Book Review: Keys for Future-Fit Leadership by Giles Hutchins

You probably deserve a bit of context to appreciate why I am so delighted to see this book emerge into the world.

Many years ago, when I taught at Schumacher College and co-directed the Ashridge MSc in sustainability, I met Giles for the first time. Back then, Giles was about to leave his corporate consulting role and move to the northern edge of Dartmoor to re-think his work and impact on the world.

Giles and I met for many conversations, and quite a few long walks and talks. This was in the early days, before the first book emerged. Over time Giles started to develop his material, and he came along to work with groups I convened at Ashridge. It was already developing into good stuff, and our groups loved the work he did.

I have been thrilled to see Giles’ work mature and blossom over the years to the place he occupies in the world today, as author of several important books, as a widely regarded coach and podcaster, and as a spiritual guide and facilitator regarded by many as the best they know. It’s been wonderful to witness.

So, I am especially delighted to recommend Giles’ new book, Keys to Future Fit Leadership: From Coping to Thriving Among Rising Complexity (2025). I’d describe this as a generous book. It is generous because it brings together in one volume a compendium of Giles’ thinking and practice developed over the past two decades. From the reasoning behind the need for “future fit” leadership, to a wealth of tools, models, perspectives and practical frameworks, to physical, spiritual and embodied practices – this is a truly comprehensive sharing of his work. In addition to all that, there is also a treasury of stories, of applications featuring people using this work in practice. The book includes sixteen guest chapters, where leaders and practitioners share their use of the ideas and inspirations in practice in many fields and contexts.

This is a big book, at well over 400 pages. Don’t be daunted! The font is helpful, the structure is clear, and the writing is excellent. This is a book with high production quality, with plenty of full colour illustrations and images.

Some books are meant to be read at a sitting and put down for ever. Some get a second reading. Others become a reference work that you go back to time and again. I think Giles has written one of this third kind of book. You could pick up this book every day for a year and still be discovering something new.

I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone interested in pushing the edges of their sustainable business practice into something more deeply future fit, with an earth-wise regenerative intention that goes beyond much of the emerging hype.

Giles really has done the work, and now he has shared the work. The world will be better for it.

Where you can find it: