The Courageous Follower: Standing Up to and for Our Leaders / Edition 3

by Ira Chaleff

Overview

Many significant failures—from FEMA’s response to Hurricane Katrina to the recent economic collapse—could have been prevented or mitigated if those lower in the hierarchy were successful at communicating to leaders the risks they saw in the system. Ira Chaleff’s Courageous Follower model has facilitated healthy upward information flow in organizations for over 15 years. The Harvard Business Review called Chaleff a pioneer in the emerging field of followership—this new edition shares his latest thinking on an increasingly vital topic.
The updated third edition includes a new chapter, “The Courage to Speak to the Hierarchy.” Much of Chaleff’s model is based on followers having access to the leader. But today, followers can be handed questionable policies and orders that come from many levels above them—even from the other side of the world. Chaleff explores how they can respond effectively, particularly using the power now available through advances in communications technology.
Everyone is a follower at least some of the time. Chaleff strips away the passive connotations of that role and provides tools to help followers effectively partner with leaders. He provides rich guidance to leaders and boards on fostering a climate that encourages courageous followership. The results include increased support for leaders, reduced cynicism and organizations saved from serious missteps.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781605092737
Publisher:	Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Publication date:	11/02/2009
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	520,167
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Ira Chaleff is the founder and president of Executive Coaching & Consulting Associates. He was recently named one of the top100 thinkers on leadership by Leadership Excellence magazine.

Table of Contents

Preface to Second Edition
Preface
Introduction
The Five Dimensions of Courageous Followership

1. The Dynamics Of The Leader-Follower Relationship
The Common Purpose and Core Values
The Paradox of Followership
Who Does a Follower Serve?
Loyalty of a Follower
Power in the Leader-Follower Relationship
Value of the Follower
Courage of the Follower
Balance Through Relationship
Mature Relationships
Differences in Elevation
Finding Equal Footing With the Leader
When the Leader Isn’t an Equal
Trust
Followers as Leaders
Working With Other Followers

2. The Courage To Assume Responsibility
Self-Assessment Followership Style
Eliciting Feedback
Personal Growth
Self-Management
Taking Care of Ourselves
Passion
Initiative
Influencing the Culture
Breaking the Rules
Breaking the Mindset
Improving Processes
Testing Your Ideas

3. The Courage To Serve
Conserving a Leader’s Energy
Organizing Communication Processes
Acquiring Access
The Responsibilities of Gatekeeping
Buffering a Leader
Defending the Leader
Buffering Others from a Leader
Acting in the Leader’s Name
Defining a Leader Publicly
Focusing the Creative Leader
Presenting Options
Knowing When You Don’t Know
Avoiding Insularity
Encouraging Peer Relations
Managing Crises
When the Leader Is Ill
Conflict Between Leaders
Formal Checkups
Building Relationships With Leaders

4. The Courage to Challenge
Appropriate Behavior
Preparing a Leader for Feedback
Giving a Leader Feedback
Giving a Leader Input
Challenging Indirectly
Avoiding Knee-Jerk Rejection
Overcoming Groupthink
The Duty to Obey
Challenging Abuse Early
Challenging the Use of Language
Arrogance
Leaders Who Scream
Personal Issues
Newly Elevated Leaders
Leaders Who Have Other Agendas
Leaders Who Won’t Challenge Their Leaders
Challenge Thyself, Too

5. The Courage To Participate
In Transformation
When Is Transformation Possible?
The Process of Personal Transformation: The Follower’s Role
The Follower as Catalyst
Channeling the Leader’s Frustration
Denial and Justification of Behavior
Dedication to Cause as Justification
Reactions to Confrontation
Identifying Transformation Resources
Using an Outside Facilitator
Creating a Supportive Environment
Modeling Change for a Leader
Modeling Empathy
Containing Abusive Behavior
Positive Reinforcement
Coping With Recurring Behavior
Realistic Expectations
Persistence
Validation

6. The Courage To Take Moral Action Leaving
Difficulty of Separation
Financial Contingencies
Offering to Resign
Query and Appeal
The Duty to Disobey
Threatening to Resign
The Dilemma of the “Unreasonable” Leader
Values Review
Follower Self-Examination
The Decision to Withdraw Support
The Responsibility to Blow the Whistle
Protecting Yourself
When Leaders Must Be Opposed
Evil Behavior
If We Decide to Stay

7. The Courage to Speak to the Hierarchy
The Challenge of Many Hands
Doing the Homework
Framing the Issue to Command Attention
Educating the Hierarchy
Circumventing the Hierarchy
Speaking Up in Multi-level Meetings
Finding Formal Platforms of Influence
Using Informal Platforms of Influence
Influencing the Metrics that Influence Thought
Patience, Performance and Persistence

8. The Courage to Listen to Followers
Do You Really Want Courageous Followers?
What Messages Are Number Twos Sending?
Appreciating and Accepting Support
Appreciating Constructive Challenge More
Inviting Creative Challenge
A Culture of Communication, Not Complaints
Creating Protected Communication Channels
Discernment—What Is the Right Action?
The Role of the Board
Responding to a Moral Stand
Growth as Both Leader and Follower
Epilogue
Meditation on Followership
Acknowledgments
Select Bibliography
Index
About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Paying more attention to the follower end of the equation is long overdue.”
—Vice President Al Gore

“Contains remarkable insight and practical advice that will be of enormous benefit to followers, and maybe even more benefit to leaders.”
—General Walter Ulmer, Jr., former CEO, Center for Creative Leadership

“The Courageous Follower is a godsend. Chaleff tackles business transformation with grace, and offers real‑life solutions for even the most sticky situations.”
—Independent Bookselling Today

“Highly recommended.”
—Library Journal

From the Publisher