Leadership Book Club: Celebrating the National Year of Reading 2026
Leadership today is shaped by more than strategy and targets. Performance is influenced by culture, behaviour, relationships, and the environments leaders create for their teams.
Books remain one of the most powerful ways to explore these ideas. They challenge assumptions, introduce new perspectives, and spark conversations that help leaders think differently about how they lead.
As the UK marks both World Book Day and the National Year of Reading 2026, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on the ideas that have shaped our recent Leadership Book Club conversations.
At Inspirational Group, our Leadership Book Club brings together authors, coaches, and members of our community to explore the thinking behind influential leadership books and what those ideas mean in practice. These conversations connect big ideas with the real challenges leaders face in organizations today.
Over the past year, our sessions have explored themes ranging from belonging and resilience to networking, leadership clarity, and the cultural dynamics that shape performance.
To mark World Book Day and the National Year of Reading, we are revisiting some of the ideas explored in these conversations.
Authentic Project Leadership
with Mark Relf
In this session, Lesley Mourant spoke with Inspirational Group’s Mark Relf about his book Authentic Project Leadership: Bottling the Magic. The discussion explored what success really means in complex projects and why leaders must define that success clearly before work begins.
Mark shared insights from real project environments, highlighting how authenticity, shared vision, and strong values help leaders guide teams through uncertainty. Rather than focusing only on tasks and milestones, the conversation emphasised the importance of purpose and alignment in creating meaningful outcomes.
Intellectual Stripper
with Irene Magistro
Author Irene Magistro joined the Leadership Book Club to discuss Intellectual Stripper, a book that challenges traditional ideas about networking.
The conversation explored how networking becomes more powerful when it moves beyond transactions and focuses on genuine connection. Irene shared how clarity of purpose, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace discomfort can transform networking into a meaningful leadership practice built on trust and relationships.
Belonging
with Owen Eastwood
Performance coach and author Owen Eastwood joined the Inspirational Group community to explore the ideas behind his book Belonging. Drawing on his work with high performing teams such as the All Blacks, the European Ryder Cup Team, and Chelsea FC, Owen shared how a deep sense of belonging can unlock both individual and collective performance.
The conversation highlighted how leaders create environments where people feel connected, valued, and part of something larger than themselves. From the Māori concept of whakapapa to the role of dignity and storytelling, the discussion showed how belonging becomes a powerful driver of trust, commitment, and performance.
The Leadership Book
with Neil Jurd OBE
Former Gurkha Squadron Commander Neil Jurd OBE joined the Book Club to discuss insights from his book The Leadership Book. Drawing on experience from both the military and the corporate world, Neil offered a refreshingly simple perspective on leadership.
The conversation focused on the courage to lead with clarity, the importance of letting go so others can step forward, and the role of purpose in driving performance. Neil also emphasised that effective leadership is less about perfection and more about presence, connection, and consistent decision making under pressure.
Challenge Your Guilt
with Belinda Jane Batt
In this reflective session, author and coach Belinda Jane Batt explored the themes from her book Challenge Your Guilt: How to Flourish in Motherhood, Work and Life.
The conversation examined how guilt can act as a hidden drain on energy and ambition, particularly for working parents. Belinda and Lesley Mourant discussed the difference between helpful and unhelpful guilt, and how leaders can help reshape workplace expectations to create more supportive and equitable environments.
The discussion highlighted the role leaders play in shaping culture. By challenging assumptions about availability, flexibility, and performance, organizations can create environments where people succeed without carrying unnecessary pressure.
Resilient as Fudge
with Dr Glenda Rivoallan
In this Leadership Book Club session, Dr Glenda Rivoallan shared insights from her book Resilient as Fudge, exploring how resilience develops through mindset, skills, and supportive environments.
The discussion focused on how individuals and organizations can build resilience in practical ways. Dr Rivoallan highlighted the importance of self awareness, healthy work relationships, learning from failure, and creating cultures that support reflection and growth.
Rather than seeing resilience as something fixed, the conversation positioned it as a capability that can be strengthened through everyday behaviours and leadership practices.
Continuing the conversation
Across these discussions, a common thread emerges. Leadership is not simply about directing work or achieving results. It is about shaping the conditions where people can perform, connect, and contribute at their best.
Books give us the language to explore these ideas. Conversations bring them to life.
As the National Year of Reading 2026 encourages people across the UK to rediscover the power of books, our Leadership Book Club continues to create space for dialogue, reflection, and shared learning.
What book has influenced your thinking about leadership recently?
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