my experience of the man.
The differentiation between the concepts of management and leadership and their respective roles, functions and practice virtues are explored in the book from the point of view of the interplay between role constructs and individual attributes. Leadership and management roles tend to have their own form of ‘Zen’ implicit within them and are very much more ways of being than a titular in nature. Ken captures and balances this very person-centred journey with realpolitik of organisations extraordinarily well. Indeed, the 40 questions that are the basis for self and/or organisational reflection for both leadership and management practice, felt almost like Buddhist koans.
The book can be read in an hour or so but does require several hours of careful reflection to follow if it is to be truly appreciated. For me, it was also in part a personal journey, fostering reflection of times long past when Ken, with his very correct way, employed the very principles of this book into my support, growth and yes, challenge! Once again, I find myself grateful to him for an opportunity for further reflection and would recommend this work, not so much because of my declared, very positive bias towards the author, but because of its sheer insight, authenticity and usefulness.
ISBN 9781985879690, published eponymously by Other People Shoes, available at Amazon £7.99.
Dr David Cliff is a leading-edge coach, business mentor and personal development specialist. He was awarded mentor of the year by the North East Entrepreneurs Forum in 2017 and has an office based in Houghton-le-Spring. Website: www.gedanken.co.uk