Napoleon: Leadership Lessons

A Conversation with Authors Stephanie Jones and Jonathan Gosling

Napoleon is back in the cinemas, and apparently, more movies are made about him than any other person. He is third on the list of most books written about a person (behind Jesus and Hitler).

So what is the allure, and what can we learn from this Mesianic leadership figure?   

In the latest episode of our Edgy Ideas Podcast, I dig deep into these questions with guests Jonathan Gosling and Stephanie Jones who bring insights from their book on Napoleonic Leadership, a study of power which you can download here: www.napoleonic-leadership.com

This is a rich conversation, exploring ideas of charisma, power, and patronage, and asking questions about how certain contexts create the conditions for different leadership approaches. We explore the object of desire and how charisma is not just about having an extrovert personality, but how a leader harnesses the desires of a nation to their own desires, and most importantly takes action. 

Jonathan reflects on this active element of leadership and how tactics and power, mixed with the drive to act, were a big part of Napoleon's leadership approach. If you've watched the movie, listen to the analysis and review. If you are interested in leadership, this is a must-listen anyway.

You can listen to the episode here.

I hope you enjoy it,

Simon