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2018 | Book

A King in Narcissistic Clothes Read chapter Read first chapter

Bold Followership

A Biblical Cure for Organizational Toxicity

Author: Maurice A. Buford

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Book Series : Christian Faith Perspectives in Leadership and Business

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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About this book

This book uses biblical writings to examine how to build wise and moral boardroom boldness to mitigate executive ethical mishaps. The author uses the story of King David to explore the possible perplexities followers experience when their leaders suddenly make a toxic choice. Introducing a boardroom boldness language model (BBLM), Buford presents five boardroom languages to use when dealing with toxic leaders. How well organizations brace, respond, and proactively navigate the uncharted terrain of uncertainty could play a pivotal role in the success of the firm. Calling into question traditional constructs affiliated with power and trust, this book will advance the greater discussion by integrating spirituality, case studies, and leadership principles to measure the culture to cultivate boardroom boldness.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. A King in Narcissistic Clothes
Abstract
This chapter explores the life of King David to illustrate that top leaders can become the inadvertent tools of organizational demise if they are not diligent. Specifically, a case is made to catch foxes in their infancy before they grow into a public leadership problem. This deliberation highlights a plausible blind spot of David’s that has not gained much academic attention and makes a case for the major foxes that all influencers need to monitor. Such a scholastic conversation unearths a model to help leaders proactively trap their respective foxes before they are elevated to higher responsibilities. Moreover, the chapter spotlights David’s specific decision point and argues that king-think can cause tremendous pain to both leader and led.
Maurice A. Buford
Chapter 2. Decoding the Silence
Abstract
This chapter provides an empirical answer to the question, “What keeps followers silent in the face of an unethical executive decision?” While exploring the dynamics of King David’s royal court, a case is made that there are two kinds of laws. This foundational discussion sets the stage to explore the silence factor of historical experiments and develops a spiritual model to crack the code of indifference. Moreover, the scriptures are analyzed to understand how followers can rely on their faith to find the boldness to engage in the face of fear. The thoughts of an exemplar of courage are also unearthed to provide practical antidotes for fear. This chapter also makes a case that courage can be displayed at tactical, operational and strategic levels.
Maurice A. Buford
Chapter 3. You Have the Right to Remain Silent. Or Do You?
Abstract
This chapter introduces the reader to a new concept, ethical pause, which points toward questions involving the people, the process, and the policy affiliated with a directive. When an ethical pause is bypassed, moral injury typically ensues. Additionally, the first boardroom language is introduced to the reader as the spotlight is placed on King David’s top military adviser. The discussion around Joab invites the reader to consider a unique perspective that could confront followers in the twenty-first century. Historical case studies are meticulously presented to the reader for the purpose of understanding possible consequences affiliated with speaking the first boardroom language. Finally, the reader is exposed to the traits of heroic courage and challenged with introspective questions.
Maurice A. Buford
Chapter 4. Faithful Are the Wounds of a Friend
Abstract
This chapter familiarizes the reader with the actions and personality traits of the Prophet Gad as a template for how a follower can effectively speak truth to power. It also explores the preferred communication styles of various leaders—which is critical to the process if the follower wants the message to be heard—and the four essential elements that give the articulator of truth a competitive edge. Complementary historical cases help to understand how a coalition within an entity can magnify the message of truth. To move from theory to practice, the reader is placed in the boardroom of a company on the brink of a flawed executive decision.
Maurice A. Buford
Chapter 5. A Prescription for Organizational Dis-eases
Abstract
This chapter places the attention of the reader on the mayhem generated by king-think, which in turn outlines the top organizational dis-eases that often run amuck in an organization. While organizational citizens observe the pandemonium, three feasible responses are delineated. This third component of the boardroom boldness model is then aligned with the theory of nonviolent actions to mitigate wrong. Historical data is presented for the reader to understand the power of the pen, e-pen and legal pen. By drawing upon the military theory of Clausewitz’s trinity, an empirical case is made to appeal to the consciousness of we the people to correct actions. The chapter concludes by upholding a historical model to help transform the twenty-first-century workforce.
Maurice A. Buford
Chapter 6. Walking Away to Win the Day
Abstract
This chapter describes the fourth element of the boardroom boldness model as theological, psychological, and philosophical arguments are outlined to understand the nobility of walking away, to save the day. It also discusses whether the concept of leadership remorsefulness is a variable in the theory of stepping down. It invokes historical and current cases to explore the concepts of resisting until being fired, retiring, and resigning. The chapter is undergirded with a theory of ethics and courage that springs from biblical truth and concludes with scenarios designed to challenge the reader to think more critically.
Maurice A. Buford
Chapter 7. If It Is to Be, It Is Left Up to We: The People, by People, and for the People
Abstract
This chapter makes a case for the fifth boardroom boldness model. While synthesizing the best components of the other boardroom languages, the reader’s attention is placed on two biblical narratives. An exegesis of such passages unearths a model for followers around the twenty-first-century boardroom to step it up. Additionally, a case is made for influencers to embrace reflective leadership. Ironically, this style of leading is perhaps the very thing that caused God to call David a man after God’s heart (I Sam 13:14) before king-think. Historical cases and current campaigns are employed to help the reader understand the organizational imperatives for transformation.
Maurice A. Buford
Chapter 8. Measuring Your Organization’s Boardroom Language
Abstract
This chapter endeavors to answer the question, “Can a reliable and valid instrument be developed from concepts outlined in the boardroom boldness model?” By invoking the eight-step guidance of Robert Devellis and soliciting a sampling size of 256, eight sub-scales were produced. Each sub-scale registered an acceptable Cronbach’s alpha and thus provided an affirmative answer to the research question. The utilization of such sub-scales can help organizations make better empirical choices, better manage the ethical health of their cultures, and help to cultivate a climate of bold followership.
Maurice A. Buford
Chapter 9. The Anatomy of Bold Followership
Abstract
This chapter offers practical insights on how to operationalize the theories outlined in the book. It begins by describing the four forms of boldness that every follower will need to confront as they serve. In a similar vein, the eight biblical temperaments of a truth-teller are discussed. Such a dialog will empower the reader with five real-world ways to engage a toxic organization. The chapter concludes by offering the reader an opportunity to understand their own boardroom boldness language and a plausible answer is given to the research question of the book.
Maurice A. Buford
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
Bold Followership
Author
Maurice A. Buford
Copyright Year
2018
Electronic ISBN
978-3-319-74530-5
Print ISBN
978-3-319-74529-9
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74530-5