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The Director's Cut: My journey writing The Naked Leader
Why?

By David Taylor

Published: Wednesday 24 July 2002

The Naked Leader align=left HSPACE=10>

This month has seen silicon.com serialise the first book by our columnist David Taylor, the president of IT director association Certus. Here we present an interview with the author.

1. Why did you write The Naked Leader?
Three reasons:
- To strip away the hype surrounding success, releasing the full potential of people, teams and organisations, fast.
- To expose the failures of the consultancy and process driven initiatives of the last 20 years, which have cost billions, achieved nothing, demotivated people and enabled most companies to at best stand completely still.
- To give people back to themselves - to reclaim their lives at a time when global business is full of mistrust and our so-called public leaders are more full of spin than integrity.

2. How has your work in IT helped?
Aside from all of the people I have met and worked with, IT has a jargon, mystery and language all of its own. We thrive on it, yet we have to break out of this mission to confuse and start to speak in a business language. What the technology is doesn't matter anymore. It's what the technology does that counts.

3. Your book has been described as 'the most dangerous business book ever written'. How do you feel about that?
I'm very grateful someone should say that - when I spoke to them I discovered it was actually a compliment. Their comment was that my book sets people free, to make choices for themselves, and that this is not in keeping with the command and control cultures of so many organisations.

I would say this book is not controversial at all, rather it is about the obvious. If we do what we have always done, we will get what we have always got. Take 'empowerment'. It is probably the saddest business joke of the last 20 years - organisations have spent millions trying to empower people, which is a complete waste of money. It is simply not possible to empower anyone. People are naturally empowered from the moment they are born. It is only possible to disempower people, which most companies have perfected to the art of genius. The only way to control people is to set them free.

4. But I thought this book is about leadership, and that comes from a few, doesn't it?
Yes, it is about leadership, true leadership. True leadership challenges the notion that all wisdom lies in the hands of a chosen few at the top of organisations, or in politicians. Enron, Andersen and more have put an end to that, and politics is a joke.

Everyone is a leader, and naked leadership is from within. Out in the street and in organisations I hear people asking different, bigger questions, about values, integrity and meaning.

Given that leadership comes from everywhere in an organisation, it is vital that companies re-engage with their people. Only by doing this will they improve staff retention and achieve 100 per cent commitment. And this is easily done.

5. The Naked Leader is written as a 'choose your own adventure' - why?
There have been many children's books written in this racy, personalised format but never a business book. Why shouldn't business books be fun? Olivia (my daughter) suggested the idea and I am very grateful to her.

And we are all different people, on our own unique journeys through life, all seeking success that is personal to us, our teams, our families, our organisations and our communities. Too many off-the-shelf 'success' books are all things to all people and lack personalisation. They are also ridiculously heavy and boring reads.

Also, time is precious, so I wanted to help people find real, practical actions fast.

With only 10 per cent of business and self-help books being read beyond the first chapter I wanted to write a book that can be joined anywhere, at any time. This is hopefully a book people can read anywhere - on the train, in bed or on the loo.

And finally because life is an adventure. We are not in a dress rehearsal here - it is our absolute birthright to be human beings, not human doings.

6. And, I have to ask this - the journeys end on Chapter 42 - why 42?
The world lost a very special man last year. Douglas Adams' books have been a huge personal inspiration for me to write this book. Anyone who has read Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy will know the significance of 42, and it would be wrong to spoil it here.

7. You and Capstone, the publisher, are donating a share of your revenues to The Children's Society - why?
I fundamentally believe that all children are born with equal potential. That is their birthright and everyone is born with unique gifts, skills and talent. However, being born with equal potential does not mean being born into equal circumstances. One third of children in the UK, are born into poverty. The Children's Society is one of the most innovative children's charities in the country and they are not afraid to tackle some of the more difficult problems society faces.

8. OK - strip away the whole book and summarise it in one line.
What lies before you, and what lies behind you, are but blades of grass to what lies within you.

You can still buy a copy of The Naked Leader, published by Capstone, at a discount by contacting Lsharp@silicon.com .

The serialisation:
The Director's Special Cut: The Naked Leader - Part 5
http://www.silicon.com/a54553
The Director's Special Cut: The Naked Leader - Part 4
http://www.silicon.com/a54511
The Director's Special Cut: The Naked Leader - Part 3
http://www.silicon.com/a54471
The Director's Special Cut: The Naked Leader - Part 2
http://www.silicon.com/a54429
The Director's Cut: The Naked Leader - Part 1
http://www.silicon.com/a54154