Genetic and environmental variations make fundamental differences in all of our characters. This inventive new book analyses how these distinctions, if understood, can enable leaders as different as Ghandi and Margaret Thatcher to be influential in their own way. Based on over two decades of international experience and research this is a practitioners' guide to develop a leadership strategy that will work for leaders and their organizations.

'Leaders and development practitioners have an alternative to the search for the leadership model holy grail. Keith Patching's definitive work provides insights into the diversity of leadership, how to identify and develop unique leadership capability and tap into the broad base of leadership that exists in our organisations.' - Terry Lockhart, Director, Leadership and Development, Merrill Lynch

'It is rare in the field of Leadership Development to have such a commercial yet intellectually robust work - I believe that this book shifts the paradigm and we will all be referring to ourselves as Guardians, Warriors, Sages and Adventurers in 20 years from now. Keith Patching has given those of us who operate in Leadership development an entirely new way of looking at the differentiators between the champions and the those who could have been successful if only brigade - this book is commercial, rational, focussed and based on the experiences of a senior practitioner in this area for over 20 years. A must read for anyone in the Leadership Development business and those who aspire to be the next generation of senior business leaders.' - William Warren, Chief Executive of Deabadh

PART I: CHARACTER
Introduction
Stories
Science
Values
Conflict
Home Base
Where You Are Now
Job Role
Leadership Model
PART II: STRATEGY
Developing Strategy
Developing a Warrior Strategy
Developing a Sage Strategy
Developing an Adventurer Strategy
Developing a Guardian Strategy
Organizational Culture and Leadership
Developing your Leadership
Conclusions and Health Warning
Appendix: Your Route Map
Notes
Bibliography

KEITH PATCHING is an Executive Coach running an international independent consultancy firm. Previously he was Director of the Management Development Unit at Cranfield School of Management. He was intimately involved with the research for, design, delivery and subsequent evaluation of many of the major in-company interventions which the School provided for clients. He has worked on programmes for national and international organizations in the public and private sectors, as well as recently privatized organizations facing major changes of direction.