Followers are the true leaders in society, for they set the example and lead by supporting others. At its core, effective leadership begins with followership.
Let’s explore why followership is the most important form of leadership to engage in and how embracing it can lead to greater success for us all.
Followership, in its simplest form, is the ability and willingness to support a leader in achieving a common goal. Followers are leaders supporting a leader. Followership involves active engagement, support, initiative, dependability and accountability.
Consider the story of NASA's Apollo missions. Astronauts like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are celebrated as heroes and leaders. The success of these missions depended on the thousands of dedicated followers. Scientists, engineers, and technicians, all working tirelessly behind the scenes as leaders too. Their followership was crucial to the historic moon landing.
Another example is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was a prominent American civil rights leader, best known for his leadership role in advancing civil rights through nonviolent activism. His success was supported by a vast network of individuals and organizations that played crucial followership roles in the Civil Rights Movement. These collective leadership efforts involved many dedicated individuals and groups, each contributing their unique strengths and resources to the cause of civil rights and social justice.
Over the past few decades, the concept of followership has gained recognition as an important area within the broader field of leadership. Understanding followership is essential for effective leadership development.
Scholar Robert E. Kelley has identified different types of followers based on their behaviors and attitudes towards leadership. He describes five main types of followers including Exemplary Followers, Conformist Followers, Passive Followers, Alienated Followers and Pragmatic Followers.
Conformist followers tend to adhere strictly to rules and norms. They prefer to avoid risks and conflicts, focusing on maintaining stability and order. Informally, they are referred to as ‘Yes people’.
Passive followers are typically low in energy and initiative. They may lack motivation or confidence to take independent action, often waiting for direction before acting. Informally, they are referred to as ‘Sheep’.
Alienated followers feel disillusioned or resentful. They may be critical and skeptical, often expressing dissent or dissatisfaction frequently offering criticism without constructive solutions.
Pragmatic followers are flexible and adaptive. They assess situations pragmatically and choose to offer support when it aligns with their personal goals. Informally, they are referred to as ‘Survivors’.
Exemplary followers, or effective followers, are highly committed, proactive, and self-motivated. They take initiative, show high levels of competence and integrity, and are often seen as role models. This type of follower, of the five main types, is where the power of followership is at and where you may consider aligning yourself to within your life.
One’s own effective leadership begins and continues with effective followership. Effective followership is not just about following, but about leading through service and action. Effective followers are leaders. They are leaders supporting a leader.
Effective followership is not passive. Effective followership is an active role, and an essential and powerful form of leadership. By embracing effective followership, we not only support our leaders but also exhibit leadership qualities that contribute to greater success for us all.
Let us recognize the value of effective followership and strive to be exemplary followers. Let us understand that our role as followers is just as crucial as that of any leader.
Leadership is often portrayed as a role reserved for those with formal titles or positions of authority. I invite you to consider a different perspective. A perspective where followership is not merely about following directions, but a powerful form of leadership in its own right. It is through followership that we support, enable, and drive greater success for us all.
Whether you find yourself in a formal leadership role or not, remember that your actions and attitudes as a follower can make a profound difference.
SOURCE: Blog developed with the support of ChatGPT (https://chatgpt.com/). ChatGPT helps with writing, learning, brainstorming, and more.
© Brooke Somers (2024)
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