Reinhard K. Sprenger is considered one of the most influential thought leaders on leadership and motivation in the German-speaking world. Over the past decades, he has had a lasting impact on the leadership philosophy of many managers, and his books have shaped the self-image of executives: they are among the most widely read management titles in the German-speaking world. Sprenger studied philosophy, psychology, business administration, history and sports at the Ruhr University in Bochum and the Free University of Berlin and earned a doctorate in philosophy. After teaching at universities in Berlin, Bochum, Essen and Cologne, he took up a position as a scientific advisor to the Minister of Culture of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. He then headed up human resources development at 3M Germany before becoming a freelance consultant and management trainer in 1990. Since then, he has been supporting executives and organisations in matters of motivation, responsibility and cooperation. His lectures are pointed, clear and free of buzzwords. They call for a rethinking of leadership and a focus on trust, freedom and personal responsibility. With an unbiased view, Sprenger identifies where organisations stand in their own way and shows ways in which people can become effective again through their own efforts. His books, including classics such as Mythos Motivation, Vertrauen führt and Radikal führen, have long been standard works of modern corporate management. The Handelsblatt newspaper calls him "Germany's No. 1 management author," and the Financial Times Deutschland described him as "Germany's only management guru who truly deserves this title." However, Reinhard Sprenger sees himself less as a guru and more as a catalyst - someone who keeps the debate about good leadership alive with clear thinking, courage to speak the truth and a humanistic foundation.