New managers who can't shift their focus from 'me' to 'we' are, statistically speaking, likely to fail, disappoint, or be labeled incompetent. Using the latest research, Gentry shows how any new boss can find success by supporting the success of others.


Becoming a manager is one of the most stressful and challenging transitions in any career. Why do half or more new managers quickly flame out? They're working from an old script for success. The Center for Creative Leadership Senior Research Scientist William Gentry shows them how to flip that script.

As an individual, your script is about 'me.' It calls for you to keep your head down, work hard, do everything you are told to do and more, and outshine and relentlessly outperform everyone. But when you become a manager, everything about your job needs to change-your skillset, the nature of your work relationships, your understanding of what 'work' is, how you see yourself and your organization. You have to operate from a brand new script, one that's about 'we'-ensuring collective success. But very few managers get any kind of training for this new role, and even fewer are given any clue as to just how fundamental and far-reaching this change is.

Filled with practical advice and lessons, and backed by extensive research by Gentry and others, this book lays out the art, science, and practice behind learning and leading as a first time manager. Through first-hand accounts, stories, and other examples drawn from the experiences of first-time managers-including Gentry's own story of recently become a first-time manager himself-the book's practical, actionable content helps readers flip the old script, and write and live their new script.