The Importance of Followership: The First Real Skill Needed for Leadership

In today’s world, leadership is often viewed as the pinnacle of personal and professional success. We are bombarded with messages about taking charge, being the decision-maker, and inspiring others. However, there’s a critical element that is often overlooked on the journey to leadership: followership. Before you can truly lead, you must first learn to follow. Followership isn’t just a step along the way—it’s the foundation upon which effective leadership is built.

Followership Defined: When people hear the word “follower,” they often think of someone who passively obeys orders without thought or input. In reality, followership is much more complex. It requires initiative, awareness, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of the organization’s goals. An effective follower is someone who supports their leader, but also knows when to provide constructive feedback, offer suggestions, and step up when necessary.

In other words, followership is an active role. It’s about playing your part in the larger mission and understanding how your actions contribute to the success of the team. This ability to engage with leadership and the overall mission is the first critical skill any future leader must develop.

Why Followership Is Essential to Leadership: Leadership is not about commanding authority. It’s about service—serving your team, your mission, and your organization. Followership teaches this concept of service better than any leadership course ever could. Through following, you learn the importance of collaboration, humility, and patience. You gain the ability to see the broader picture and understand how decisions made at the top impact every level of the organization.

This understanding is invaluable when the time comes for you to lead. By following first, you learn firsthand the challenges and frustrations of working in a team, the importance of clear communication, and the impact of effective or poor leadership. These experiences shape the kind of leader you will become, helping you avoid the pitfalls of arrogance, isolation, or micromanagement that plague so many in leadership roles.

Followership Builds Essential Leadership Traits: Many of the traits we associate with great leaders—accountability, adaptability, emotional intelligence—are first cultivated through followership. When you are not in charge, you are more exposed to the dynamics of a team and can observe the impact of leadership decisions from a different perspective. You learn how to manage up, work well with your peers, and mentor those below you. These are the building blocks of leadership.

Additionally, followership teaches critical skills such as:

1. Discipline: Following requires self-discipline. It means setting aside personal ambition at times to focus on the greater good of the team or mission. It involves being accountable for your actions and understanding how your work impacts others.

2. Empathy: As a follower, you experience the effects of leadership decisions. This experience teaches empathy—an understanding of how decisions affect the morale, workload, and well-being of the team. This empathy is vital when you step into a leadership role, as it allows you to make decisions with a more human-centered approach.

3. Communication: Effective followership requires clear communication. You need to know when to ask questions, when to provide feedback, and when to listen. These communication skills are equally, if not more, important when you transition to a leadership position.

4. Critical Thinking: Good followers don’t just blindly execute orders—they think critically about the tasks they are given. They seek clarity, suggest improvements, and think of the bigger picture. This ability to analyze and question serves leaders well when they must navigate complex situations.

The Link Between Followership and Trust: One of the most important outcomes of followership is trust. As a follower, you learn the value of earning the trust of your leaders and peers. You understand that trust is built through reliability, honesty, and a commitment to the team’s success. These same principles apply when you become a leader.

A leader who has not learned to trust others, or to be trusted, will struggle to inspire their team. They may fall into the trap of micromanaging or failing to delegate tasks effectively, which can stifle the growth and creativity of the team. On the other hand, a leader who has been an effective follower understands the power of trust—both in giving it and earning it—and is more likely to foster an environment where their team feels empowered and valued.

Leaders Are Made, Not Born: There is a common misconception that leadership is an innate ability, something you are either born with or without. However, true leadership is a learned skill, and the best learning ground for leadership is followership. In my own 22-year career, I’ve seen many rise to leadership positions, and the ones who excelled were those who had mastered the art of following first.

In the military, for example, we emphasize the chain of command and the importance of understanding your role within that structure. Great leaders are those who have risen through the ranks by learning how to follow orders, contribute to the mission, and support their peers. It is through these experiences that they gain the wisdom, patience, and perspective needed to lead effectively.

Leadership is not about being in control at all times. It is about understanding when to step back and allow others to take the lead, knowing how to delegate responsibilities, and recognizing that every individual’s contribution matters.

From Followership to Leadership: The Transition: The transition from follower to leader isn’t always a clean break. Many of the skills you learn as a follower carry over and even improve as you step into leadership roles. A strong sense of followership enables leaders to make decisions that are considerate, informed, and empathetic. It helps them to lead not just with authority, but with influence.

One of the greatest challenges for new leaders is striking the balance between giving direction and fostering autonomy. Leaders who have been strong followers understand the importance of empowering their teams, just as they once appreciated being trusted to carry out their roles. They know that leadership is not about exerting control but about guiding others toward a common goal.

Followership is not a passive role. It is an active, essential process that lays the groundwork for effective leadership. The lessons you learn while following are invaluable, shaping you into a leader who is empathetic, disciplined, and in tune with your team’s needs.

Leadership without followership is empty. Before you can inspire, lead, or guide others, you must first understand how to support, serve, and collaborate. If you truly want to lead, start by excelling in followership. It’s the first real skill you’ll need, and it will shape the leader you will ultimately become.