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Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For: A Guide for New Leaders
Becoming a leader for the first time is one of the biggest and most stressful psychological and emotional shifts you will ever experience. You're suddenly given an important job that has almost nothing in common with what you've been trained to do. It's as though, at the age of sixteen, your parents said “You ride a bike so well you might as well take the car” and handed you the keys. Cool, but what now?
William Gentry feels your pain. He was happy as a senior research scientist at the Center for Creative Leadership—and then he was promoted to his first leadership role. So this book doesn't just draw on his years of studying and training new leaders—it's personal. And his singular insight? New leaders must flip their scripts.
We all have scripts that tell us how things are supposed to be. As a worker, your script is all about “me”: your individual contribution. But when you become a boss, you must focus on your group: flip that script from “me” to “we.” This means flipping pretty much everything else—your mindset, your skillset, your work relationships, your “do it all” attitude, your view of the organization, and more.
Gentry walks you through each of six flips, offering practical, research-based advice and examples drawn from his work at CCL. But this book is more than a series of best practices—it's your guide to internalizing a leader's perspective. Gentry helps you flip your script so you'll know what to do to help yourself and the team you lead succeed. That's the kind of boss everyone wants to work for—and the kind of boss who accomplishes the most.
William Gentry feels your pain. He was happy as a senior research scientist at the Center for Creative Leadership—and then he was promoted to his first leadership role. So this book doesn't just draw on his years of studying and training new leaders—it's personal. And his singular insight? New leaders must flip their scripts.
We all have scripts that tell us how things are supposed to be. As a worker, your script is all about “me”: your individual contribution. But when you become a boss, you must focus on your group: flip that script from “me” to “we.” This means flipping pretty much everything else—your mindset, your skillset, your work relationships, your “do it all” attitude, your view of the organization, and more.
Gentry walks you through each of six flips, offering practical, research-based advice and examples drawn from his work at CCL. But this book is more than a series of best practices—it's your guide to internalizing a leader's perspective. Gentry helps you flip your script so you'll know what to do to help yourself and the team you lead succeed. That's the kind of boss everyone wants to work for—and the kind of boss who accomplishes the most.
216 pages, Paperback
Published August 29, 2016
227 people are currently reading
2630 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
May 26, 2017
Be the Boss Everyone wants to work for, should have been called 'Flip your Script. Waking up the new leader within.' I didn't learn more than I already knew about leadership and I didn't see a supporting case for 'being the boss everyone wants to work for'. They did however provide guidelines for recreating the leader you are now using awareness and reverse ism of your current tactics. Could have been a lot shorter. I didn't love it.
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July 7, 2019Full of great advice but the title of the book was repeated easily 500 times in this book.
December 20, 2017
I read quite a bit. Definitely a good thing, but it comes with a downside. I'm always at an experience deficit. By that I mean I always have ideas and theories that have never been road tested. I'm more book smart than street wise. It's inevitable because I'm always taking in more information than I can possibly validate. Case in point, Gentry's thesis is that the successful manager needs to be more concerned with her team than she is with herself. "Flip the script from 'me' to 'we'". I might have told you the same thing before reading Be the Boss. But even as I read, I realized I'm still operating in that old "star performer" paradigm. Gentry has thrown a bucket of cold water on me.
Be the Boss is a great book. It's a necessary book, and I recommend it to all managers, especially new ones. The key advice that the good manager focuses her energy on building her team is transformational. It's one of those obvious things that managers have to be constantly reminded. Daily tasks have a gravitational pull, and they pull us right out of alignment. I'll refer to this often.
