Comments on: Courage to Participate in Transformation of the Leader http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-09/courage-to-participate-in-transformation-of-the-leader/ Leadership, followership, and purpose at work Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:21:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bret L. Simmons http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-09/courage-to-participate-in-transformation-of-the-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-891 Bret L. Simmons Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:55:01 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=1017#comment-891 Art I really appreciate this comment! I too have witnessed a lousy or arrogant leader radically changing behavior as a result of being challenged very rarely. But I can tell you that trying to practice this has changed ME, and it is my behavior and my leadership that I am responsible for. And because it has changed me, it affects how I develop other leaders. So while the direct effects are rare, I would tell you that the indirect effects of trying to practice courageous followership are larger than I can measure. The main reason you practice courageous followership is to prepare yourself to practice courageous leadership and to appreciate and develop a new cadre of courageous followers that benefit from your experience and can do it more effectively than you did. I truly believe that only those that have challenged can fully accept the value of being challenged as a leader. Thanks, Art!! Bret Art I really appreciate this comment! I too have witnessed a lousy or arrogant leader radically changing behavior as a result of being challenged very rarely.

But I can tell you that trying to practice this has changed ME, and it is my behavior and my leadership that I am responsible for. And because it has changed me, it affects how I develop other leaders.

So while the direct effects are rare, I would tell you that the indirect effects of trying to practice courageous followership are larger than I can measure.

The main reason you practice courageous followership is to prepare yourself to practice courageous leadership and to appreciate and develop a new cadre of courageous followers that benefit from your experience and can do it more effectively than you did. I truly believe that only those that have challenged can fully accept the value of being challenged as a leader.

Thanks, Art!! Bret

]]> By: Bret L. Simmons http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-09/courage-to-participate-in-transformation-of-the-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-890 Bret L. Simmons Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:45:16 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=1017#comment-890 I concur, Kevin. thanks! Bret I concur, Kevin. thanks! Bret

]]> By: Art Petty http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-09/courage-to-participate-in-transformation-of-the-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-889 Art Petty Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:35:30 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=1017#comment-889 Bret, I love the post and the challenging topic. I've added The Courageous Follower to my reading list, in part because my gut reaction is slightly south of agreement. I suspect that too many years working in the halls and meeting rooms of a number of companies and observing some fascinating characters has me slightly jaded on the team's ability to change the behavior, style, or approach of a lousy leader. (I have absolutely observed a team and key individuals help improve a well-intentioned leader.) When writing Practical Lessons in Leadership, my co-author and I debated this point fiercely and ended with a "yeah, it's possible, but... ." The "but" was that we could not come up with a single example in our 45 years of combined experience where a material change had taken place in a leader that fit the "arrogant" or as I describe it, "lousy leader" model. I absolutely acknowledge that it can happen, I just haven't witnessed it yet. Awesome post and thanks for challenging my slightly cynical thinking on this topic. I'm looking forward to reading the book and finding some renewal! Best, Art Bret, I love the post and the challenging topic. I’ve added The Courageous Follower to my reading list, in part because my gut reaction is slightly south of agreement. I suspect that too many years working in the halls and meeting rooms of a number of companies and observing some fascinating characters has me slightly jaded on the team’s ability to change the behavior, style, or approach of a lousy leader. (I have absolutely observed a team and key individuals help improve a well-intentioned leader.)

When writing Practical Lessons in Leadership, my co-author and I debated this point fiercely and ended with a “yeah, it’s possible, but… .” The “but” was that we could not come up with a single example in our 45 years of combined experience where a material change had taken place in a leader that fit the “arrogant” or as I describe it, “lousy leader” model. I absolutely acknowledge that it can happen, I just haven’t witnessed it yet.

Awesome post and thanks for challenging my slightly cynical thinking on this topic. I’m looking forward to reading the book and finding some renewal! Best, Art

]]> By: Kevin J Porter http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-09/courage-to-participate-in-transformation-of-the-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-888 Kevin J Porter Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:30:17 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=1017#comment-888 Bret, I appreciate the response and I agree that principles are most important during difficult times. Adopting principles and acting courageously when faced with adversity will help to establish a strong character; an asset even more valuable during difficult times. Bret, I appreciate the response and I agree that principles are most important during difficult times. Adopting principles and acting courageously when faced with adversity will help to establish a strong character; an asset even more valuable during difficult times.

