Most leaders don't choose the role.
They are thrown into it.
Falling Into Leadership is the book that finally gives you the roadmap for leading with clarity, confidence, and purpose from day one.
Meet Sally, she didn't plan to lead either. Through her story, you'll recognise your own challenges and find practical tools to move forward.
Written by Steve Riddle & Kath Riddle · CoachStation, Brisbane
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Paperback:
Falling Into Leadership (Amazon)
AUD $27.50*
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Unsigned edition.
eBook Edition:
Falling Into Leadership (Kindle, Apple, Kobo & more)
From approx. AUD $11.99*
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Falling Into Leadership (CoachStation)
AUD $34.99
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The paperback format ordered through Amazon will generally arrive around 1 week after ordering.
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Digital Edition and Gifting
The Falling Into Leadership digital edition is available from major ebook retailers via the button above, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo and others.
These platforms allow you to read on almost any device and offer simple gifting options, enabling you to send a copy to a colleague, friend, or family member directly through your preferred store.
Please note that Amazon paperback and hardcover orders may also include postage costs, which can vary depending on your location and account type.
What Leaders Are Saying About Falling Into Leadership
Below are independent reviews from leaders who have read
Falling Into Leadership and applied its insights in their real-world roles.
Select reviews on this page were originally published on Amazon and are reproduced here with permission.
Falling Into Leadership gave me a fresh perspective as to how I engage and support development of my team members…
‘Falling into Leadership’ immediately encourages the reader to reflect on their own leadership style and journey while also offering practical steps to overcome common challenges leaders face. I found myself drawn into authentic, thought-provoking conversations, often leading to discussions with my team around the themes presented in the book in the days after reading each chapter.
The way Steve and Kath presented concepts in the book gave me a fresh perspective not only on my own leadership but also as to how I engage and support development of my team members, and give them the space to purposefully grow, strengthen and be confident in their leadership capabilities.
I highly recommend – regardless of where you are in your own leadership journey.
I kept finding myself reflecting on my own leadership journey…
I bought this book on a recommendation and ended up reading it a chapter a day over two weeks. I loved it.
As I worked through each chapter, I kept finding myself reflecting on my own leadership journey and seeing a younger version of myself in the situations being explored. What really stood out was how each chapter felt like both a coaching session and a personal reflection at the same time. The writing is seamless and practical, and it genuinely feels like you are part of a session while still being able to apply the insights to your own world. The questions at the end of each chapter were especially effective in prompting deeper thinking and self reflection.
Another highlight was the consistency of voice throughout the book. The tone and perspective are incredibly aligned, which makes the reading experience feel coherent and intentional from start to finish. This was a genuine pleasure to read and I would happily recommend it to anyone, particularly those early in their leadership journey or taking time to reflect on their growth as a leader.
An easy, relatable read with practical examples that bring the leadership concepts to life…
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! It’s an easy, relatable read with practical examples that bring the leadership concepts to life. Each chapter feels like a genuine conversation with Steve and left me reflecting on how I can apply the insights within my own team. Definitely a recommendation for any leader or aspiring leader.
A thought provoking read…
A thought provoking read. Steve has done a brilliant job of filling the gap in so many careers. Whilst there is not enough investment made by organisations in leadership capability I would suggest a small investment here by individuals will pay dividends.
Falling Into Leadership feels like a personal coaching session…
I absolutely loved this book! Unlike traditional leadership texts that are heavy on theory alone, Falling Into Leadership feels like a personal coaching session. The story of Sally is so relatable and captures that ‘accidental leader’ experience where you’re promoted for your skills but suddenly find yourself responsible for a team without a roadmap.
Having worked closely with Steve Riddle early in my career, so much if this resonates with me as practical learnings and lived experiences that truly help guide you your through leadership journey. It’s a must-read for new managers and even seasoned leaders looking to reconnect with their ‘why’.
Steve and Kath have done an incredible job in being able to clearly articulate the common problems of leaders today…
Steve and Kath have done an incredible job in being able to clearly articulate the common problems of leaders today in a short read. It is an easy read with the concept being a conversation between a coach and a coachee.
