Why Are They Following Me?: How to lead more effectively

By joyce gillie gossom

Leadership is about who you are as a person and how you behave toward others. It's about who is following you; and more importantly, why! After all, if you think about it, everyone is leading someone, right? Why Are They Following Me?   challenges you to think about leadership from the follower's point of view! Wh

• Language: English
• Publisher: Best Gurl, inc
• Release date: Mar 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9780989086530

Book preview

"Clever, witty, and full of insights on this complex phenomena we call leadership—this is how I would describe joyce’s contribution to the application of leadership principles to everyday life. This book is written in her everyday voice, with compassion, humor, and just a bit of nudging to get the reader to think about doing things right, and doing the right thing!"

John Jack Azzaretto, PhD Dean and Vice Chancellor Emeritus University of California Riverside

"WOW!!! What a gift to have the opportunity to read your leadership book. I had the pleasure to read over the weekend . . . and ended the book with such great insight and ongoing guidance from my Executive Coach . . . You continue to amaze me . . ."

Linda Sumblin Executive Director CareerSource Okaloosa Walton

"I must say it was a pleasure to read. It was not like the standard leadership required reading, that I have been forced to read. Your book kept me laughing and thinking outside the box. What I liked the most were the real life stories, it was like I was reading a novel, instead of an instructional manual."

Judy King Registered Nurse

Retired

"Instead of giving steps or processes to better leadership skills, Why Are They Following Me? takes the reader through a story and provides practical examples of how leadership plays out in real life. Having had the chance to sit down with Dr. gossom and hear many of these stories firsthand, it is clear that the life lessons learned by her are ones that we can all apply in our daily leadership roles. Dr. gossom, as outlined in this book, brilliantly forces you to ask the question, Who am I? and Why are they following me throughout your day-to-day life. This book truly shows the reader how leadership is a lifestyle rather than a role or a position."

Jesse Westerhouse

President, Student Government Association

Auburn University

Wow! From the beginning of the front cover all throughout, I saw joyce gillie, the person who follows lots of her mom’s character but with the touch" of her own qualities. Anyone who has the opportunity to open it up and dive in will grow, improve and develop to become a blessed leader. The book is joyful! The life-realness you put into your writing makes it pleasant to read."

Sherri Comer Williams United States Navy, Retired

Why Are They Following Me?

Dr. joyce gillie gossom

Why Are They Following Me?

ISBN: 978-0-9890865-3-0

Best Gurl, inc. PO Box 4235

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549

Copyright © joyce gillie gossom January 2017 All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, mechanical or by any information storage retrieval system without written permission of the publisher. No transmittal in any form or by any means allowed without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of quotations embodied in press, articles, and/or reviews.

To Thelma,

the best leader I’ve ever followed . . . con gratitud . . .

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

"Why Are They Following Me?"

Inclusion & Diversity

Get A Bigger Tent (…You Need Everyone’s Perspective)

Put Yourself in My Shoes (…They Just Might Fit You!)

I’ll Take Personal Power (…Over Positional Power Every Time!)

Find the Right People (…And Avoid The Halo Effect)

When People Show You Who They Are (…Believe Them the First Time!)

Put Your Socks On (…Before Your Shoes!)

It’s Not About You (…It’s About Them)

"Why Are They Following Me?"

Vision & Strategy/Interpret & Translate

I Can See Clearly Now (…From 40,000 Feet)

Don’t Fight (…Win!!)

Choose Your Battles (…And Your Strategy)

Sometimes Silence (…Is the Best Answer)

You Can’t Win Them All (…But You Don’t Have to be a Sore Loser, Either)

If You Always Do What You’ve Always Done (…You’ll Always Get the Same Results!)

"Why Are They Following Me?"

Character & Reputation

Leadership Can be Lonely (…So, You’d Better Like Yourself!)

The Upward Moving Spiral (…Learning to Lead With Wisdom)

Fearless Leadership (…Takes the Road Less Traveled)

The Harder My Head (…The More It Hurts!)

Push Your Chair In (…And Clean Up Your Own Mess!)

Is Anybody Following (…Because They Want To?)

Leadership Generosity (…And Authority)

Last Thoughts

About the Author

Acknowledgements

To Melanie Baldwin for a rocking good title! To the Cowboy for the sometimes insane, adventures. To everyone who has ever followed me anywhere . . . I hope it matters that I’ve touched your life and that it means something. Thank you for allowing me to love and serve!

Foreword

Whether you are a new or seasoned leader, Why Are They Following Me? is a perfect book! You will want to read and re–read it during many points along your professional career. A written gift captured and shared by author Dr. joyce gillie gossom ’s many years of successful leadership and professional wisdom.

Prior to the publication I considered myself privileged that Dr. gossom shared a draft for me to review. It is my pleasure to relate that Why Are They Following Me? is an outstanding book (easy and entertaining) that provides beneficial insight and ongoing reminders of skills needed for a great leader. As shared from Dr. gossom ’s personal and professional experiences, she continues to amaze not only with her strength and leadership skills, but her vision for handling work place situations and personal events in a most proficient manner. It has been my honor to know joyce personally and professional for more than 15 years, not only as my executive mentor but also as my friend. Her background is far–reaching and impressive.

As joyce so correctly points out, a valuable but basic successful work philosophy is that, It’s Not About You (. . . It’s About Them). Five years ago, soon after I was selected as Executive Di- rector of CareerSource, Okaloosa Walton, I sought joyce’s counsel. I would often say to her, What have I done? Was I crazy to take this position? She very gently comforted me–assuring me not to move too fast and reminding me that it takes time in a new role. She continued to steer me in the direction of success, by flying  at 40,000 feet instead of staying in the weeds, and lead the way for me in a confident manner. Reading Why Are They Following Me? reminded me of this basic leadership approach, which I still professionally apply.

Dr. gossom continually communicates the difference between personal power and positional power, which can be easily implemented in daily routines. She outlines the need for (and how to handle) stepping out of comfort zones to resolve or implement needed organizational or personnel changes in a professional and successful manner.

One of my favorite stories shared in the book, and one that brought a smile to me when reading, was how Dr. gossom related connecting processes to a spider web. I clearly remember many years ago when we first met and were in a meeting together, she shared her notes with me during the meeting. I