Table of Contents

Introduction PART 1 - THEORY Chapter 1: What do leaders need to be able to do? Chapter 2: How do leaders really learn? Chapter 3: Character Chapter 4: Leadersmithing PART 2: PRACTICE Chapter 5: Crafty Essentials Chapter 6: Diamonds Chapter 7: Clubs Chapter 8: Spades Chapter 9: Hearts Conclusion

Promotional Information

This new title from Eve Poole examines the foundational practices of leaders, and explains how leaders-in-training can incorporate apprentice-style thinking into their daily working lives.

About the Author

Eve Poole joined Ashridge from Deloitte in 2002. Now an Ashridge Associate, Eve has taught across the Ashridge portfolio of open and custom programmes, as well as in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Eve's focus is on leadership, learning, emotional intelligence and ethics. She was the architect of the Ashridge Leadership Experience and continues her research into accelerated learning. She has a BA from Durham University, an MBA from Edinburgh University, and a PhD from Cambridge University. She is the author of Capitalism's Toxic Assumptions, published by Bloomsbury in March 2015.

Reviews

Inspirational, practical and fascinating, this book will help you no matter what your age or achievements. I couldn’t put it down.
*OBE*

I stumbled into leadership by accident rather than design. My learning was all "on the job" with many mistakes and a few successes. How much easier my job would have been if there had been books like this around to help me navigate my journey.
*Chairman, Easyjet and Next*

This is a different kind of leadership book. It encourages and inspires. It shows us that we all need to continue to learn and develop our leadership skills, however high or low we may be. And it reminds us that it's a journey of one step at a time, with a lot of work on the way. It's a must-read.
*Baron Smith of Finsbury, Master of Pembroke College Cambridge*

At a time when leadership is scarce, Eve Poole offers some practical insights for all on what it takes to become a true leader. Indeed an acquired skill.
*CEO, Unilever*

Leaders should be readers and Eve Poole’s Leadersmithing is a must-read for anyone that wants to improve their ability to lead. Whether you run a business, a small team, or aspire to lead in the future, Leadersmithing will help you become the leader you want to be, with strong practical insight, humour and honesty.
*Chief Executive, Virgin Money*

I found the book fascinating. Whether you are looking for leadership advice when tackling a new challenge, or merely developing your personal leadership skills, Eve's deck of cards will provide the inspiration.
*Commandant, The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Director Leadership for the British Army*

This is a leadership book from the frontline, written from a deep base of academic understanding but grounded in the daily practice of the leadership art. I will be buying it for all my Board and recommending it very often.
*Chairman, Saxton Bampfylde*

Eve Poole gives us an engaging and fresh take on leadership development. The book frames the practice as a guild unto itself, whose masters are rewarded with the most challenging and rewarding work. Practice, simulation and muscle memory are offered as fundamentals in how leaders can be modelled and honed. Poole’s eye-opening metaphors and commonsense templates provide a welcome divergence from a canon that is too often stilted with jargon and buzzwords. Imminently accessible, Leadersmithing invites all – at any stage of development – to use its insights and exercise on a path to leadership excellence.
*author of "Breaking The Glass Ceiling" and "The Future of Leadership"*