Leading So People Will Follow

Praise for Leading So People Will Follow

"Erika Andersen does it again. In her brilliant first book, Growing Great Employees, she showed management how to help employees meet their potential. In this book she cracks the code on how to be a great leader, offering six essential leadership attributes supported by clear and concise stories. This invaluable resource will make you the leader your team needs." Jack Covert, president, 800CEOREAD; author, 100 Best Business Books of All Time

"Leading So People Will Follow hits on something simple and deep: people want good, inspiring, capable leaders. Erika shares how it′s possible with honest self–reflection and clear intention to become that kind of leader." Chip Conley, founder, Joie de Vivre Hotels; author, PEAK and Emotional Equations

"Leading So People Will Follow is incredibly insightful. It lays bare our longing to work with and for worthy leaders leaders who do the right thing despite the politics, who show us what we are capable of, who earn our loyalty through their example and actions. And importantly, Erika shows how we can all become that purposeful, inspiring leader." Maryam Banikarim, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Gannett

"Leave it to Erika Andersen to connect her well–honed leadership development expertise with the archetypal heroes of children′s bedtime stories. The result is a practical, direct, and actionable set of tools for assessing and improving your leadership impact." Beth Comstock, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, GE

"A must–read for those who wish to skillfully plan and navigate the corporate jungle, and moreover, a toolbox for success in life that you will never pick up at business school. Erika is a trustworthy guide part cheerleader, part sociologist, part economist who brings all these elements together in an easy–to–read format." Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, chief technology officer and corporate vice president, Panasonic (North America)

"Erika′s new book is a powerful tool for insight into how others perceive you as a leader. Getting that clear view of yourself is essential to becoming the kind of leader that people will want to follow." Andrea Wong, international president, Sony Pictures Entertainment

1 The Longing for Good Leaders 1

Our Leader Longing Is Wired In Cracking the Code

2 Firesides and Folktales 7

Stories Hold the Map The Six Attributes Reflecting on Your Leadership Hearing the Story

3 Farsighted 21

See Possible Futures Articulate the Vision Model the Vision See Past Obstacles Invite Participation

4 Passionate 49

Commit Honestly Make a Clear Case Without Dogma Invite Real Dialogue Support Your Passion Remain Committed

5 Courageous 63

Make Tough Choices Risk Yourself for the Enterprise Do Personally Difficult Things Take Responsibility Admit Mistakes

6 Wise 83

Be Curious Listen! Assess Objectively Learn from Your Experience See and Share Patterns Act Based on Your Sense of Right

7 Generous 105

Assume Positive Intent Share Power Share What You Know Freely Give Credit, Praise, and Reward Provide Necessary Resources for Success

8 Trustworthy 137

Tell the Truth Do What You Say You Will Keep Confidences Speak and Act for the Greater Good Get Results

9 Friends for the Journey 157

Leading as a Group Endeavor Wizards, Well–Wishers, and Wild Cards Finding Your Supporters

10 Your Own Tale 167

Reassess Yourself Make a Plan Rely on Your Wizards, Well–Wishers, and Wild Cards

Epilogue 173

Listening and Self–Talk for Leaders: Bonus Section 175

Acknowledgments 187

The Author 189

Index 191

Erika Andersen is founding partner of the consulting firm Proteus International and the author of Growing Great Employees: Turning Ordinary People into Extraordinary Performers and Being Strategic: Plan for Success, Out–Think Your Competitors, Stay Ahead of Change, which she adapted into a public television show, Being Strategic with Erika Andersen. She also blogs at blogs.forbes.com/erikaandersen and at erikaandersen.com.

You recognize leadership when you see it, but many people tend to stumble when asked to come up with a definition. Not so for Andersen, who is a leadership coach and Forbes blogger. She couldn t be more direct and succinct as she breaks down the definition of leadership into six components or, more apropos to her discussions, the six attributes of a good leader far–sightedness, passion, courage, wisdom, generosity, and trustworthiness. Her point and approach are to teach how to be an effective leader, supported by her fundamental philosophy that when someone who is put in the leader seat doesn t demonstrate the leadership qualities for which human beings have a kind of built–in radar, that person is unlikely to be effective as a leader. To that end, she offers five key behaviors for each of the six leadership components. A book to read more than once and to consult many times. Brad Hooper, Booklist Online