]]> By: Bret L. Simmons http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-09/courage-to-participate-in-transformation-of-the-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-887 Bret L. Simmons Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:28:23 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=1017#comment-887 GREAT question, Kevin. I clearly understand the point your question implies. But my answer is NO, my advice would not change. If you are going to operate on principles, you have to stick to those principles even when it is uncomfortable, inconvenient, and risky. If you can't do that then you have no business adopting a principle. We see a lot of leaders and businesses in trouble because when economic times were GOOD they were not guided by principles. In GOOD times followers did not call leaders on bad behavior, and we are all paying for it now. Second, in tough economic times there is NO slack, no margin for error. Hard times call for courage more than ever. If a process is broken, don't ignore it - help fix it. If a leader's behavior is hurting people and creating an unproductive environment, don't cower - confront it. Everyone needs to be assuming full responsibility, especially when times are tough. Hope that helps. Thanks!! Bret GREAT question, Kevin. I clearly understand the point your question implies.

But my answer is NO, my advice would not change.

If you are going to operate on principles, you have to stick to those principles even when it is uncomfortable, inconvenient, and risky. If you can’t do that then you have no business adopting a principle. We see a lot of leaders and businesses in trouble because when economic times were GOOD they were not guided by principles. In GOOD times followers did not call leaders on bad behavior, and we are all paying for it now.

Second, in tough economic times there is NO slack, no margin for error. Hard times call for courage more than ever. If a process is broken, don’t ignore it – help fix it. If a leader’s behavior is hurting people and creating an unproductive environment, don’t cower – confront it.

Everyone needs to be assuming full responsibility, especially when times are tough.

Hope that helps. Thanks!! Bret

]]> By: Kevin J Porter http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-09/courage-to-participate-in-transformation-of-the-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-886 Kevin J Porter Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:51:58 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=1017#comment-886 Bret, regarding your conversation with Wally, would your advice to a courageous follower be any different during economic times like we face today vs times of strong economic growth? Bret, regarding your conversation with Wally, would your advice to a courageous follower be any different during economic times like we face today vs times of strong economic growth?

]]> By: Bret L. Simmons http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-09/courage-to-participate-in-transformation-of-the-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-885 Bret L. Simmons Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:57:37 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=1017#comment-885 Mary Jo, I wish it were not so! One of my main messages when I talk about diversity is we all communicate differently, so get past the style and get to the substance. Thanks! Bret Mary Jo, I wish it were not so! One of my main messages when I talk about diversity is we all communicate differently, so get past the style and get to the substance. Thanks! Bret

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-09/courage-to-participate-in-transformation-of-the-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-884 Mary Jo Asmus Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:39:37 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=1017#comment-884 "It's not what you say, it's how you say it." - Mom Mom was so right. “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.”
- Mom

Mom was so right.

]]> By: 5 Blogs Every MBA Student Should Be Reading http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-09/courage-to-participate-in-transformation-of-the-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-876 5 Blogs Every MBA Student Should Be Reading Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:09:12 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=1017#comment-876 [...] The Courage to Participate in Transformation as a Leader The Stepford Organization My Advice to New MBA Students [...] [...] The Courage to Participate in Transformation as a Leader The Stepford Organization My Advice to New MBA Students [...]

]]> By: Bret L. Simmons http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-09/courage-to-participate-in-transformation-of-the-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-874 Bret L. Simmons Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:30:16 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=1017#comment-874 Wally, I love that idea of a culture of candor and caring. Agree with you that truth tellers rarely rise to the top - the top is permeated with yes people that know how to play the game and reward those that do the same. And what has that gotten us? The truth is dangerous to share when the boss does not want to hear it, and when the boss does not want to hear it the issue will usually be about the *style* the follower used to communicate it. If the boss can label the follower as lacking grace, emotional intel, respect - whatever - then the focus can shift to the bad follower and away from the real issue at hand. It's a power thing. Thanks, Wally!!! Bret Wally, I love that idea of a culture of candor and caring. Agree with you that truth tellers rarely rise to the top – the top is permeated with yes people that know how to play the game and reward those that do the same. And what has that gotten us?

The truth is dangerous to share when the boss does not want to hear it, and when the boss does not want to hear it the issue will usually be about the *style* the follower used to communicate it. If the boss can label the follower as lacking grace, emotional intel, respect – whatever – then the focus can shift to the bad follower and away from the real issue at hand. It’s a power thing. Thanks, Wally!!! Bret

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