Picture the typical corporate leader. For decades, we’ve been conditioned to imagine someone armoured in authority, maintaining absolute control, and leaving their humanity at the office door. We were taught that success required a "my way or the highway" mentality, to put our heads down, mask our emotions, and simply follow the leader. 

But today, that heavy armour is cracking. With global employee disengagement quietly draining $10 trillion in lost productivity from the economy (Gallup State of the Global Workplace: 2024 Report) and burnout becoming an unspoken epidemic, it’s painfully clear that the old playbook isn't just outdated; it’s actively breaking the people it’s meant to guide. We don't need another management tactic; we need a deeply human reset.

Enter Reem Borrows

The founder of Dreem Coaching and Consulting and a veteran of senior leadership across the pharmaceutical and corporate sectors, and her work in non-profit as well as the government sectors in the past few years, Borrows has released her highly anticipated book, Unfollow the Leader: Why the Old Rules Are Failing Us, and What Real Leadership Looks Like Now. This isn't just another management manual designed to sit unread on an executive's desk. It is a fundamental challenge to the defensive "Executive Persona" and a highly actionable roadmap for leaders who are tired of being "seekers" of external validation and are ready to become the "source" of real transformation.

Here is an inside look at the key themes of the book and why it is a mandatory addition to the library of anyone serious about the future of leadership.

The Pandemic Behind the Pandemic

Borrows opens the book with a sobering reality check. Drawing on Gallup’s 2024 research, she identifies "disconnection" as the true crisis facing modern organisations. When 77% of the global workforce is "quietly quitting" or actively disengaged, Borrows argues that leaders must stop managing tasks and start cultivating meaning.

"To deny your values is to become a shell, trapped in a surface-level existence," Borrows writes. 

She illustrates this human cost through a heart-wrenching story of a family separated for 744 days by conflict, reminding us that the "extraordinary" is found in the ordinary act of human connection, something many boardrooms have traded for cold metrics.

The HHH Framework: A Holistic Trinity

At the heart of the book is the Health, Head, and Heart (HHH) Framework. Borrows argues that "partial leadership", focusing on strategy (the Head) without empathy (the Heart) or personal vitality (Health), is the primary cause of executive burnout and toxic cultures.

• Health: Moving beyond vanity to prioritise "Executive Vitality" and resilience.
• Head: Shifting from a defensive, ego-driven "mask" to a purpose-driven mindset that prioritises the mission over being "the smartest person in the room."
• Heart: Leading with emotional fluency and the courage to choose kindness over the ego-driven need to be "right."
   

From Chaos to the "Cyclone’s Eye"

One of the most compelling metaphors in the book stems from Borrows’ teenage years in Darwin. She describes the "eye of the cyclone", a 60km circumference of absolute peace in the middle of a devastating storm.

In the corporate world, this translates to the S.T.O.P. Roadmap (Strategic, Tactical, Operational Priorities). While most leaders are caught in the "firefighting" of the outer storm, Unfollow the Leader provides a structured rhythm to help them stay grounded in the centre. 

Through the S.T.O.P. model, Borrows teaches leaders how to manage activities rather than time, ensuring that every action is intentional and aligned with a "C-Type" (audacious) goal.

Lessons from the Trenches

What separates this book from academic leadership texts is its vulnerability. Borrows shares "lessons from the trenches" from her terrifying experience of surrendering to the current in an underwater cave to the profound resilience of Muhammad, a young boy in Nazareth who refused to see himself as a victim.

These stories serve as a mirror for the reader, challenging them to audit their own "Internal House" using her 3 R’s framework: Repair, Renovate, or Replace.

Why Unfollow The Leader is a "Must-Read" for 2026

The business landscape is changing too fast for "instruction-based" leadership. We need "presence-based" leadership.

One early reader, a senior manager, said, “I didn’t want the book to end. It made me reflect deeply on myself. Every leader, whether emerging, established, or simply wanting more from life, needs a copy of this book.” He added that he wished he had it earlier in his career and still found it incredibly insightful.

Unfollow the Leader is essential reading for new managers looking for their footing and seasoned CEOs looking to leave a lasting legacy. It provides the tools, including the GROW Coaching Model and the Insights Discovery lenses from Insights expert Gloria Rees, to build high-performing, heart-led teams that don't just hit targets, but build a culture worth following.

Are you ready to shed the mask and lead with conviction?

Unfollow the Leader is now available. Get the full blueprint for modern leadership and join a community of leaders committed to humanity, clarity, and results.

Order Your Copy of Unfollow the Leader Here

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