Winning Minds — The Secret Science of the Language of Leadership

Abstract

It’s Christmas 2014 and I’m in the Red Lion, a snug, warm pub in the heart of the Brecon Beacons. There’s a roaring fire, I’m sitting in a big leather armchair but, although I’ve come here to work on the final draft of a speech about leadership, I’m not making much progress. A group of men on the table next to me are raucously arguing about how much money they would need to win on the lottery to stop work. A guy turns to me. ‘What’s the annual interest on a million pounds?’ ‘£30,000?’ I guess. The guy smiles. ‘There. You can buy a house in Merthyr Tydfil for £30,000.’ Someone snips in. ‘Yes, but what would you do with the other £29,000!’ More laughter. I’m invited to join their table.