Winning at Following

Book excerpt: Replete with engaging stories and written in a down-to-earth style, this book provides the first and only road map for finding success and happiness in life's most common yet underrated role—that of the follower. What kinds of behaviors and responses do most bosses want from those they lead? Which jobs seem desirable and exciting but present work conditions in which followers are likely to fail or be unhappy? What's the best way to communicate bad and good news to a superior? Winning at Following: Secrets to Success in Supporting Roles answers these questions and covers many more topics that are highly relevant to everyone, for those who report to others as well as for managers, directors, CEOs, or other acting leaders. Individuals who are satisfied in their roles as followers will discover information that helps them to optimize their success and fulfillment at work, while dissatisfied followers—anyone struggling as a follower and searching for directions for positive change—will find this book extremely valuable as a road map to greater meaning, success, and satisfaction at work and in life. Readers will gain the critical direction and tools for fulfillment in their roles as followers—in whatever capacity that may be—and understand what they need to do to please their superiors as well as to solve the common problems and challenges that followers face. The book also explains how individuals can identify their followership style and discover the types of organizations where they are most likely to thrive. The final chapter provides guidance on how to overcome common, serious problems that followers experience, such as micromanaging bosses, sexual harassment, unethical directives from superiors, and disrespectful colleagues.