We Learn To Follow Today. For Tomorrow, We May Lead.
My Inspiration
"Doing The Chores," tells a story about learning the basics for building a strong work ethic from influential leaders in my life - my grandparents. I call these fundamentals "smart followership skills” in honor of my grandpa. When he handed us a chore, he'd end with the phrase “... and be smart about it.” What he meant by this was for us to focus on doing the chore accurately, timely, and safely. My book’s lessons serve as a solid foundation for getting recognized, rewarded, and considered for an advanced role or greater job responsibilities.
Farmers and Farmhands
"Doing The Chores," explores the dynamic relationship between the farmers and the farmhands on the farm, including us grandkids who initially worked in a support (follower) role. However, our goal was to discover our ambition to manage, lead, and collaborate. Throughout the book, I stress the importance of both leadership and followership roles in achieving a successful harvest. Our grandparents, Virgil and Clarissa Franz, had vital leadership and management skills for making important decisions, while our hard work as farmhands was essential for daily operations. Ultimately, our experience on the farm provided us with a solid foundation to pursue our desired career success.
Why Read The Book: Doing The Chores?
What is the Purpose?
What is the Purpose?
What is the Purpose?
- Utilize as a professional development tool to train, mentor, and engage both yourself and your staff.
- Illustrate how influential leaders (farmers) along with talented workers (farmhands) achieve success.
- Highlight ways to maintain work-life integration while celebrating life.
- Demonstrate how "smart" followership skills create the groundwork for achieving advanced roles and responsibilities.
What is the Process?
What is the Purpose?
What is the Purpose?
- Read to gain insightful leadership practices from seasoned farmers.
- Relate a fundamental job competency taught from a chore’s lesson to your job.
- Answer coaching questions at the end of each chapter to reveal strengths to capitalize on and performance areas for development.
- Complete the individual and group study guides to enhance your "entertraining" experience and team engagement.
What is the Payoff?
What is the Purpose?
What is the Payoff?
- Recognize your ambition to lead and that leadership and followership are complementary roles, not competing.
- Acknowledge the essential importance of “smart” followership skills and value the efforts of “smart followers."
- Recognize ways to earn trust, respect, and appreciation for your efforts.
- Assume personal responsibility for making your life and career more rewarding and enjoyable.
Table of Contents
- Foreword.
- Creating the Groundwork for Success: Smart Followership Skills.
- Chapter 1. Demonstrating Responsibility: Doing the Chores.
- Chapter 2. Working Well with Others: Sorting the Cattle.
- Chapter 3. Organizing Effectively: Planting the Crops.
- Chapter 4. Paying Attention to Details: Hoeing the Weeds.
- Chapter 5. Developing Self and Others: Driving the Tractor.
- Chapter 6. Dealing with Conflict: Baling Straw.
- Chapter 7. Acting with Integrity and Trust: Bedding the Cattle.
- Chapter 8. Controlling Persuasion: Climbing the Silo.
- Chapter 9. Taking Initiative: Gathering Ears of Corn.
- Chapter 10. Celebrating Life: Having a Polka Party!
- Chapter 11. Showing Ambition to Lead: Detasseling Corn.
- Creating Great Memories: Taking the Harvest to Market.
- Acknowledgements.
- About the Author: David Elser.