Leadership vs. Follow-ship

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????Leadership vs. Follow-ship

There is a lot of attention on what it takes to be a good leader. Lists of required leadership characteristics can be found on LinkedIn on a daily basis. I myself save many of them, just as reminders to focus on my strengths and delegate the rest. This extreme concentration on leadership traits has created an interesting opportunity to identify what it takes to be a good follower within a team. Let’s explore, because the relationship between Leader and Follower is symbiotic - there cannot be one without the other.

Let us begin by defining the role or job of a good leader. It’s fairly straight forward; a leader’s primary role is to build and help facilitate a winning team of outstanding followers. How does a good leader accomplish this task? By hiring or drafting solid and dependable people, clearly communicating the project goals, identifying a team-approved scope, and giving detailed expectations for each team member. Once those are accomplished, a good leader will provide all the information and tools necessary for everyone to do their job, then get out of the way and let their team members do great things. Oh! I almost forgot: a leader must be easily accessible for questions, praise outstanding performances at every opportunity, and of course, share the rewards and recognition.?

Over the course of my career there have been many opportunities to be a good follower as well as a good leader. In fact, I’m currently on three teams as a follower, even though a few years ago I presided over three teams as a leader. In both roles, one must be assertive, because knowing your job and bringing value to every meeting, while still doing your job to the best of your ability in between meetings is vital to a successful outcome. Sitting in meeting after meeting while being of little value other than a placeholder creates the need for a team leader to help non-assertive followers share their thoughts. It detracts from creative brainstorming and makes the time of all less productive.

So.

What does it take to be a good follower or team member? First and foremost, realize your leader is also a member of the team and a human being - complete with good days and bad days. We all have less than stellar days. Leaders are less than perfect; they will make mistakes so give them some space to exercise good judgement, do the right thing, and make sincere apologies when necessary. An effective follower must know their job and do it to the best of their ability.?

A team member must learn to be assertive, ask good questions to make your teammates think, insist on detailed clear expectations, and be of service to your fellow followers and your leader.? They must have the initiative to be proactive to accomplish their set tasks. This is all true along with another favorite thought: when a leader has to wake up every day and make a list of motivational tools specific to each follower or team member, it’s time to get a new team. In other words; good followers are disciplined self-starters.

Referring back to an often echoed leadership trait, a good leader is defined by his or her ability to serve followers and the greater good. This reminds me of an old saying “if you think you are a great leader, turn around, if no one is following, you are just taking a walk” Practicing these good followship traits ensures you will always be in demand, and when you turn back around you may find you have become a leader in your own right.?

One final thought: more than one list of traits found in both leadership and followship did? not mention the idea of integrity. Without it, everything else mentioned is rendered useless. It’s not a measurable thing: it’s either present or it’s not. In other words, you either have it or you don’t.

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