The book is a mixture of his own personal life story and lessons for how to live a better life. He credits much of his success to his mom. His mom was a family practice doctor. Early in life, she taught him, “It’s blind spots and self-sabotage that derail most people in pursuit of the extraordinary. Not the competition.” There are 14 different promises in the book – covering all the bases from the promise to “View myself critically but not cruelly” to “Act with vigilance against my biases”, to “Be Present”. These discussions are insightful, penetrating, and though provoking. This is one of the most powerful books ever written about leadership. -- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAIN and host of the TED podcast WorkLife The author John Amaechi is a former NBA player turned psychologist and management consultant. Being 6'10" tall and bulky, John is considered as a giant. As a giant, even the slightest swing of your arm or jerk of your elbow can give an unsuspecting passerby a bloody nose. Hence giants need to be extremely cautious and mindful of even the slightest move they make. Leaders are like giants - and need to be so by choice. Every behavior of theirs has huge impact on people around them - their words, their body language, their actions, decisions etc. So like giants, leaders need to be cautious and self-aware of every behavior of theirs. And leaders can do so by making certain promises to uphold certain leadership principles. In this book, John takes us through 14 such promises.

It will feel risky and at times even frightening, but the potential rewards are immense and there for the taking. If we can approach life with the courage and enthusiasm of that eager child who is unashamed of their dreams, we lift the ceiling on creativity, innovation, accountability, compassion, and resiliency.Technical labor is usually predictable and well defined and the focus of our daily efforts. It encompasses the nuts and bolts of what it takes to “get the job done.” Basic skills, knowledge, and cognitive capabilities can be acquired through technical labor alone, as well as a fundamental awareness around processes and procedures, business strategy, and human resource management. Being a giant means committing to success – but not just your own. Giants understand that success isn’t an individual pursuit. It occurs in an environment where everyone is given the chance to thrive. That means taking a two-pronged approach to achievement. John Amaechi well understands the responsibilities and potential that come with being a giant. The Promises of Giants is the product of a lifetime spent observing and studying effective leadership – from accompanying his mother’s visits to her dying patients to competing at the highest levels of professional sport, through two decades of management consulting with multinational corporations. These experiences have shown that everyone has the ability to act decisively to influence the world in a positive way. Everyone is a giant to someone.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL BOOKS EVER WRITTEN ABOUT LEADERSHIP." Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAIN and host of the TED podcast WorkLife John Amaechi well understands the responsibilities and potential that come with being a giant. The Promises of Giants is the product of a lifetime spent observing and studying effective leadership - from accompanying his mother's visits to her dying patients to competing at the highest levels of professional sport, through two decades of management consulting with multinational corporations. These experiences have shown that everyone has the ability to act decisively to influence the world in a positive way. Everyone is a giant to someone. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL BOOKS EVER WRITTEN ABOUT LEADERSHIP. Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAIN and host of the TED podcast WorkLife John's ability to identify and communicate the qualities of effective leadership is remarkable. After reading The Promises of Giants, your view of the world will most definitely improve. -- JJ Abrams, Director, Producer & Scriptwriter, CEO of Bad RobotThe Promises of Giants is, as its title suggests, a collection of promises. Some are made to the people you work with most intimately, and others are made to your workplace as a whole. But we start with the promises that you make to yourself alone. The way we understand many role descriptions needs to shift. Whether it’s social or a job description, people seem to imagine there is a tiny, barely capable version of a person stretching to occupy that cavernous role, when in reality the idea of a giant being suffocated by a label is probably a more apt metaphor.