By Martin Farrell, coach and facilitator, and author of ‘Good Leaders in Turbulent Times’
Don’t buy this book. Find another ACEVO member who’s already got it and ask them to lend it to you.
And you don’t need to read all 256 pages. There are six ways to get into this book and reading from beginning to end is only one of them. You could follow one of the nine true-to-life civil society leaders over the seven years of their story, or you can skip through the 41 engaging and insightful drawings by ‘absurdist cartoonist’ Stephen Appleby. Or open the book randomly to find 138 nuggets of advice offered throughout find what you’re looking for in the index.
In October 2016, an ACEVO member whom I had been supporting through crisis and who was coming out the other side told me (yes, told me) I had to write a book to help other chief executives as I had helped her. So I did. Eight years later (September 2024) “Good Leaders in Turbulent Times: How to Navigate Wild Waters at Work” was published by Practical Inspiration Publishing.
I have known the pain of ‘Wild Waters at Work’ several times throughout my career in and alongside civil society organisations, now into its sixth decade. In my independent crisis coaching and UK/international facilitation practice since 1999, I’ve seen how it is possible to navigate struggle and to digest and integrate it to become stronger and to live life more fully.
But coming out stronger does not happen only by lucky chance. It happens by finding and making best use of support and guidance when available. Good
Good Leaders in Turbulent Times: How to Navigate Wild Waters at Work is one way of finding that support and guidance and inspiration too.
We meet the nine characters in their ‘Wild Wednesdays’ (chapter 2) when each is languishing at the depths of their struggle. They feel alone. One is awake in the small hours, leaves a note for his partner and goes for a walk by the canal thinking dark thoughts. Another has been put on gardening leave and is collapsed on the sofa in the afternoon and another is so angry that they are running to the point of exhaustion on the gym treadmill.
Had they noticed what was bubbling up a year earlier (Chapter 1 ‘Something’s Brewing – a Tuesday’), they could have chosen a different way. In chapter 3 (‘Back on Dry Land – a Thursday’) a year after the Wild Wednesday’s experiences, they are working through and digesting their experiences. We meet them again five years later in chapter 4, (‘Life goes on – a Friday’), when they have each integrated and learned from their experiences and are the richer for it.
Throughout the book, nuggets of sage advice under the three headings of “Watch Out” ‘Consider doing This’ and ‘Remember This’ as well as ‘Secret Sauce’ in which I share something of my own struggles in the hope that these may be of help to others.
In Chapter 5 (Passing it on), which I identified as happening on a ’Monday’ to signify new beginnings, 12 real ACEVO members whom I had previously supported, anonymously pass on their learning from their own struggles.
My job, which I have done to the best of my ability, is to write the book in an engaging, accessible and true-to-life way and to send it on its way out into the ‘The Wild’. Your job, if you so choose, is to find the one, two or three pieces of advice which you need right now in your life and work.
ACEVO has consistently supported my endeavour to bring this book to life, notably Jenny Berry who has been a valued and consistent ally throughout. Jane Ide’s endorsement is on the opening pages: ‘I suspect this is a book I’ll keep coming back to, to help me in my own leadership practice, and each time will find something new and invaluable in its pages.’
Here’s an offer: if you can’t find another ACEVO member to borrow the book from and decide to buy it (ACEVO members can claim a 30% discount by entering code ‘ACEVOmember25/26’ at checkout on the P.I.P. site), I’d be happy, when the time comes, to send you a birthday gift of a personal signed ‘book plate’ which you can place on the title page. And… if you have a special birthday (you know, one with zero at the end), give me your address and I’ll post a signed copy of the book to you.