Categories: Tech News

Rise Above: Leadership lessons from the RAF, reviewed

We look at this broad ranging book by John Jupp, published by FT Publishing and Pearson, available to buy here.

Rise Above: Leadership lessons from the RAF, reviewed

There are some good insights in this book. The RAF are an organisation that have had their ups and downs, and some existential moments where they were almost obliterated – the Battle of Britain was never a certain victory for their scarce pilots and planes. Jupp therefore has a lot to work with, including his own time serving for them also.

Very early on the RAF were confronted with some big setbacks, and from this they quickly realised that they needed to question how they operated and the best ways to achieve success in often very challenging circumstances. We know some young people who are hoping to join the RAF now. A book like this also helps to give some insights into what that experience could be like. Decisions often have to be made in challenging and difficult circumstances. Therefore anything that you can do, organisationally, to empower and inform your team members is therefore a strategic thing to do.

These type of insights ensure that the book offers value and is not another generic book on leadership with well worn cliches. We knew very little about how the RAF was organised or how it has evolved, Jupp’s book therefore takes you on an interesting, insightful and non-obvious journey. We enjoyed it and would recommend it to others, including those who are thinking of pursuing a career with them.

More about the book Rise Above below

The RAF is a well-oiled machine that gets the job done. Much of that is down to its unique leadership style which doesn’t see leadership as a senior position but instead something that should be distributed to all. Rise Above unpicks the RAF leadership model to provide a fresh perspective on how to:
  • Deploy the shared leadership style to get the best results for your team.
  • Improve your personal leadership competences to guide your own development and enhance your skills as a leader.
  • Embrace contemporary opportunities such as diversity and inclusion, technology, innovation and adaptability, which have long been a reality of the RAF.

John Jupp combines practical strategies with inspirational real-life examples from over 100 years of the RAF to illustrate how leadership works so you are better equipped to lead effectively.

More about John Jupp the author of the book

I am an independent Leadership Development Consultant.

As an independent, I deliver leadership education to senior NHS consultants. I have worked with executives at Shell, BAES, M&G, SELEX and the Coastguard. I also assist Windsor Leadership with their Programmes.

Previously, I set up the RAF Leadership Centre and devised a new strategy and policy for leadership education for the RAF. I worked with senior teams from the top of the RAF through to the senior leaders in the officer corps as part of this work. My last appointment in the RAF was as the Commandant of the Tedder Academy.

I have completed a PhD in Leadership with Cranfield University. I also keep abreast of academic work on leadership and thinking in industry and the public sector as an Affiliate with Exeter University Centre for Leadership Studies.

I devised and delivered a short leadership course for executives of the English Institute of Sport and BAES.

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Simon Cocking

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