# Inflection: A Roadmap for Leaders at a Crossroads

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/books/inflection-a-roadmap-for-leaders-at-a-crossroads/
- Published: 2024-02-12T12:26:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

**A practical, human guide to the pivotal moments that make or break leaders and
their organisations, with relevance for charity leaders pursuing growth at scale
and pace.**

Leadership has rarely felt harder. The pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and other
global crises, together with the rapid arrival of generative technologies have unsettled
much of the received wisdom about how to lead. Not surprisingly many leaders, if
they can make space to think, are asking whether the models they were taught still
hold.

In _Inflection_, Sharath Jeevan argues that the answer lies not in another set of
static leadership rules but in learning to recognise and navigate what he calls **
inflection moments**: the turning points, in organisational life and in our own,
when something profound shifts and the path ahead is no longer clear.

These moments, Jeevan argues, are not simply threats to be managed. They are the
rare openings in which leaders can lay the foundations for future success, redefine
their goals, and reflect honestly on themselves and their organisations. The true
test of leadership, on this account, is the ability to spot these pivotal moments
and make the most of them, rather than letting them pass or mishandling them.

For charity leaders and fundraising directors, the parallel is immediate. Deciding
when to invest in growth, when to change direction, and when to reimagine a fundraising
programme are exactly the kinds of inflection moments on which long-term income 
depends.

## DIAL

The book is built around a framework Jeevan calls DIAL, explained through the analogy
of a watch. **Daring** a new direction is the hour hand, **igniting** potential 
in ourselves and others is the minute hand, **aligning** the motivations of key 
stakeholders is the second hand, and **learning** to learn is the watch dial that
holds it all together. Together these four elements give leaders a way to think 
across the short, medium, and long term at once, rather than defaulting to whatever
feels most urgent.

Written in short, compelling micro-chapters, _Inflection_ is designed to be digestible,
with space to reflect after each one. It addresses lifelong learning, nurturing 
the potential of teams, aligning intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and the discipline
of honest self-inquiry. Nir Eyal, author of _Indistractable_ and _Hooked_, praised
it as a fresh way to make a leader’s time and impact count for more. More information
about the author and his work is available at [intrinsic-labs.com](https://intrinsic-labs.com).

## About Sharath Jeevan OBE

**Sharath Jeevan OBE** is founder and executive chairman of Intrinsic Labs and a
globally recognised authority on leadership at inflection moments. He works with
organisations across the non-profit sector, from the Tate to the Global Fund for
Children, to build intentional leadership legacy and futureproof their impact, and
he teaches leadership at Oxford’s Saïd Business School and at Cambridge University.

He is the author of two books, _[Intrinsic: A Manifesto to Reignite our Inner Drive](https://fundraising.co.uk/books/inflection-a-roadmap-for-leaders-at-a-crossroads/ A Manifesto to Reignite our Inner Drive)_
and _Inflection_, and founder of the Generational Success Lab. He was awarded an
OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours, along with an honorary doctorate, and holds degrees
from Cambridge, Oxford, and INSEAD.

## Summary

 * Leadership has become challenging due to global crises and shifting technologies.
 * The book _Inflection_ by Sharath Jeevan highlights ‘inflection moments’, which
   are critical turning points in leadership.
 * Jeevan’s DIAL framework includes daring, igniting, aligning, and learning, helping
   leaders address both immediate and long-term needs.
 * _Inflection_ encourages reflection and lifelong learning, making leadership more
   impactful and intentional.
 * Sharath Jeevan, a leadership expert, is involved in numerous initiatives, including
   teaching at major universities and working with non-profit organisations.

## Related titles

 * [Humanocracy](https://fundraising.co.uk/books/humanocracy-creating-organizations-as-amazing-as-the-people-inside-them/)(
   Hamel and Zanini)
 * Solving Procrastination (Shatz)
 * [Building Donor Loyalty](https://fundraising.co.uk/books/building-donor-loyalty-the-fundraisers-guide-to-increasing-lifetime-value/)(
   Sargeant and Jay)
 * [Intrinsic: A Manifesto to Reignite our Inner Drive](https://fundraising.co.uk/books/intrinsic-a-manifesto-to-re-ignite-our-inner-drive/)(
   Sharath Jeevan OBE)

**[Buy Inflection from Amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1399976079?tag=219)**–
available as paperback, Kindle and audiobook