Book Review: Follow this Path: How the World’s Greatest Organizations Drive Growth by Unleashing Human Potential

• Author: Audrey J. Jaeger,Jerrid P. Freeman
• Date: 01 September 2005
• DOI: 10.1177/0734371X04270718
• Published date: 01 September 2005
• Subject Matter: Articles

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REVIEW OF PUBLIC PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION / Sept. 2005
Coffman, Curt, Gonzalez-Molina, Gabriel, Miller, Jane, & Tucker, Kenneth A.
(2002). Follow this Path: How the World’s Greatest Organizations Drive Growth
by Unleashing Human Potential. New York: Warner Books, 284 pp.
DOI: 10.1177/0734371X04270718
Today’s forward-looking organizations and agencies strive to determine
which employee characteristics are of greatest value in enhancing organiza-
tional effectiveness and efficiency. Coffman, Gonzalez-Molina, Miller, and
Tucker believe that concentrating on human potential and the emotions of
employees will lead to enhanced organizational success. The authors focus
on helping organizations bring out the human potential of employees in the
workplace. This is consistent with the idea that “modern interest in human
potential can be traced most directly to the humanistic approach of such
figures as Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow in the 1950s” (Gale Encyclo-
pedia of Psychology, 1995). Rogers (1961) challenged the concept of classi-
cal psychology. He felt it was not about techniques and constructs but about
the person as an individual. Rogers believed that as people, we must listen to
others and look at ourselves critically if we are to develop as individuals.
Maslow’s (1954) hierarchy of needs is stil commonly taught in psychol-
ogy, business, education, and public administration classes. Maslow con-
tended that certain basic needs must be met before individuals can begin to
learn, grow, and fully understand, or self-actualize, themselves. Coffman
et al. bring the historical concepts developed by Maslow (1954) and Rogers
(1961) to those who currently work with and supervise people in organiza-
tions. The book subscribes to a positive and optimistic view of human
nature that can be enhanced in the workplace. This book, along with others
in the past decade, highlights the reemergence of human potential and its
direct correlation with efficient, successful,...