It took me back to the sessions I personally had with Steve about 18 months back under this coaching business, CoachStation. Steve has completely changed my life professionally and personally through these sessions. He challenged the way I think and now operate in my day-to-day life as a professional but also in my personal life. His though provoking questions and leadership framework is one to explore and have as part of your toolkit.
Highly recommend for anyone, no matter the stage of life or career…
A timely and eye-opening read that reframed leadership as everyday influence grounded in self-awareness and reflection. One standout takeaway was learning how to manage up effectively and gaining a better understanding of how to work with leaders intentionally, communicate clearly, and take ownership of your influence regardless of title.
Falling into Leadership offered a fresh perspective on the people in my life and how powerful our mutual influence can be. Highly recommend for anyone, no matter the stage of life or career.
Stop Assuming. Lead With Intent.
Most leaders 'fall into' their roles without a manual, often feeling the heaviness of new expectations. I want to offer you a way forward.
Click the book cover below to request a free sample of Session 1: The Gravity of Leadership.
You will meet Sally, explore tools such as my 'Levers' concept, and receive the same reflective questions I use in my 1:1 coaching sessions.
Click cover to request your sample
I personally review and respond to every request to provide the same personalised service I offer to all our clients
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"The measure of your success is not simply in the results you deliver, but in the capability, competence and confidence you build in those around you."
True leadership development is a shared responsibility between the individual and the organisation. At CoachStation, we are proud to partner with forward-thinking organisations like ADA, Wabtec, and Dotnetix, who have invested in bulk editions of Falling Into Leadership to create a shared language of purpose, accountability, and self-awareness across their management teams.
The Value of a Team Framework
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If You Have Fallen Into Leadership, Our Book Is For You
Most leaders don't get a roadmap. They fall into the role and figure it out on the job.
Falling Into Leadership is a practical guide for new and emerging leaders who want to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose. It will help you:
- Understand how leadership really develops, and why "falling into" it is so common.
- See the patterns, habits, and blind spots that quietly shape your leadership impact.
- Build the confidence to handle real conversations about performance, behaviour, and expectations.
- Navigate the emotional weight of leadership without burning out or becoming someone you don't recognise.
- Turn everyday moments into practical opportunities to grow yourself and the people you lead.
- Use the Falling Into Leadership Companion Hub to reflect, apply ideas, and stay accountable between conversations.
At the heart of the book is Sally, a fictional leader shaped from real coaching conversations across hundreds of engagements. Through her journey, readers recognise the common challenges of first-time leadership: stepping up, decision pressure, self-doubt, and the messy realities of modern organisations.
Co-written with Kath Riddle and structured across eight chapters mirroring eight real coaching sessions, Falling Into Leadership follows Sally as she builds self-awareness, strengthens influence, and learns to lead with clarity and purpose.
Readers will find:
- A relatable story that mirrors the challenges of new and emerging leaders.
- Practical tools and reflection models drawn from real coaching sessions.
- Access to additional CoachStation resources supporting readers beyond the pages.
- A reminder that leadership is not about perfection; it is about awareness, purpose, and practice.
Leadership is rarely planned. Most of us fall into it. Falling Into Leadership shows what to do next.
Falling Into Leadership: Concept & Background
Falling Into Leadership is a journey through real stories, reflective practice, and the moments that shape how leaders grow. Written by Steve and Kath Riddle, it blends lived experience, empathy, and evidence to support authentic, intentional leadership.
8 Chapters, Coaching Conversations
Structured around eight coaching-style sessions, each chapter reflects a distinct stage of leadership development.
The journey mirrors the real questions leaders face as responsibility increases, confidence wavers, and expectations shift.
Rather than presenting theory, each chapter follows the lived tension between knowing what to do and learning how to do it well.
Reflect & Act Framework
Each chapter concludes with a Reflect & Act guide that turns insight into deliberate action.
These prompts encourage leaders to pause, challenge assumptions, and apply learning in their own context.
