'The Right Hand': A Peek Inside the Quiet Power Behind the World’s Most Influential Leaders

Subtitled Conversations with the Chiefs of Staff to the world’s most powerful people, the cover explains exactly what you’re about to read. This is a fascinating discussion with people who were advising world leaders and the pressures they were under during some world-changing events.

Key Points:

The Right Hand offers rare, behind-the-scenes insight into the lives of chiefs of staff who advised global leaders through defining moments in modern history.

Author Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks reveals the immense pressure, sacrifice and resilience required in roles driven by public duty rather than personal spotlight.

The book reframes leadership as a collective effort, highlighting the unseen advisers whose steady guidance shapes democratic decision-making.

I was excited to see what these key advisors had to say about their work, their boss and being part of decisions at significant world events.

Leaders they supported included former prime ministers Dame Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand), John Howard and Julia Gillard (Australia), Nelson Mandela (South Africa), Sir Tony Blair (United Kingdom), Justin Trudeau (Canada) and Sanna Marin (Finland), and former First Lady of the United States and educator Dr Jill Biden and attorney and former Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris.

Each of these leaders had to deal with very significant events during their term including COVID, the death of Princess Diana, the release of Mandela and his entry into the presidency, the Harris presidential campaign, misogyny, leadership challenges, a volcano eruption, dealing with other world leaders, home events and international pressures.

Each was asked about their boss in three words, their relationship, how they got into this type of role and what it was like to deal with all of the events their jobs entailed.

Author Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks spent years seeking out these people, interviewing them and then compiling their stories and lessons learnt. She has done an excellent job as the stories are accessible and easy to read, the people are very interesting and we see a side of leaders we normally wouldn’t otherwise know.

David gives The Right Hand 4.5 stars

In the end, the author notes these people have chosen these roles because of the importance of public duty. They have not sought the spotlight and, in fact, shun it. They recognise they’re not the star but a background person providing what is needed on advice, policy and coordination.

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It is not an easy job and they have all sacrificed a lot to undertake the role and succeed in it. Many of them have taken quite some time to return to “normal life” once their roles have finished.

The author concludes the stories are not of loyalty, leadership and politics – although those themes are present – but one of resilience. Resilience through the daily pressures, unexpected global events and dealing with challenges on the home front.

By speaking with these people, Saintilan-Stocks said she found optimism for the future, even when hers was faltering.

Each of these leaders had to deal with very significant events during their term including COVID, the death of Princess Diana, the release of Mandela and his entry into the presidency, the Harris presidential campaign, misogyny, leadership challenges, a volcano eruption, dealing with other world leaders, home events and international pressures.

This book is an important work in understanding aspects of leadership in a democracy for which the vast majority of us will never know anything about. The lifting of the curtain has been very interesting and helpful to show the complexities, pressures and resilience through it all.

A very good read indeed and a fascinating insight into the role of being a chief of staff and being at the pointy end of political leadership, and yet out of the limelight.

⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.5)

Feature image: Penguin Books Australia