How Not to be a Leadership D*ckhead

Steve Sallis' How Not to Be a Leadership D*ckhead is a refreshing, insightful, and unapologetically real guide to leadership that every leader—aspiring or seasoned—needs to read. With a title that grabs your attention, Sallis delivers far more than just a catchy phrase. He provides a thought-provoking, honest exploration of what it truly means to lead without falling into the traps of ego, arrogance, and toxic behavior that so often undermine success. What makes this book stand out is Sallis' ability to blend personal experience with deep psychological insights, making his advice both practical and relatable. He shares stories of his own leadership journey, mistakes, and learning moments, which adds a human touch and shows that even the best leaders are always learning and evolving. His candid approach invites readers to reflect on their own behavior and challenges them to become more self-aware. Sallis excels at breaking down the complexities of leadership into digestible, actionable tips. His emphasis on emotional intelligence, empathy, and humility in leadership is a timely reminder that effective leadership is not about wielding power but about inspiring others, creating positive environments, and leading with integrity. The book is filled with valuable lessons on communication, resilience, and building trust, all presented in a straightforward and often humorous way that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. What I appreciate most is Sallis' emphasis on authenticity. He encourages leaders to embrace their true selves, flaws and all, rather than putting on a front. This vulnerability is what fosters real connections with teams and creates lasting leadership impact. Overall, How Not to Be a Leadership D*ckhead is a must-read for anyone looking to lead with authenticity, emotional intelligence, and heart. It's a book that challenges conventional leadership wisdom while offering practical solutions for creating a positive and inclusive leadership culture. Steve Sallis has written a manual for not just being a great leader, but for being a great human being. Highly recommended!

Wow. An honest and down to earth perspective on leadership. Refreshing to read! Steve has a way with words that makes this book so exciting to read. A loved the elements of humour added to the anecdotes. The chapters are also very digestible and easy to revisit when needed. This is a book I will gift anyone I work with in football moving forward. A true gem! If you haven’t already…BUY IT!

This is the second of Steve's book that I've bought. Steve has a style of writing that feels like you're down the pub with a mate. Each chapter is full of leadership insight and life lessons that will resonate with anyone, regardless of their age and occupation. Full of honesty, wisdom, experience and great story-telling, I would wholeheartedly recommend How Not To Be A Leadership D*ickhead if you want to reach your full potential in work and life. I'm fortunate to know Steve as well and can tell you that he's every bit as absorbing and entertaining to share time with, as this book is to read! Great work mate, look forward to the next one.

A genuinely interesting read that will improve your leadership skills. Great book Steve.

Another fantastic book packed with top advice for not just aspiring leaders but for anyone that has the desire to move forwards in their respective careers. Steve has the ability to take a broad range of complex ideas and break them down into user friendly terminology that allows the reader to digest and then apply these concepts to their own unique situations. Above all else Steve applies common sense and logic to the solutions that he poses to a variety of scenarios which is often lost in this modern age of ‘thinking outside the box’ which means we often forget to simply think ‘inside the box’….. I have applied much of Steve’s teachings to my own working environments which have undoubtedly helped me to develop a number of successful-high performing teams within the football industry. I look forward to Steve’s 3rd book!

This book is a straight-talking, no-nonsense guide to avoiding toxic leadership behaviours and becoming a more emotionally intelligent, self-aware, and effective leader. We’re currently working with Steve, and it’s been a genuinely refreshing experience for our leadership team. All 50 of them now have a copy of this book, and combined with Steve’s outstanding work, it’s already making a meaningful impact. Highly recommended for any organisation serious about evolving its leadership culture.

This book, for all its colourful language, gets to the nub of leadership from the position of those being ‘led’. There is a clear recognition that leadership is not management; rather it is an art to be crafted for the purpose of service. It is an anecdotal treatise that provides a useful ‘ready-reckoner’ for current and aspiring ‘leaders’.

I’ve read lots of books about leadership, and this book is a great collection of some of the best principles around, combined with Steve’s own interpretation and application based on his impressive experience in the education and coaching field. He also introduces many of his own ideas and theories, with memorable anecdotes for reinforcement. His use of simple language and his straight to the point style is a refreshing read in a field often complicated by complex language and conceptual models. Refreshing, engaging and to the point, highly recommended.

Don't be fooled by the cheeky title. It's real. It's honest. It's transparent. As a fellow leadership development professional, Mr. Sallis doesn't miss a beat. He is spot on about emotional intelligence and the importance of a growth mindset for leaders and everyone in the workplace. I love his refreshing no-nonsense direct approach to leadership development. It's to the point with a chuckle here and there in between all the actionable advice and tips in every single chapter. It's a must-read for all leaders and anyone who wants to raise their EQ - which should be everyone - because you don't want to be THAT leader!