It's Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders
An inspirational new take on leadership that proves you too can inspire and motivate your followers

In It’s Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders, author, chartered psychologist and Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School, John Amaechi, delivers an impactful discussion of the dull, ordinary, energy-expensive, and transformative behaviours that define the world’s best leaders.

The book walks you through the seemingly obvious but difficult-to-nail mindsets and intentions you’ll need to adopt to influence and motivate others. You’ll learn strategies and techniques you can apply immediately to help those who follow you to flourish and maximise their potential.

Inside the book:

  • Easy-to-follow explanations of the straightforward behaviours you can model to improve your ability to lead others
  • Habits you can adopt immediately to motivate others in any setting, from the boardroom to the classroom or the battlefield
  • Data-driven insights into the tiny, little things that great leaders do every day and how to incorporate them into your emotional and behavioural repertoire


An essential read for managers, executives, board members, and other business leaders, It’s Not Magic will also prove invaluable to entrepreneurs, founders, teachers, military leaders, academics, and anyone else expected to motive and inspire others to achieve great things.

1147186243
It's Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders
An inspirational new take on leadership that proves you too can inspire and motivate your followers

In It’s Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders, author, chartered psychologist and Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School, John Amaechi, delivers an impactful discussion of the dull, ordinary, energy-expensive, and transformative behaviours that define the world’s best leaders.

The book walks you through the seemingly obvious but difficult-to-nail mindsets and intentions you’ll need to adopt to influence and motivate others. You’ll learn strategies and techniques you can apply immediately to help those who follow you to flourish and maximise their potential.

Inside the book:

  • Easy-to-follow explanations of the straightforward behaviours you can model to improve your ability to lead others
  • Habits you can adopt immediately to motivate others in any setting, from the boardroom to the classroom or the battlefield
  • Data-driven insights into the tiny, little things that great leaders do every day and how to incorporate them into your emotional and behavioural repertoire


An essential read for managers, executives, board members, and other business leaders, It’s Not Magic will also prove invaluable to entrepreneurs, founders, teachers, military leaders, academics, and anyone else expected to motive and inspire others to achieve great things.

24.99 In Stock
It's Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders

It's Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders

by John Amaechi
It's Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders

It's Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders

by John Amaechi

Hardcover

$24.99 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 1-2 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

An inspirational new take on leadership that proves you too can inspire and motivate your followers

In It’s Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders, author, chartered psychologist and Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School, John Amaechi, delivers an impactful discussion of the dull, ordinary, energy-expensive, and transformative behaviours that define the world’s best leaders.

The book walks you through the seemingly obvious but difficult-to-nail mindsets and intentions you’ll need to adopt to influence and motivate others. You’ll learn strategies and techniques you can apply immediately to help those who follow you to flourish and maximise their potential.

Inside the book:

  • Easy-to-follow explanations of the straightforward behaviours you can model to improve your ability to lead others
  • Habits you can adopt immediately to motivate others in any setting, from the boardroom to the classroom or the battlefield
  • Data-driven insights into the tiny, little things that great leaders do every day and how to incorporate them into your emotional and behavioural repertoire


An essential read for managers, executives, board members, and other business leaders, It’s Not Magic will also prove invaluable to entrepreneurs, founders, teachers, military leaders, academics, and anyone else expected to motive and inspire others to achieve great things.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781394338276
Publisher: Wiley
Publication date: 09/15/2025
Pages: 288
Product dimensions: 5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

JOHN AMAECHI is an organisational psychologist and the Leadership Transformation Expert at APS Intelligence Ltd. He is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Chartered Psychologist with expertise in human resources. Amaechi is also a Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School in the United Kingdom.

Table of Contents

Foreword xi

Introduction: It’s Not Magic. It’s Human

Part I Building the Foundations 1

Chapter 1 Unlocking Your Potential and Turning Principles Into Practice: It’s Not Magic. It’s a Commitment 3

Chapter 2 The Power of Authentic Presence: It’s Not Magic. It’s Mindset 19

Chapter 3 The ‘library of Experiences’: It’s Not Magic. It’s Life Catalogued 41

Chapter 4 The Art of Perceptive Listening: It’s Not Magic. It’s Connection 57

Part II Elevating Everyday Leadership 83

Chapter 5 Empowerment Through Vulnerability: It’s Not Magic. It’s Credibility 85

Chapter 6 Excellence in Communication: It’s Not Magic. It’s Eloquence 103

Chapter 7 Transforming Perceived Weaknesses: It’s Not Magic. It’s Evolution 125

Chapter 8 Navigating Novel and Fractious Environments: It’s Not Magic. It’s Adaptability 149

Part III Amplifying Impact 171

Chapter 9 Learning to Build Contextual Intelligence: It’s Not Magic. It’s Deliberate Reflective Practice 173

Chapter 10 Enabling Others’ Growth: It’s Not Magic. It’s Effort and Intention 201

Epilogue: It’s Not Magic. It’s You 225

Notes 233

Acknowledgements 241

About the Author 243

Index 245

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews