Book Recommendations
from Bret L. Simmons

From Bret's review: "I wish I had written this book. I believe strongly that leaders and companies that make social media only about marketing are missing a HUGE opportunity to to radically transform their entire value chain. But I am glad that Charlene wrote it, because through her diagnostic exercises, checklists, rich examples, and systematic approach to open leadership, any leader with an open mindset can follow her advice and get results."

Order now from Amazon!

From Bret's review: "In this book, Nayar tells the story of how he transformed an already successful company, HCLT, into one of the fastest growing IT service partners in the world. The personal story Nayar shares is compelling, insightful, and at times funny and brutally honest. Have your highlighter handy when you read this because it is packed full of wisdom and quotable passages."

Order now from Amazon!

Meditations on Followership

October 6, 2009 by Bret L. Simmons · Filed under: Attitudes, Behavior, Leadership

These are Ira Chaleff’s final words on the leader-follower relationship from his book The Courageous Follower. Ira tells me that a new edition of the book will be out in November with an entirely new chapter entitled “The courage to speak to the hierarchy,” and focuses on what your powers are when policies emanate from several levels above you from leaders with whom you may not realistically be able to form a relationship and, therefore, are very difficult to influence. I’m looking forward to it! Until then, here are his closing thoughts from the book (pp. 221-222)

For me, becoming a courageous follower, like becoming a good human being, is both a daily and a life-long task. Visualizing a desired state helps to realize it. I share this mediation as one visualization of the state I aspire to. You may want to refer to it from time to time.

I am a steward of this group and share responsibility for its success

I am responsible for adhering to the highest values I can envision

I am responsible for my success and failures and for continuing to learn from them

I am responsible for the attractive and unattractive parts of who I am

I can empathize with others who are also imperfect

As an adult, I can relate on a peer basis to other adults who are the group’s formal leaders

I can support leaders and counsel them, and receive support and counsel from them

Our common purpose is our best guide

I have the power to help leaders use their power wisely and effectively

If leaders abuse power, I can help them change their behavior

If I abuse power, I can learn from others and change my behavior

If abusive leaders do not change their behavior, I can and will withdraw my support

By staying true to my values, I can serve others well and fulfill my potential

Thousands of courageous acts by followers can, one by one, improve the world

Courage always exists in the present. What can I do today?

Don’t miss the fact that this meditation starts with assuming full responsibility for yourself. The focus of the courageous follower – and for that matter the courageous leader – is always inward before it is outward.

What can we do today?

The Wholesome Use of Power

A Culture of Communication, Not Complaints

The Courage to Take Moral Action

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Tags: courage, courageous follower, ethics, followership, partnership, responsibility
Posted in Attitudes, Behavior, Leadership