A Ghanaian footballer or coach may not traditionally be the person most Ghanaian business people would turn to for advice on how to lead people or an organization. A book with a very instructive title may change the perspectives of many business people about perspectives on leadership. James Kwasi Appiah, the immediate past head coach of the Black Stars shares his account of key events during his career as a player and as a coach in his forthcoming book, “Leaders Don’t Have to Yell.”
Even though Kwasi Appiah has had an illustrious career by being a key member and captain of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and the Black Stars for many years, and later the coach of the national team and the first Ghanaian coach to ever qualify the senior national team to the World Cup, his illustrious career has often been overshadowed by the controversies that accompanied his tenure as the national team coach.
Also overshadowing his accomplishments as one of the most successful sportsmen and leaders in Ghanaian public life has been his seeming reluctance to engage with the media or the general public. His reluctance to share his side of several stories that made national headlines must have been frustrating for his sympathisers, especially when some of the stories peddled around the media about him were inaccurate at best. With his forthcoming book, the 400-page leadership memoir titled “Leaders Don’t Have to Yell,” the soft-spoken coach is expected to open up to readers in a way that he’s never done.
“I realise that very few people have risen to the position of responsibility that my professional life has provided me. As a result, I have seen things that only a few people have seen; I have had experiences that only a few people have had; and I have perspectives that only a few people have,” Appiah said in a blurb on the back of the book.
To date, Ghana has had many successful footballers, none of whom is widely known to have committed their experienced into a book for others to read. For that, Kwasi Appiah deserves commendation for being a pacesetter.
While Ghanaian footballers and coaches may have in the past not been seen as people to write their ideas into books for the benefit of business people, politicians, students and leaders in all walks of life, Kwasi Appiah’s example is certainly bound to open the eyes of many to the wealth of wisdom that remain untapped from the many successful professional sportsmen Ghana has produced.
“For me, leadership is about putting my best foot forward at all times, and always looking for ways to help my team win,” Appiah added. “I hope my story inspires the leader in you, and encourages you to be the best leader you can be – regardless of your profession or your leadership style.”
Leadership is what makes or breaks organisations, and Kwasi Appiah “Leaders Don’t Have to Yell” may provide a never-seen-before point of view that may change the way leaders lead their teams and develop their people.
The book is scheduled to launch in Kumasi, Sunyani and Accra on Friday, 24th January, Tuesday, 28th January and Friday, 31st January respectively, and will be available at retail locations following the launch.
Coach James Kwasi Appiah shares his story and ideas in his book