Notes:
(1) Flip the script from "me" to "we"
(2) The biggest thing you can do to change your mindset is to change your mind chatter (43)
(3) Self-talk with the you" pronoun (47)
(4) The four primary leadership skills are communication, influence, leading team achievement, and developing others (54)
(5) Platinum rule (63)
(6) Platinum rule of motivation. Motivate others how they want to be motivated (90)
(7) FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF MOTIVATION, According to Edward Deci and Richard Ryan1 and their self-determination theory, there are four types of motivation (a). External-driven by external rewards (like money or pro-motions) or the threat of punishment (like not wanting a demotion or not being fired). (b) Introjected-driven by a desire to maintain a personal sense of self-worth and avoidance of guilt or anxiety because of failing to do something that "should" have been done. (c) Identified-driven by work that allows a person to fulfill values and goals that are personally important or may help address an important problem (like improving the environment) (d) Intrinsic-driven by a person's own innate interests, doing something because it is enjoyable or fascinating. As a new leader, it's your responsibility to know these four motivations and understand which one (or ones) primarily motivate each of the people you lead and serve. (91)
(8) flip Your "Do-lI-All" Attude 107, Success is no longer defined by all the things "T" can do. Now, success as a new leader is defined by all the things your direct reports, staff, and team can accomplish. And for them to accomplish great things, you need to Hip your script: support them, give them goals to accomplish, and regularly tell them whether they are on the right track and performing well
or not. (107)
1. Build the reputation of the people you are developing by bragging about them.
2. Help others develop their skill sets
3. Protect others from the things they don't need to know
4. Give them interesting, challenging assignments
(10) Specific, difficult, but attainable goals (109)
(11) Politics: remove uncertainty and bring transparency, Clarity, and a shared meaning to those you work with, so everyone knows what to expect (125)
(12) Understand yourself and the environment around you, use that knowledge to be flexible and versatile enough to obtain goals that benefit you and others, acting a sincere and authentic way (125)
(13) Do the right thing, not the easy thing (141)
Be the Boss is a great book. It's a necessary book, and I recommend it to all managers, especially new ones. The key advice that the good manager focuses her energy on building her team is transformational. It's one of those obvious things that managers have to be constantly reminded. Daily tasks have a gravitational pull, and they pull us right out of alignment. I'll refer to this often.
Notes:
(1) Flip the script from "me" to "we"
(2) The biggest thing you can do to change your mindset is to change your mind chatter (43)
(3) Self-talk with the you" pronoun (47)
(4) The four primary leadership skills are communication, influence, leading team achievement, and developing others (54)
(5) Platinum rule (63)
(6) Platinum rule of motivation. Motivate others how they want to be motivated (90)
(7) FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF MOTIVATION, According to Edward Deci and Richard Ryan1 and their self-determination theory, there are four types of motivation (a). External-driven by external rewards (like money or pro-motions) or the threat of punishment (like not wanting a demotion or not being fired). (b) Introjected-driven by a desire to maintain a personal sense of self-worth and avoidance of guilt or anxiety because of failing to do something that "should" have been done. (c) Identified-driven by work that allows a person to fulfill values and goals that are personally important or may help address an important problem (like improving the environment) (d) Intrinsic-driven by a person's own innate interests, doing something because it is enjoyable or fascinating. As a new leader, it's your responsibility to know these four motivations and understand which one (or ones) primarily motivate each of the people you lead and serve. (91)
(8) flip Your "Do-lI-All" Attude 107, Success is no longer defined by all the things "T" can do. Now, success as a new leader is defined by all the things your direct reports, staff, and team can accomplish. And for them to accomplish great things, you need to Hip your script: support them, give them goals to accomplish, and regularly tell them whether they are on the right track and performing well
or not. (107)
