LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GTFO

It takes skill to be a leader. And it takes as much skill to be a follower. When you’re not leading, you’re following, and when you’re not following, you’re getting in the fucking way. Pretty simple. Many people get in the way every day, even when they don’t know it. They don’t understand their role, where they fit, or their behavior doesn’t align with their role. It causes conflict in myriad ways, both at work and at home.?

Statistically, you’re more often the follower. There’s ultimately only one leader in any situation. In a group of two, your odds are fifty- fifty. In any group larger than that, your odds go down accordingly. So, when you’re not sure when you’re the leader, you’re probably not.

Followers get a bad rap yet, following is as valuable as leading. Followers support in executing tasks that ultimately move their team closer to success; that is, reaching their collective end goal.?

Active followers ask necessary questions. They work out problems. They push leaders to be better. They are clear and concise when sharing information, so that leaders can effectively make the right decisions. There is a mutual respect and understanding that tasks will get done. Active following is NOT blind or passive. When you’re actively following, you understand the mission, the leader’s strategy, and you’re supporting its execution. Nothing would get done without leaders…nothing would get done without followers either.

When you’re not being a leader or an active follower, you’re getting in the fucking way. That behavior is problematic. It impedes progress with achieving your goal(s) or mission(s), and it damages relationships and potentially, reputations. Chances are you don’t even realize you’re doing it.

Getting in the fucking way is most often a result of poor following; following that’s lazy, steps on toes, or throws up roadblocks for no good reason. The leader is the one making the (informed) decision for the group, and good leading is whatever gets a party closer to their desired end state.?

Anything that makes it more difficult for leaders to lead, and followers to follow, is getting in the fucking way.?

When getting in the fucking way results in making it more difficult for leaders to lead and followers to follow, then logically, to be a better follower is to do whatever is necessary to support the leader’s efforts to move closer to the end state.?

Be sure to tell your leader what your strengths are. Make sure they know how you communicate most effectively, how you can best contribute, and how they can get the most out of you.?

Maybe a given project or environment isn’t a fit for you, and you need to remove yourself from the situation. Occasionally, following may be removing yourself from a project entirely, in a respectful way which doesn’t disrupt the flow of the project.?

Before you can be a leader in any situation, you need to be a follower. Remember, following is active. It’s not doing the bare minimum of only what has been assigned to you. It’s proactively coming up with helpful suggestions. It’s pointing out potential problems along the way, along with other solutions. Following requires intelligence, attention to detail, and hard work.?

So, when you’re taking on more leadership now or in the future, following is exactly what you should be working on. Step up and take following opportunities. Be confident in your following. Be a ready, willing, and able follower.

Proud, grateful, and excited to share the publication of my first book, Words Fucking Matter: Retrain Your Brain to Use Language to Serve You.

Buy your copy on Amazon:?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7T5FY3P/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk