The case study guide for "Leaders Have Followers" or "Take Me To Your Leader" with Dr. Keith Grint of Saïd Business College and Templeton College a Oxford University, Oxford, England and Pam McNair, Ed Lee, Sohrab Vossoughi, Steve Hoffman and Don MacInnis as seen on Small Business School the series on PBS member stations.

The Case Study Guide

last update: March 2007

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face the truth about yourself

Solicit Honest Critiques

Leaders need followers who will tell the truth. "Constructive dissenters" is the term Dr. Grint used to describe the responsibility our employees have to keep us business owners on the straight and narrow. We don’t benefit from "yes men" in our organizations.

Topic for Discussion: How can you make sure your business has constructive dissenters?

Answer: Part of it is in the hiring decisions you make, part of it in the environment you create, and part of it is in you.

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Key Ideas of this episode


1.		Ask Who Is In Charge

2.		Think Beyond Yourself

3.		Try A Heterarchy

4.		Solicit Honest Critiques

5.		Learn To Negotiate

6.		Ask Before You Tell

7.		Check Arrogance At The Door

8.		Put Systems In Place

9.		Manage And Lead

Hire and retain employees who are committed to the business, not to your personally. Listen to them, engage them, recognize their value and act on their contributions.

Most importantly, be the kind of leader you see here on Small Business School. As Dr. Grint advises, let your employees constrain you. Not the other way around. We know he’s right when he points out that each of us is flawed. So if one person makes all the decisions, some of them will certainly be the wrong decisions. But if a strong organization fosters input and participation in the decision making process, the quality of the decisions will undoubtedly improve.

You think about it: You think about it: Do you have constructive dissenters or “yes men” working for you? What can you do to encourage dissent? What do you think you might learn? Does this idea frighten you?

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