Reflection is linked directly to behaviour, helping ideas move from awareness into everyday leadership practice.
Where Human Meets Practical
The book sits at the intersection of emotional intelligence and everyday leadership reality.
It acknowledges the human experience of leadership, doubt, pressure, uncertainty, and growth.
Practical tools are grounded in real moments, supporting leaders to act with clarity rather than striving for perfection.
About the Authors
Written by mother and son, Kath and Steve Riddle, the book blends lived experience with decades of professional insight.
Their combined perspectives bring both personal reflection and structured leadership understanding.
This dual lens reinforces the belief that leadership development is relational, learned, and shaped over time.
The Essence of Falling Into Leadership
Structured around eight leadership sessions, each chapter in Falling Into Leadership mirrors a real coaching journey, revealing the insights, challenges, and growth that emerge through lived experience. Each chapter represents a stage of Sally’s development, allowing you to experience coaching, reflection, and leadership growth through her story.
1. Coaching the Coachee - the Gravity of Leadership
Explores the gravity of leadership and the moment Sally realises it is not a title, but a mindset. This first session grounds her in purpose, accountability, and the awareness that leadership begins with self-understanding.
2. Quiet Authority – Power Without Position
Explores how true leadership emerges before a title is given. Sally learns that authority is not granted but developed, through trust, clarity, and the confidence to influence without control. She discovers that quiet strength often speaks louder than rank.
3. Holding the Mirror, Owning the Reflection
Invites leaders to look inward with honesty and curiosity. This chapter explores how genuine growth begins with self-awareness, seeing ourselves clearly and owning the influence our words, choices, and behaviours have on others and the culture we help shape.
4. The Shadow and the Spark - How Emotional Intelligence Lights the Way
Explores how emotional intelligence brings light to leadership. Sally learns to recognise her patterns and to balance confidence with vulnerability, turning awareness into authentic connection.
5. Speak Less, Lead More - When Questions Reveal More Than Answers
Explores how influence often emerges through curiosity and silence. This chapter highlights the discipline of listening deeply, asking powerful questions, and creating space for others to think, contribute, and grow..
6. The Power of Connections - Wired to Lead, Called to Influence
Focuses on relationships as the foundation of leadership. This chapter explores the shift from managing people to truly leading them, building trust, empathy, and influence through genuine connection that strengthens both individuals and teams.
7. The Edge of Certainty - Anchored Leadership
Explores resilience and composure amid change. Sally learns to lead through uncertainty with clarity and steadiness, finding confidence not in control, but in purpose and adaptability.
8. The Outcome Is Not the End - The Legacy You Leave Behind
Concludes with reflection on legacy and intention. This chapter explores how leadership continues through others, shaped by our values, impact, and the example we set long after our direct influence fades.
How Falling Into Leadership Fits Into CoachStation
Falling Into Leadership is more than a book. It is an extension of the real coaching conversations Steve has had with hundreds of leaders across Australia, and it reflects the same principles that underpin the CoachStation approach to leadership, culture, and development.
At the heart of CoachStation is the belief that leadership growth is personal, relational, and shaped by clarity, self awareness, accountability, and emotional intelligence. These same ideas come to life in the book through Sally’s journey, echoing the real challenges and breakthroughs leaders experience in coaching sessions and development programs.
Readers gain the benefit of both lived coaching experience and practical tools designed to support sustainable, meaningful change.
Whether you are exploring leadership for the first time or strengthening years of experience, Falling Into Leadership provides a relatable pathway into the same ideas, principles, and approaches used throughout CoachStation’s coaching, CSLDP, workshops, and programs. It reflects what real leadership development looks like when clarity, purpose, and humanity sit at the centre.
Explore the Falling Into Leadership Companion Hub
The Companion Hub is a practical extension of Falling Into Leadership, it lets you revisit each session, reflect on key ideas, and turn insight from the book into real leadership conversations and action.
Use it at your own pace, return to it between chapters, or come back when you need to reset clarity and direction.
