My name is Awatif Yahya and I am the author of Embracing Leadership, Not Dictatorship. I wrote this book because I personally had the privilege to experience great leaders firsthand and felt the impact they had on my professional progression. I was lucky enough to have worked with amazing leaders who uplifted me when I was down, offered guidance when I was confused, and supported me to ensure I not only succeed, but excel in whatever I set out to do.

And at the same time, I heard horrific stories of bad behavior masquerading as leadership that drained every drop of enthusiasm from those subjected to it—these behaviors are what I refer to as dictatorship. I want to encourage readers to pivot away from these destructive behaviors and instead, embrace great leadership skills.

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the giants who gently nudged me towards the finish line, whispering words of encouragement along the way. The names of those leaders are forever engraved in my heart and stamped in my memory.

My hope is that, in reading this book, you will discover that although the “Carrot & Stick” approach might yield results in the short-term, it does not leave a positive long-term legacy. I hope to instill in you the same sort of passion and excitement I have for excellence in leadership conduct.

Ultimately, I want you to see this book as a tool to help you differentiate between the two styles, leadership vs dictatorship, and adopt the one that aligns with the personal legacy you want to leave behind.

My aim is to lay out various tools to guide readers paving their authentic leadership journeys. Remember, conduct is a choice and a very personal one for that matter!

At the end of the day, leadership is synonymous to being a good human, which is what this book is all about. In this book, you’ll learn how to:

• Lead your teams by convincing them and getting them to buy into your vision because they believe in it rather than being forced into it.
• Delegate clearly with the intention to develop future leaders through a diligent succession planning process
• Question the status quo and challenge what’s not working for better outcomes
• Create a healthy work culture that paves a way for everyone to thrive and bring in their best performance
• Strengthen your team dynamics using powerful tools such as self-awareness, effective feedback, coaching skills, and decision making.
• Motivate and reward your team with perks they appreciate.
• Deliver operational excellence by effectively managing change, navigating negotiations, and upholding the highest ethical standards.

You Will Love This Book

You will love this book if you:

• Want to develop your skills to become better in every way possible, albeit in your work environment, community or in your personal life.
• Want to gain a better understanding of those around you, why they behave the way they do, so you can enhance your relationship with them
• Are intrigued by what makes good leaders; what they do to become memorable vs how dictators behave and what they are remembered for

Embracing Leadership, Not Dictatorship is a nonfiction book that speaks to current leaders and aspiring leaders who are looking to strengthen their leadership muscle, have a positive impact on others, and leave behind remarkable legacies.

The book is written in four Parts….

• Part 1 contains an introduction and my personal journey that led me to write this book. I also share a pivotal moment in my life and my bucket list!
• Part 2 covers the conventional thinking of leaders, how leadership is sometimes misunderstood, the difference of mindsets between a leader and a dictator and how we can instill leadership skills early in our children. This part contains personal experiences and stories of others supporting the concepts I explore.
• Part 3 is the main section of the book where I talk about a Leadership Framework breaking it into three main pillars: Strategic Leadership, People Leadership and Operational Leadership; each pillar consists of skillsets required to become a holistic leader. This part covers a total of ten chapters covering all elements of the framework.
• Part 4 is a summary of the book concluding with leadership being synonymous with good human behavior.

My Publishing Journey: Where Your Support Goes

I’m publishing Embracing Leadership, Not Dictatorship with the support of Manuscripts Press, an innovative publisher that provides me with a full publishing team to bring this book to life. Over the coming months I will work closely with:

• A revisions editor, copy editor, and proofreader to refine and elevate every story in the book
• A marketing strategist to help me connect with new audiences and make the book’s message reach those who need it most.
• A cover artist and layout editor who will ensure the final product is visually stunning and professionally produced.

Other Ways to Support Me

Some people just can’t contribute, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help:

• Please share my presale campaign on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn with your friends, family and network. Please use #LeadersNotDictators and tag me so we can help amplify your efforts.
• Please recommend my book to five (5) friends, family members, or co-workers who you think would enjoy it via text or direct message on social media.

Thank you so much for all of your love and support!
Awatif Yahya

About the Author 

Awatif is a Fulbright scholar and an entrepreneur with 15 years international work experience; 10 of which with a Fortune 500 company. Her last role as Head of HR for British American Tobacco (BAT Plc) taught her the importance of balancing strategic business objectives with employee career aspirations.

Awatif is passionate about organizations that are inspiring, motivating, safe and fun workplaces. She founded her company, Awe Horizons LLC, advocating for great leadership across all levels.

She made it her mission to encourage more organizations to embrace skills that leave behind remarkable legacies with positive lasting impact. If she manages to shift one mindset at a time, one organization at a time, towards excellence in leadership conduct, then she would have achieved her goal.

Awatif is also a seasoned global traveler covering close to half of the world’s countries, interacting and absorbing local cultures and cuisine along the way. She is an animal lover and a certified PADI diver among other things!