Following-Leading in Risk, A Supplement

We published our book Following-Leading in Risk, A Humanising Dynamic in 2014 (https://www.humandymensions.com/product/following-leading-risk/) amidst the turmoil in the world known as ‘The Arab Spring’ and ‘The Occupy Movement’. Both of these movements placed a focus on ‘leadership from below’ and were accompanied by other disturbances from below such as ‘Wikileaks’, Snowden, ‘Occupy Wall Street’ and what Negri (2005) might call The Politics of Subversion. Our book was not intended to be subversive as much as educative.

Both Craig and Rob came together in an educational context as colleagues in a school in 1990 and over the next 36 years became colleagues, fellow travellers, shared learners, disrupters, educators, academics and friends. We have taught in Universities together, travelled together, taught many courses and workshops and shared a vision for humanising the workplace, leadership and persons in work and risk.

In 2026 we decided to revisit our book and conducted a series of workshops on following-leading in risk in March 2026, that stirred us to develop this supplement. Much has happened in the 12 years since publishing the book together that have affected our story, enhanced and sharpened our thinking and, challenged us to add to the agenda of that first book.

So, this book assumes that one has read the first book, for free download here: https://www.humandymensions.com/product/following-leading-risk/ and picks up where we left off.

Our purpose is: to enhance and build on some discussion in the previous book, add more and different models to the ‘following-leading dynamic’, re-visit leadership discourse and trends, expand on key concepts and maintain the challenge to humanise risk in the workplace.

Since the last book, Craig completed his PhD at ANU where is currently a researcher and academic (https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/persons/craig-ashhurst/) in the Fenner School of Environment and Society. His PhD One Team Where Worlds Collide: The Development of Transcoherence for Tackling Wicked Problems (https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/items/7931fab2-5104-4752-9119-fdf9b25fa224) has also helped refocus this supplement and indeed, the way we re-present the ‘following-leading dynamic’.

Since the last book, Rob has become semi-retired in his work and has also joined the Global Humanistic University (https://www.ghu.edu.ai/) as a Professor, supervising post-graduate work.

We trust you enjoy this supplement.