How to Avoid Being The Leader You Don't Want to Be (a Field Guide)

This Field Guide is designed for you to examine your own leadership behavior and that of your leaders at any level in your ogranization.

Through a series of intense questions based on the twenty-five chapters in the author's new book, The Leader You DON'T Want to Be, now her Field Guide will lead you through the process of learning to be a good leader in any organizational structure.

As a practicing executive coach, Mary O'Sullivan has walked the leadership journey with many different people in leadership roles. The stories of these people appear in the main book, along with the many challenges they faced. The format of the Field Guide reflects some of the questions she's been asked by clients and the type of questions she's asked them in their coaching sessions.

In either case, when you take up this Socratic method of acquiring workplace wisdom, the revelations may encourage you to change your course, or even confirm the course you're on right now.

Coaches don't like to make promises, but one promise I am comfortable making is that by using this Field Guide, you'll gain clarity and insight into how your leadership journey progresses toward your ultimate goal.

Are you the leader people talk about behind your back, or do you aspire to encourage and motivate your followers? You don't want to be the one who people say, "Don't be like that guy (or gal), what an @$$ they are."

• Remember, above all, you need to act like a human.

What would Emily Post have to say about your workplace behavior? Are you proud of your actions and words? Or would you be ashamed to act like that at home or in front of your mother?

If you can't follow the simple rules of good manners and common courtesy, do you really even want to be a leader?

People may guess you don't.