Over the past month, I’ve been reading a book I’d like to share with you.  It’s titled “Why Are They Following Me? How to lead more effectively” by Dr. joyce gillie gossom.  I actually got to listen to her speak at a local ABWA meeting last year where she was the guest speaker.  After leaving that meeting, I really wanted to read her book and after doing so I’d like to share a few thoughts about leadership with you.

Let’s begin with a little bit of information about the author.  One of the first things I recall from her presentation was her discussion of how at the age of 16 she legally changed her name to be lower case, which is definitely unique.  She also talked about some of her work locally on the City Council to improve the City of Fort Walton Beach as well as her work at the University of West Florida.  In addition to her work at UWF, she is also the “princess” of Best Gurl which started in 2004 where she and her husband Thom Gossom provide public speaking and consulting for businesses.

Dr. gossom has divided the book into three basic sections, each starting with the book title, but she italicizes a different word: they, following, and then me.  This is a unique approach and emphasizes each section.  They talks about inclusion and diversity of people.  Following refers to the vision and strategy or being able to interpret and translate the vision.  Me is all about the leader’s character and reputation.  Under each section, Dr. gossom has six or seven sub-sections that look at a specific trait related to that section.  Without spoiling the book, because I think you all should read it, I’m going to highlight a few items that stood out to me.

Inclusion and diversity are important for leaders to understand who they are working with.  It is not typically all people of the same race, religion, or socioeconomic status.  There are a variety of different people around us and it is important to recognize that.  One of the subsections here is titled “I’ll Take Personal Power (…Over Positional Power Every Time!)”.  Dr. gossom defines positional power as followers listening because of your title or position in the company and personal power as following you “because of who you are”(gossom, 2017, p.9).  She goes on to tell a story about an airline counter representative who was dealing with an unruly customer.  After the customer left and Dr. gossom stepped up to the counter and commented about dealing with the unruly guest, the counter clerk commented about how his luggage won’t make it to where he’s going.  One might question whether that is good or bad positional power, depending on the perspective.  I honestly had a little chuckle at this and her action, but in reality it’s probably going to create more problems for the airline or a coworker of hers in the baggage claim area of his destination.

Vision and strategy are important aspects for an organization as well as the interpretation and implementation.  In this section of the book, there are discussions about being a visionary and being able to see the big picture as well as being a manager and being able to take that vision and execute the smaller parts to your staff.  There was a subsection titled “Don’t Fight (…Win!)”.  In this section, Dr. gossom talks about working with a CEO who was mad at a supplier for not meeting expectations.  He threatened to fire them, but in her coaching, Dr. gossom convinces him that he really can’t do that as they are one of the only suppliers of what he needs.  She discusses how things shouldn’t be white or black or right or wrong and how that is view is limited and judgmental.  She goes on to point out that there “are very few absolutes in relationships” (gossom, 2017, p.34).

The final section is about character and reputation of the leader.  Character is the leader’s morals and their thoughts about things, where reputation is how others perceive them.  “Fearless Leadership (…Takes the Road Less Traveled)” is a subsection of character and reputation.  Dr. gossom refers in this section to M. Scott Peck’s The Road Less Traveled as the path leaders often need to take.  Leaders often ask followers to join them on a journey because the risk and reward is often greater than that of where they currently are in their situation.  Dr. gossom suggests that everyone ask themselves if they would like a family member receive the service or product they are providing.  If the answer is no, then create your own path and be courageous in doing so.

This book is very thought provoking with its examples applied to ideas as well as stories Dr. gossom has encountered along her career.  It is definitely a different approach to leadership education.  Within the text you will find recommendations of several other texts that Dr. gossom has read throughout her career that may be in reference to an idea.  You won’t regret reading this book, so I suggest you add it to your upcoming reading list.

Here is a video relating to the book you might find interesting:

Also, check out their website at www.bestgurl.com

Hope you enjoy this book like I did!

Monica

Reference:

gossom, j.g. (2017). Why are they following me? How to lead more effectively.  Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  ISBN:978-0-9890865-2-3