Terry Pearce is an international expert on inspiring change through authentic leadership communications.  More than a speechwriter, Terry is a leadership coach and mentor.  He helps others to shine, communicate well and get their messages across.

This is a book about how the best leaders communicate, what they communicate and how they create a platform for change by genuinely connecting with others.

I was lucky enough to have a preview of this book in its final draft stages and quickly realised how important it is for women in leadership positions, or with the potential and ambition to achieve these roles.

As women go through their careers, they are beset by many challenges: their loyalty to family challenged by their commitment and loyalty to their employer being just one of many.  Yet as Marcia points out, there is a new generation of high-achieving, confident and driven women.  As well as multi-tasking and juggling multiple roles and responsibilities, these women are restless to achieve yet more.

Dan Pink challenges some basic assumptions about what motivates us; specifically the notion of ‘contingent’ rewards and shows that this approach has the opposite of the intended effects (better, faster problem-solving/performance).

Previously best known for his earlier work, ‘A whole new mind’, expands Pink's thinking to focus on what motivates success. He draws widely on post-war research, from a variety of disciplines and draws the threads coherently together.

The Element is Ken Robinson’s way of describing the meeting point between our natural aptitude and personal passion. It is different for everyone and its features are aptitude and opportunity. I’m interested in this thinking because I use a ‘strengths-based’ approach in my leadership development work, and this book takes that thinking further.