Special to the blog: Chat GPT explains what makes Jackson Lamb a good boss and what tips employers should use to manage their employees.

From the Pages of Slough House: Leadership Tips from Jackson Lamb, The Perfect Boss

Leadership is an essential element of successful business management. While there are many successful business leaders who have become role models for aspiring managers, one unconventional leader that deserves attention is Jackson Lamb from Mick Herron’s Slough House series. Despite being an antihero, Lamb embodies leadership qualities that are necessary to manage a team and achieve success. In this article, we will examine why Jackson Lamb is the perfect leader and provide the top five tips that all managers can learn from his style to implement in their own management of employees.

Take Responsibility: One of the most prominent qualities of Jackson Lamb’s leadership is his willingness to take responsibility for his team’s actions. He understands that as the leader, he is responsible for the team’s success and failures. Managers should emulate this quality and take responsibility for their team’s performance, providing support and guidance to improve their productivity and efficiency.

“… I favour the carrot and stick approach.”

“Carrot or stick.”

“Nope. I use the stick to ram the carrot up their arses. That generally gets results.” Lamb frowned. “I hope you don’t think I’m using metaphor. This is not a fucking poetry reading.”

It looked like a fucking poetry reading, though, inasmuch as there were few people there, and none of them stylishly dressed.

London Rules

Communicate Effectively: Despite his gruff exterior, Lamb communicates with his team effectively. He tailors his communication to suit each individual team member’s style and needs, creating a sense of camaraderie and respect. Managers should follow suit, learning to communicate effectively with their employees by understanding their strengths, weaknesses, and communication preferences.

“Look, Roddy.” This was said kindly. “All that crap I lay on you? The name-calling? The threats?”

“It’s okay,” Ho said. “I know you don’t mean it.”

“I mean every bloody word, my son. But it will all seem trivial compared to what’ll happen if you don’t start making sense sharpish. Capisce?”

Dead Lions

Trust Your Team: Jackson Lamb trusts his team members and delegates responsibilities to them, allowing them to operate independently. This trust creates a sense of ownership among the team members, making them more invested in their work and more loyal to the team. Managers should learn to trust their team and give them the freedom to operate independently, providing guidance and support when necessary.

She said, “You’re sending River undercover—”

“Oh god, I might have guessed,” Lamb sighed.

“—into something you already know is a trap?”

“I only told him a couple of hours ago. Did he change his Facebook status already?”

Dead Lions

Adaptability: Lamb is a master strategist, always thinking ahead, and willing to change his plans when necessary. This adaptability is critical in a constantly changing business environment. Managers should learn to adapt to changing circumstances, remain flexible, and change their strategies to stay ahead of the competition.

Knowing an answer was expected, River said: “He’s hooked up to about seven different machines. Nobody’s expecting him to wake up anytime soon.”

“Have they tried switching him off then switching him on again?”

“I’ll ask.”

Real Tigers

Lead by Example: Jackson Lamb leads by example, demonstrating the qualities he expects from his team members. He is willing to show vulnerability and admit his mistakes, creating a sense of trust and respect among his team members. Managers should lead by example, demonstrating the qualities they expect from their team members, creating a culture of mutual respect and trust.

Marcus objected. “If I was gunna hit River, I might follow him and do it there. Out of the city, empty roads, easy getaway.”

“I’m sure we’ve all spent hours planning the best way of killing River,” Lamb said. “But our assassin came all the way from France, which sounds more like a job than a hobby. So let’s assume he was after Grandpa. Business before pleasure and all that.”

Spook Street

Jackson Lamb is an unconventional leader, but his leadership qualities are essential to successful management. By following his example, managers can learn to take responsibility, communicate effectively, trust their team, adapt to changing circumstances, and lead by example. These qualities can help managers build a productive and efficient team that is invested in their work and loyal to the company.