Review of Unleash the Inner CEO

Love Ukaegbu · Post by **Love Ukaegbu** » 12 Feb 2025, 20:02

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Unleash the Inner CEO" by Jeremy Blain.]

4 out of 5 stars

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If you have ever owned a business or worked in an official capacity at any level, this book will prompt a complete shift in your mindset, whether as an employer or an employee. Jeremy Blain, the author of Unleash the Inner CEO, provides a step-by-step guide on how to grow your company and become a vital part of any organisation.

As a leadership and strategy expert, the author has spent 25 years in the learning and development space. During this time, he worked in several global organisations. As a result, he discovered the gap in the leadership models and how many businesses struggle to empower employees at different levels. Having realised the problem, he developed the concept of distributed leadership. In simple terms, leadership and its responsibilities should be shared among every staff or employee, irrespective of their position or job level. This will create an atmosphere where every person working in a company functions as a boss or business owner in such a way that they can make decisions and develop strategies that can further develop or progress the organisation.

One of the major things one would understand from this book is that one leader isn't enough for an organisation. The author further explains this by introducing several other strategies to help implement these ideals, such as the triple now model, emphasising three key points. First is the importance of digital relevance, such as artificial intelligence, and its influence on an organisation. Second is people potential, which involves maximising the workforce's potential. Finally, the leadership shift involves empowering employees in positions of authority.

So many things stand out in this book. One of them is how detail-oriented it is. The author went into detail by explaining each concept in the tiniest detail. I also appreciate that he included his stories and personal experiences, which helped make the book even more relatable. I like that the author did not just list the details but also included steps and practices to help an organisation distribute leadership, such as the 90-day roadmap broken down into a 12-week program that helps track the progress and impact of the exercise. I also like that the author included real-life case studies, such as Johanna Bolin Tingvall, the global head of learning and development for Spotify. This study shows how she is implementing the triple now model and how excessive workforce control destroys their creativity. I appreciate how much effort the author put into the research of this book; it speaks volumes about his dedication to his works.

Regarding the downsides of this book, the strategies might not be implemented in all working environments. For example, in a company like Amazon, due to the large scale of the business and its workforce, it would not be easy to put all employees in a leadership position. Also, when it comes to organisations that can implement this, most employees in higher positions of the organisation might feel reluctant to put lesser employees in positions of leadership as this might put their positions at risk in the longer term. This approach might work better in small or medium-scale organisations.

I learned a lot from this book, rating it 4 out of 5 stars. I deducted a star due to the negative aspects mentioned in the previous paragraph. When it comes to the book's editing, it was flawless, as I did not spot a single error while I read. I recommend this book to every business owner, employee, and anyone planning to start a business at any scale. They will benefit from the strategies and real-life case scenarios in this book.

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Unleash the Inner CEO
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Louis Donald · Post by **Louis Donald** » 17 Feb 2025, 06:09

The concept of distributed leadership is really intriguing, and I can see how it could completely change how an organization operates. The practical steps and real-life examples make it relatable, though I can understand how it might be difficult to implement in large companies. It’s a solid read for anyone interested in transforming their workplace.

Kelvin Omollo · Post by **Kelvin Omollo** » 17 Feb 2025, 07:07

The main ideas and useful techniques of the book are really well broken out in this review. The discussion on distributed leadership is intriguing, especially with real-life case studies. The mention of potential challenges adds a balanced perspective, making this a well-rounded review!

Post by **Shaniz Tobiaz** » 19 Feb 2025, 07:55

The triple now model seem to be effective when put into practice. This a great book and its a must read for me.

Pearl Flourish · Post by **Pearl Flourish** » 20 Feb 2025, 08:47

A fresh take on leadership that challenges traditional hierarchies and encourages real employee empowerment. Practical, well-researched, and perfect for anyone looking to rethink workplace dynamics.

George Bastem · Post by **George Bastem** » 25 Feb 2025, 09:45

A fresh take on leadership that challenges traditional workplace hierarchies and encourages a culture of shared responsibility. The practical strategies and real-life examples make it a valuable read for anyone looking to grow within an organization.

Mark Lazarus · Post by **Mark Lazarus** » 27 Mar 2025, 05:57

The idea of distributed leadership is really interesting, especially in today’s fast-paced and evolving workplace. Empowering employees at all levels to take ownership and make decisions could definitely boost innovation and engagement. I also like that the book offers practical steps, like the 90-day roadmap, rather than just theoretical concepts.

That said, I can see how this approach might not work in every organization, especially in larger corporations where hierarchy is deeply ingrained. Some leaders might also resist sharing power for fear of losing control. Still, the real-life case studies and research sound like they add a lot of value.

I don’t typically seek out business leadership books, but if I were looking for fresh insights on workplace dynamics and company culture, I’d consider checking this one out.