9781913368876
9781913368685
9781913368692
A British diplomat shares lessons on leadership gained over his expansive career.
Simon McDonald argues that we should reflect on the nature and strategies of leadership before entering a leadership role, and we should look to examples of others to help us in shaping our own approaches.
Over nearly four decades in Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service, McDonald worked for four permanent under-secretaries and a dozen senior ambassadors before becoming a permanent under-secretary himself and leading the Service—which has over 14,000 staff members in 270 countries—for five years. He also worked directly for six foreign secretaries and under five prime ministers. Observing these people undertaking such important and difficult work, McDonald saw the behaviors which helped them achieve their objectives, as well as those which hindered them.
In this book, McDonald synthesizes the skills he’s learned through his many years working in diplomacy, offering an insightful contribution amid heightening debates over the leadership of the United Kingdom. Considering the future of British leadership, he makes a case for the reform of the monarchy, the cabinet, civil service, and, in particular, the House of Lords, of which he has been a member since 2021.
Simon McDonald argues that we should reflect on the nature and strategies of leadership before entering a leadership role, and we should look to examples of others to help us in shaping our own approaches.
Over nearly four decades in Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service, McDonald worked for four permanent under-secretaries and a dozen senior ambassadors before becoming a permanent under-secretary himself and leading the Service—which has over 14,000 staff members in 270 countries—for five years. He also worked directly for six foreign secretaries and under five prime ministers. Observing these people undertaking such important and difficult work, McDonald saw the behaviors which helped them achieve their objectives, as well as those which hindered them.
In this book, McDonald synthesizes the skills he’s learned through his many years working in diplomacy, offering an insightful contribution amid heightening debates over the leadership of the United Kingdom. Considering the future of British leadership, he makes a case for the reform of the monarchy, the cabinet, civil service, and, in particular, the House of Lords, of which he has been a member since 2021.
224 pages | 6 x 9 | © 2022
Political Science: Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, and International Relations
Reviews
Table of Contents
Contents
Acknowledgements ix
Preface xi
1. Role Models 1
2. Indifferent Models 25
3. Leadership Done Well 41
4. Leading for the First Time 51
5. Leadership at the Centre 59
6. Problems Choosing Leaders (Particularly in the Civil
Service) 95
7. C onstraints on Leaders 111
8. The End of Leadership 129
9. The Good Leader 141
10. Self-Assessment 187
11. Proposed Reforms for the Future of the UK 201
Index 244
Acknowledgements ix
Preface xi
1. Role Models 1
2. Indifferent Models 25
3. Leadership Done Well 41
4. Leading for the First Time 51
5. Leadership at the Centre 59
6. Problems Choosing Leaders (Particularly in the Civil
Service) 95
7. C onstraints on Leaders 111
8. The End of Leadership 129
9. The Good Leader 141
10. Self-Assessment 187
11. Proposed Reforms for the Future of the UK 201
Index 244