In his early teens Horatio Nelson was commanding boats with up to 20 oarsmen. From the age of 18 he took charge of ships taken as prizes. At 21 he was a captain, responsible for hundreds of men. By Trafalgar he was responsible for the fate of 40 ships and tens of thousands of men.

A manager as well as an inspiring leader, Nelson was concerned about every ship and every seaman, as well as honour and glory. Always visible, he bravely led from the front sharing all the risks. A participative rather than directive leader, he nevertheless bore final responsibility. He was a legend in his lifetime.

In NELSON’S WAY, Leadership Lessons from the Great Commander, Stephanie Jones and Jonathan Gosling, both Nelson enthusiasts and leadership lecturers, have used the very latest research to present a thoroughly up-to-date history of Nelson. As much an adventure story as a business book, Jones & Gosling use examples of Nelson’s adventures and tales of daring-do to show how he embodied the characteristics of the most successful of leaders.

With chapters such as Heroism, Vocation, Passion, and Inspiration, Jones and Gosling distil Nelson’s dynamic approach to leadership and management into practical insights and lessons for today’s managers. They ask provocative leadership questions inspired by Nelson’s own approach to leading and guide the reader to answer them: Why be a leader? Do you need to be an expert in your field? Should you be visible and lead from the front or practise quiet leadership? How do you balance your personal and working life? Why be a team player? Can you be a leader and a manager? Why should others follow you? What will be your legacy?

With contributions from well-known leadership experts including Sir John Harvey-Jones, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, Greg Dyke and Dr Henry Mintzberg, NELSON’S WAY provides timely and intensely practical lessons for all modern managers and offers aspiring leaders the opportunity to acquire ‘the Nelson Touch’.