1. Build the reputation of the people you are developing by bragging about them.
2. Help others develop their skill sets
3. Protect others from the things they don't need to know
4. Give them interesting, challenging assignments
(10) Specific, difficult, but attainable goals (109)
(11) Politics: remove uncertainty and bring transparency, Clarity, and a shared meaning to those you work with, so everyone knows what to expect (125)
(12) Understand yourself and the environment around you, use that knowledge to be flexible and versatile enough to obtain goals that benefit you and others, acting a sincere and authentic way (125)
(13) Do the right thing, not the easy thing (141)
February 12, 2021
Had high hopes for this one since it came with Brené Brown's recommendation. Sat down all excited, pen and sticky tabs in hand, and didn't mark a single thing until page 82. The useful information can be distilled to about 20 pages in the last third of the book...the rest is essentially the same piece of advice repeated ad nauseam: "flip your script," by which Gentry means stop approaching your work with your own success and advancement as your primary goal, and approach your work instead with the success and advancement of your team as your primary goal. I'd have thought that was an obvious mindset shift when taking on a managerial or leadership role, something that could be said once in the introduction and assumed to be understood from that point forward, but apparently for Gentry it is a revelation that requires 80+ pages of dead-horse-beating. The aforementioned useful bits deal with how to approach office/corporate politics (the most useful info in the book by far), different ways people are motivated (nothing in-depth, here, mainly surface-level references to other people's research), and the character traits that correlate with successful leadership at various levels of an organization (nothing in-depth on this, either). The end talks about making sure your direct reports feel valued by the organization (read: by you) and feel like their work matters, which is nice. Overall, though, not worth the read.
September 12, 2020
While this particular example of business self-help did not manage to win me over completely, it did get somewhat better as it went along. Among its problems are redundancy, over-stating the obvious, and reliance on jargon that obfuscates, rather than elucidates, its subject. In other words, par for the course for any book on “management.”
In the last couple of chapters, however, things pick up a bit. The author still tries to stick to the rather over-strained metaphor of “flipping your script” (an unhelpful concept if there ever was one), but he manages to rise above it a bit by giving new insights into office politics and ethical leadership. I’d like to recommend to him, and anyone reading this, that he jettison his old definition of politics and use the one I’ve always lived by: politics is the art of getting along with other people. Knowing this will get you much further in terms of both political savvy and ethical behavior than any amount of “script flipping.”
In the last couple of chapters, however, things pick up a bit. The author still tries to stick to the rather over-strained metaphor of “flipping your script” (an unhelpful concept if there ever was one), but he manages to rise above it a bit by giving new insights into office politics and ethical leadership. I’d like to recommend to him, and anyone reading this, that he jettison his old definition of politics and use the one I’ve always lived by: politics is the art of getting along with other people. Knowing this will get you much further in terms of both political savvy and ethical behavior than any amount of “script flipping.”
June 11, 2023
I related to this book within the first page. I feel like William Gentry gets it. It also helps that he puts a lot of humor into it! The book seemed a little repetitive though but I understand. I like that it was outlined in an organized way and the repetition had a point to drill home the aspects. I think I have been looking for a fix all, tell-me-what- to -do thing and these kinds of books aren’t going to magically help me just with a short read.
Overall, it was helpful in shifting my mindset. The book gives key examples, suggestions for practice, and resources for tools.
Overall, it was helpful in shifting my mindset. The book gives key examples, suggestions for practice, and resources for tools.
October 21, 2022
A guide to newly promoted bosses. It's a blog article elongated into somewhat repetitive business book.
"Flip the script" of "me" usually working as an "Individual Contributor" to "we" more in line to a boss. Flip you attitude from do-it-all to delegation. Try to understand your team and approach them individually, but also communicate with everyone at the same time for the alignment. Everybody should understand what is going on and in what direction we're moving. Don't wait for greate bosses to lead your organization, develop them already in your team.
"Flip the script" of "me" usually working as an "Individual Contributor" to "we" more in line to a boss. Flip you attitude from do-it-all to delegation. Try to understand your team and approach them individually, but also communicate with everyone at the same time for the alignment. Everybody should understand what is going on and in what direction we're moving. Don't wait for greate bosses to lead your organization, develop them already in your team.
June 17, 2024
Audiobook. This was written for people who lack natural empathy and leadership skills…
July 5, 2024
It was fine. Very repetitive. Could have been shorter. If I played a drinking game, and drank everytime "flipping your script" was mentioned, I would have died of alcohol poisoning.
March 29, 2020
Some of the core ideas resonated with me like switching from “me” to “we” and communicating with others the way they prefer.
But the writing was repetitive and he used his favorite phrase, “Flip your script” so frequently that it became grating.
But the writing was repetitive and he used his favorite phrase, “Flip your script” so frequently that it became grating.
