The Habit of Excellence cover art

The Habit of Excellence

Why British Army Leadership Works

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Try for £0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Habit of Excellence

By: Lt. Col Langley Sharp
Narrated by: Lt. Col Langley Sharp
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

The Habit of Excellence is a unique insight into British Army leadership, explaining what makes it unique, what makes it so effective, and what civilians can take from it to become better leaders themselves.

Developed in some of the most demanding situations imaginable over centuries of war and peace, army leadership is a sophisticated endeavour that has kept pace with societal change and the challenges of the modern world. In the military, the stakes couldn't be higher, and exceptional leadership is crucial every day.

Drawing on the latest research in military history, sociology, psychology and behavioural science and with compelling illustration from British Army operations across the centuries, Lt Col Langley Sharp MBE goes beyond the latest leadership fads to distil into one peerlessly authoritative work the essence of leading and leadership from one of the world's most revered institutions. It is essential listening for leaders and followers no matter what organisation they work for - it is essential listening for the world today.

©2021 Lt Col Langley Sharp (P)2021 Penguin Audio
Leadership Military Personal Success Politicians Business Inspiring British Army
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

Stand Up Straight cover art
The Wisdom of the Bullfrog cover art
Taking Command cover art
The Warrior, the Strategist and You cover art
The Marines, Counterinsurgency, and Strategic Culture cover art
Trust-Based Leadership: Marine Corps Leadership Concepts for Today's Business Leaders cover art
Peace, War and Whitehall cover art
Call Sign Chaos cover art
Sea Stories cover art
A Revolution in Military Adaptation cover art
A Brief History of the British Army cover art
Rewired cover art
The Combat Doctor cover art
The Principles of War cover art
Iron-Sharpened Leadership cover art
Adaptation Under Fire cover art

What listeners say about The Habit of Excellence

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    58
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    45
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    47
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great for the military minded

A well scripted and researched journey into modern military leadership systems. Lt Col Sharp is humble and professional in his delivery. It was a brave move narrating it himself but I grew to enjoy it. Having chatted to the author at Sandhurst, he is a knowledgable and talented guy. I wish him luck and success in his future endeavours.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Essential.

Essential reading for all leaders and managers, regardless of setting. Should be compulsory reading for all public service managers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Retention

This book has definitely had an impact on my decision to stay in now that my concerns with the Army's direction has been articulated in a manner I understood I have the confidence that my efforts count towards shaping a better Army.

Thank you Sir

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent

really great content. so much much learned from this master in leadership. Will listen to again a few more times.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

quite insightful read

would definitely recommend this especially as a addition to stand up straight I know they are different offers but they are both from senior Army officers of similar perspectives

this discuss is the bigger picture of leadership in the army and outside in terms of the tactical badministrator va and the strategic leader as well as how leadership is from the most junior to the senior level and should be a lifelong Pursuit

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read!!

This book is a must read for all current and aspiring leaders and managers in all industries.
There is a transferable message in every chapter from military to civilian industry that everyone can benefit from.

It’s also an essential read for ex or serving Army NCO’s (non commissioned officers). The infantry are very good at developing an individual into something they don’t want you to know or realise for fear of you utilising the skill outside of the Army. What I found within this book is this for NCO’s is leadership skill. Officers are told they are leaders. NCO’s for the most part are not. This book for me, an ex corporal in The Royal Welsh, has been very enlightening and empowering.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worthwhile! Quality accounts and information

I thoroughly enjoyed this, I think I heard it mentioned on the Centre For Army Leadership podcast, so I gave it a try and it was wonderful. I recommend it to friends of similar interests. It’s delivery was articulate and interesting throughout, it motivates me to become the best leader I know how to be. I’ll definitely be revisiting certain chapters. Thank you for compiling this and all the hard work that’s gone in to the book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good. Could be shorter & recording a bit quiet

Overall glad to have listened with lots of very sensible takeaways. Well worth a read and I've noted the things I want to be reminded of every day.

Content: Cannot fault message but felt repetitive and drawn out after first 2 chapters (as evidenced that I made basically no notes after that until the conclusion)

Performance: Military gravitas that's cool, calm, and authoritative if dispassionate, which is partly why the content feels a bit drawn out. The recording is also oddly quiet compared to other audibles, podcasts, and music I listen to so it was actually pretty tough to hear at times even with headphones on max (using Sony xm4s, not heaping out!)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Every current and aspiring leader should read this!

Before listening to this audiobook I was under the assumption that military leadership was all autocratic and expecting teams to follow orders blindly. This book quashed those assumptions completely! Lt. Col Langly Sharp’s performance was relatable to even a 35 year old British Indian Woman with no prior knowledge or passion about the military but I am now considering enlisting (if I can get myself into shape to pass the fitness test). I love the servant leadership philosophy the book covers.

An excerpt that will stick with me: “Service and leadership do not exist in opposition to one another, but as compliments. Through the service mindset a leader gains credibility and trust to lead by consent. While soldiers don’t get to choose their leadership, they do ultimately get to choose how they follow. The ability to lead directly arises from the willingness to serve.”

Highly recommend this book to everyone regardless of whether they are interested in the military as there are some life lessons applicable to all.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent insights

very good material on leadership in the British Army but with plenty of references and examples from other military and civilian organisations and companies. Will be valuable reading not just for UK Army. Author does a reasonable job of reading it but clearly not a pro and it makes it a bit monotone and clunky. I will listen again and again though

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!