Leadership – the second act

This article is part of the Contemporary leadership series

There are second acts in leadership. There are comebacks. There are reinventions. Leaders are by their very nature curious and driven. This explains why the very best leaders have a capacity for the kind of re-invention that is beyond mere mortals.

Take the reinvention of Dame Ellen MacArthur. She remains best known for her remarkable sailing exploits. Aged 18-19 she sailed around the UK singlehandedly. She came second in the 2001 Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race and went on to break the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation in 2005.

Stuart Crainer is the former editor of the award-winning magazine Business Strategy Review and co-founder of the Thinkers50. According to Personnel Today he is one of the most influential people in British people management. His book credits include The Management Century and a biography of the management guru Tom Peters. His work with Des Dearlove in business thought leadership led Management Today to describe them as “market makers par excellence.” Stuart is an adjunct professor at IE Business School.