September 1, 2023
I was gifted this book by the people who paid a year of my college tuition, so I felt obligated to read it. The writing was not good, but it did motivate me to work harder in school so I can make it in academia and avoid corporate culture because that shit sounds awful
October 8, 2019
A simple, solid, and great book. I gained lots of practical advise I was able to immediately apply to my role as a leader.
August 8, 2021
I think it was quite repetitive and likely could have been less than 100 pages or a 30minute podcast. The overall information was good though.
May 20, 2019
The writing style made it difficult to get through. I think the author was trying to sound "hip" and relatable but just came across as a dork. It was also very repetitive which makes me wonder what happened to the editor.
The content is nothing new or revolutionary. He used his own research as a basis for several points but did not dwell or expand on that data very much; if he had, it would have been more unique (there are so many management books out there, so you have to ask - What sets this one apart? What makes it special? Why should I spend my time with this one and not others? And honestly, those are questions a good editor would have asked, if he'd had one.) Instead, it's nothing more than age-old advice on how to be a leader, just within the context of a white collar business environment. It would have been better as a blog article or a TED Talk, not a 200 page book.
The content is nothing new or revolutionary. He used his own research as a basis for several points but did not dwell or expand on that data very much; if he had, it would have been more unique (there are so many management books out there, so you have to ask - What sets this one apart? What makes it special? Why should I spend my time with this one and not others? And honestly, those are questions a good editor would have asked, if he'd had one.) Instead, it's nothing more than age-old advice on how to be a leader, just within the context of a white collar business environment. It would have been better as a blog article or a TED Talk, not a 200 page book.
March 24, 2018
A bit repetitive and the phrases "flip your script " and "flip your focus" are visible through my eyelids when I blink. That said some good insights around transitioning into formal leadership are offered, and I appreciated the data driven approach to determining what matters most in leadership.
December 4, 2019
It is always interesting to read views on leadership skills, not just because one may be in a leadership position but because it helps to think like a manager, think in other's shoes and most importantly empathise. Whether one holds a position that is called a boss, it is important to learn the important skills that make one an influencer, leader and thereby arrive at a win-win solution - be part of the solution rather than the problem.
The book summarises the thoughts and teachings in 8 sections
1. Flip your script
Understand who you are, what is expected out of you in your new role
2. Flip your mindset.
From learning for self, it becomes learning for others- how to win and learn together
3. Flip your skill set.
How can one get away from their comfort zone of skills being put to use to take a step back and employ the skills of the team
4. Flip your relationships.
How to transition from being a peer to a boss and gently transition the team is the biggest challenge
5. Flip your “do-it-all” attitude.
Stop being a control-freak, let it go, delegate and let the others nurture their skills
6. Flip your perspective.
Develop new perspective and broaden the approach
7. Flip your focus.
Think about every action, every word, every decision - everything will be analysed, evaluated and perhaps emulated.
8. And in summary, stick with your flipped spirit
The book is interesting, nothing new but puts things in perspective, so one does things mindfully ones they transition to a new leadership role or to a leadership situation. A little repetitive though
The book summarises the thoughts and teachings in 8 sections
1. Flip your script
Understand who you are, what is expected out of you in your new role
2. Flip your mindset.
From learning for self, it becomes learning for others- how to win and learn together
3. Flip your skill set.
How can one get away from their comfort zone of skills being put to use to take a step back and employ the skills of the team
4. Flip your relationships.
How to transition from being a peer to a boss and gently transition the team is the biggest challenge
5. Flip your “do-it-all” attitude.
Stop being a control-freak, let it go, delegate and let the others nurture their skills
6. Flip your perspective.
Develop new perspective and broaden the approach
7. Flip your focus.
Think about every action, every word, every decision - everything will be analysed, evaluated and perhaps emulated.
8. And in summary, stick with your flipped spirit
The book is interesting, nothing new but puts things in perspective, so one does things mindfully ones they transition to a new leadership role or to a leadership situation. A little repetitive though
September 27, 2021
I picked up this book because it was recommended. The central idea of this book is that to transform from successful individual contributor to manager, you need to let go of the thoughts and actions that led to your promotion. This switch can be characterized as "from me to we". Andy Grove emphasizes this in High Output Management and this book is entirely devoted to it.
