An insightful read that encourages embracing change and harnessing the power of leadership for success – reviewed by Gaëlle Watson 

Book: Unleash the Inner CEO – Make distributed leadership a reality 
Author: Jeremy Blain

Beyond the title of leadership, this book is about reinventing the workplace for the digital age. It clearly addresses the C-Suite of organisations, focusing on the most strategic elements of leadership transformation. The tone, vocabulary and examples are tailored to appeal to senior leadership teams. Bain passionately advocates for distributed leadership as a means to help organisations navigate the uncertainty and expectations of the digital world. The book is well structured, beginning with a macro-level perspective and progressively drilling down into the micro-level details. 

For HR and L&D professionals, this book offers valuable insights into the dynamics of leadership transformation

Bain starts by modelling and breaking down the interwoven elements that form the ecosystem of today’s business world. He catalogues the factors that can act as either strengths or weaknesses in decision-making and innovation. He then shifts to the human element, demonstrating how the rise of remote work and freelance roles necessitates moving away from traditional hierarchical systems toward flatter, more agile structures. These concepts are broken into manageable, digestible sections, making it easier for readers to engage with the material. 

Personal experience 

The book is an easy read, particularly for those who want to dip in and out for specific insights. It provides a powerful resource for shifting leadership mindsets, equipping organisations to embrace a more agile management style. It may not be a literary masterpiece, but I particularly appreciated the detailed timeline and practical guidance offered in the latter chapters, which provide actionable steps to implement distributed leadership. 

While much of the book focuses on strategic-level thinking, the final chapters offer practical elements that bring its vision to life. Looking back, I realise this is where the emphasis on leadership, rather than culture, becomes most evident. Bain argues convincingly that while measuring cultural change is challenging and time-consuming, leadership can be evaluated more systematically through structured processes, including learning and development initiatives. 

Practical applications 

This book is firmly positioned for strategic-level stakeholders and offers a roadmap for senior leadership teams to understand and champion distributed leadership. It explores the benefits of this model while addressing the risks of clinging to outdated systems. The examples of organisations that have successfully made this transition serve as compelling case studies for change. 

For HR and L&D professionals, this book offers valuable insights into the dynamics of leadership transformation. It encourages internal teams to advocate for distributed leadership and provides external consultants with a deeper understanding of the challenges organisations face when shifting their leadership cultures. 

Specifically for L&D practitioners, Unleash the Inner CEO underscores the importance of aligning learning strategies with organisational leadership models. Distributed leadership represents a higher level of learning maturity and requires tailored solutions that go beyond traditional approaches. As Bain illustrates, a distributed leadership framework demands training programmes that emphasise agility, collaboration and shared accountability. Understanding these shifts is critical for L&D professionals to contribute meaningfully to organisational success. 

Final thoughts 

Unleash the Inner CEO is an insightful and thought-provoking read for anyone interested in distributed leadership and its implications for the modern workplace. While it is not an operational guide, it provides a high-level strategic roadmap and practical guidance for those looking to influence leadership transformation. 

I highly recommend this book to senior leaders, HR directors and L&D professionals seeking to better understand the ecosystem(s) required to make distributed leadership a reality. For those in L&D in particular, it serves as a reminder that understanding leadership models is essential to designing impactful learning experiences. By illustrating repeatedly what is possible, it inspires leaders and managers to embrace the change as an opportunity!   

Gaëlle Watson is Learning Experience Director and Founder at SyncSkills Performance