On Followership

We can agree that improving leadership will improve results; that is why it is important to study leadership.  “The flip side of leadership is followership.  It stands to reason that if leadership is important to performance, followership must have something to do with it too” (McCallum, 2013, para. 2).  Frankly leaders cannot lead without followers; they need each other.  But the comparative lack of study in this area points to the over emphasis of leadership I talked about in my first post.

The degree to which followers execute tasks, demonstrate independence, understand how they fit in the organization, and support the leader and the organization is critical to success.  Some jobs require better followers, some do not.  But all can benefit.  Helping followers become better is a key ingredient to growing future leaders.  It may be apocryphal, but there is the story of the NASA janitor that President Kennedy approached and asked, “What is it you do here at NASA?”  He replied, “I am helping send a man to the moon, sir.”  Now that is an excellent follower!  For leaders to encourage independence for Team Leadership and Self-Leadership, they have to trust their followers.  Demonstrating that level of commitment facilitates trust.  So here are some tips on Followership:

Qualities of good followers and why they are important:

• Intelligent & competent in their roles: allows leader to not worry about their ability.

• Committed to the organization and mission: allows leader to trust their motives.

• Willing to speak their minds, not afraid to bring bad news: allows leader to address problems early (this comes from their commitment to mission).

• Will be on board with decision once they are made: commitment and trust.

Ways to cultivate good followers:

• Training as needed.

• Get to know them personally to support them in their goals.

• Use all the development resources that HR has.

• Include team in decision processes, solicit their advice.

• Give them opportunities to share leadership.

Ways to cultivate your effectiveness as a follower:

• The single biggest thing is to immerse yourself into the professional learning and tenets of the company/industry.

• Seek mentors who know the organization & can help navigate the politics.

• Maintain your ethics and those of the organization.

• Support your leader and colleagues.

• Be up front about personal motivations so colleagues and leader can trust you.