Gentry splits the book into six things that you need to change: mindset, skills, relationships, do-it-all attitude, perspective, and focus.
While the book spoke mostly of things I was aware of, there were a few ideas that I found helpful. I liked the framework of focusing on direction, alignment, and commitment (DAC) on page 89. I appreciated the distinction of four types of motivation, which is a helpful reminder when thinking how you speak to your team, on page 91. I loved the short sentence on "wise feedback" on page 112: "I'm giving you these comments because I have very high expectations, and I know that you can reach them."
Gentry splits the book into six things that you need to change: mindset, skills, relationships, do-it-all attitude, perspective, and focus.
While the book spoke mostly of things I was aware of, there were a few ideas that I found helpful. I liked the framework of focusing on direction, alignment, and commitment (DAC) on page 89. I appreciated the distinction of four types of motivation, which is a helpful reminder when thinking how you speak to your team, on page 91. I loved the short sentence on "wise feedback" on page 112: "I'm giving you these comments because I have very high expectations, and I know that you can reach them."
July 30, 2023
3.5⭐️. While I’m not a manager yet, this book provided valuable insight into things I will need to be aware of and implement when moving into a leadership role. There were also valuable tips on how to navigate “flipping your script”, however, I felt like the book was a little light on actionable steps and how to actually accomplish it.
I suppose I always knew that the things that make me an excellent individual contributor that will eventually lead to being promoted into a manager role will not help me much when it comes to being a good manager to my future direct reports. This book called out the most important things that will need to change and made me cognizant of them, which means that I can start working on them now - Mindset, Skillset, Relationships, “Do-It-All” Attitude (this one especially resonated with me), Perspective, and Focus
I gives me hope that the author, who has a Ph.D in leadership, researches leadership, and trains leaders, actually kind of sucked as a leader when he first started out.
I suppose I always knew that the things that make me an excellent individual contributor that will eventually lead to being promoted into a manager role will not help me much when it comes to being a good manager to my future direct reports. This book called out the most important things that will need to change and made me cognizant of them, which means that I can start working on them now - Mindset, Skillset, Relationships, “Do-It-All” Attitude (this one especially resonated with me), Perspective, and Focus
I gives me hope that the author, who has a Ph.D in leadership, researches leadership, and trains leaders, actually kind of sucked as a leader when he first started out.
January 2, 2021
This is a good book as an induction into a leadership position, outlining how you will need to shift your thinking to become a good leader. The idea of "flip the script" is made tangible through explanations, analysis and examples. There are questions at the end of each chapter to help you apply the ideas in that chapter to your own practice.
Leadership roles differ greatly across different industries and environments, so it's hard to write a book that would apply to any leadership position. You do have to sort through the ideas in the book and take the ones that would apply to you and skim over others that are less relevant. Nevertheless, the mindset of leadership being less about YOU and more about serving those in your team is a key ingredient in effective leadership.
Leadership roles differ greatly across different industries and environments, so it's hard to write a book that would apply to any leadership position. You do have to sort through the ideas in the book and take the ones that would apply to you and skim over others that are less relevant. Nevertheless, the mindset of leadership being less about YOU and more about serving those in your team is a key ingredient in effective leadership.
February 25, 2022
An excellent book for new managers or those who need some refreshing or reminders of the basics. I love the 'flip your script' theme and that the flips are broken down into six subject matters. This will be a great companion to the online training available on the Center for Creative Leadership website. We plan on putting all our library branch managers through this training. I have been a manager for most of my entire working career and I can say that this book has all the main components of becoming a people centered leader. I particularly liked the author's own experience with journal entries during the time he was promoted to being a new manager. This book is not just theoretical or academic theories. It is practical knowledge that anyone can use to become a better leader.
December 20, 2024
Good book!
The last few chapters really resonated me the most. It talks about politics in the work environment and how to navigate it as a new leader in your workplace. Lots of repetitiveness of the same kind of message in the book, but I think it was needed to drive some points home.
I’d recommend for new leaders in the workplace who want to excel not just within their own teams they manage but how they can work with their colleagues too. The main point I took away is that work only works when we let go of trying to be the best individual contributor (the me, me, me mindset) and focus on the “we” mindset!
The last few chapters really resonated me the most. It talks about politics in the work environment and how to navigate it as a new leader in your workplace. Lots of repetitiveness of the same kind of message in the book, but I think it was needed to drive some points home.
I’d recommend for new leaders in the workplace who want to excel not just within their own teams they manage but how they can work with their colleagues too. The main point I took away is that work only works when we let go of trying to be the best individual contributor (the me, me, me mindset) and focus on the “we” mindset!
May 21, 2023
This book contains good information, but if I have to read "flip your" one more time in my life, my head may explode. This is a repetitive phrase appears multiple times on what seemed like every page throughout the book.
This could have been condensed into a much shorter book. The author stretched his data to make the book longer.
Tl;Dr Good information with phrases repeated to an extreme. A summary of this book would suffice...
This could have been condensed into a much shorter book. The author stretched his data to make the book longer.
Tl;Dr Good information with phrases repeated to an extreme. A summary of this book would suffice...
May 21, 2024
Pretty decent book I guess. It's another review for me how to be a better human being. The old stuff mindset, building connection, integrity, and emotional intelligence stuff (being politically savvy is one of the traits people with high EQ I guess).
One of the surprising things is take the spotlight from you once you become a manager. Let the members of team you lead shine instead of you. Hope more leaders are like that. Anyway, a good book to kill time.
One of the surprising things is take the spotlight from you once you become a manager. Let the members of team you lead shine instead of you. Hope more leaders are like that. Anyway, a good book to kill time.
July 13, 2025
This book is nothing special or groundbreaking, but it does provide some useful, practical tips for team leaders & managers. What the book does best is reinforce the need for continuous self reflection and awareness when embarking on a new leadership journey. That being said, I feel like everything could have been summarised in one set of simple bullet points. Also, if I hear someone say “flip your [blank]” again, I’m going to flip.
September 30, 2018
The actual message was good, but could have been condensed into a couple really good blogs/articles.
Also - if they had an editor - the editor should be tar and feathered. There is absolutely NO REASON why the phrase “flip your script” was needed 7,369 times in a book that is less than 200 pages. It was painful!
Also - if they had an editor - the editor should be tar and feathered. There is absolutely NO REASON why the phrase “flip your script” was needed 7,369 times in a book that is less than 200 pages. It was painful!
February 18, 2020
Being in a new leadership role, this book was easy to read/listen to and get some good guidance and advice. Their advice is research-based and I liked the personal examples the author threw in as well. You only get one chance at a first impression, so arming yourself with some good practices and knowledge is key. I'm sure I will reference this book again as my career develops and issues arise.
May 8, 2020
This book was excellent! I wish I had read this book years ago! Should be required reading for everyone stepping from a position on a team into a new role leading others. It does a great job of helping you to “flip your script” of how you think about how to do things differently now that your responsibility is for others and not just about taking care of yourself. Highly recommend.
June 4, 2020
This is a helpful resource to skim if you've never managed direct reports before. It also does provide citations for good research.
But the format of the book is not engaging. I read the first few chapters and grew frustrated at the stories attempting to illustrate the point. 33% of the content could be eliminated and it would strengthen the book, in my opinion.
But the format of the book is not engaging. I read the first few chapters and grew frustrated at the stories attempting to illustrate the point. 33% of the content could be eliminated and it would strengthen the book, in my opinion.
January 6, 2021
This was a super quick and easy read that had a lot of great info. I’ve seen reviews that talk about the countless mentions of “flip your script” and it is repeated a lot throughout the book. Overall, I think this book contains a lot of practical advice with actionable steps. I think it’s cool that there is a companion website with more resources.
May 30, 2023
This book had small bits of good advice surrounded by fluff and WAAAAY too many uses of the word "flip". If you have never had any sort of responsibilities around people, it could be useful. I, however learned most of this at church and work already. Worth a read, but not worth buying, and I probably won't read it again.
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