The Psychology of Extreme Followers and the Leaders They Crave

Leader-follower relations are a two-way street that significantly impacts a follower's development as a leader themselves.

Key aspects:

Leader Behaviors that Foster Follower Development:

• Providing Opportunities for Growth: Effective leaders assign challenging tasks, provide constructive feedback, and delegate responsibilities. This allows followers to stretch their skills and develop their leadership potential.
• Coaching and Mentoring: Leaders who invest time in coaching and mentoring followers can help them identify strengths, overcome weaknesses, and develop their leadership style.
• Empowerment and Trust: Leaders who empower followers by giving them autonomy and trusting their judgment create an environment where followers can take initiative and develop their leadership skills.
• Role Modeling: Leaders who exhibit desirable leadership qualities like integrity, communication, and decision-making provide a valuable model for followers to emulate.
• Providing Exposure and Visibility: Leaders who involve followers in meetings, presentations, or other leadership opportunities allow them to gain valuable experience and develop their leadership presence.

Follower Behaviors that Enhance Development:

• Initiative and Proactiveness: Followers who take initiative, propose new ideas, and actively participate in decision-making demonstrate leadership potential and benefit from the learning experience.
• Openness to Feedback: Followers who are receptive to constructive criticism and actively seek feedback from leaders demonstrate a willingness to learn and grow.
• Taking Responsibility for Mistakes: Followers who learn from their mistakes and take responsibility for their actions demonstrate accountability, a crucial leadership quality.
• Building Relationships: Followers who build strong relationships with colleagues and leaders create a supportive network that can aid their development.
• Continuous Learning: Followers who actively seek opportunities to learn new skills and expand their knowledge base enhance their leadership capabilities.

The Context also Matters:

• Organizational Culture: A supportive and positive organizational culture that values learning and development fosters an environment where both leaders and followers can thrive.
• Challenges and Setbacks: Challenges and setbacks can be valuable learning experiences if handled constructively. Leaders can help followers learn from their mistakes and emerge stronger leaders.

Historical Examples:

• Nelson Mandela and the ANC (African National Congress): Mandela's leadership provided a vision and empowered followers within the ANC to fight for racial equality in South Africa. Many followers, like Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu, developed their own leadership skills through their experiences in the movement.
• Indra Nooyi at PepsiCo: Nooyi was known for mentoring and promoting talented women within the company. Her leadership helped create a pipeline of female leaders who could follow in her footsteps.

Here are some historical examples that illustrate the impact of personality, values, culture, and context:

Personality:

• Transformational Leadership: Winston Churchill (British Prime Minister) during World War II. His charismatic and determined personality (personality) inspired his nation to persevere through immense challenges. He rallied the British people with his speeches and unwavering belief in victory (values).
• Autocratic Leadership: Joseph Stalin (Soviet leader). His ruthless personality (personality) led to a top-down leadership style with little room for dissent. While Stalin's regime achieved rapid industrialization (context), it came at the cost of immense human suffering due to his disregard for individual rights (values).

Values:

• Shared Values and Trust: Martin Luther King Jr. (American civil rights leader) and his followers. King's leadership relied on a shared commitment to non-violent protest and racial equality (values). This fostered trust and motivated his followers despite facing immense opposition (context).
• Clashing Values and Conflict: The American Revolution. The colonists' desire for self-governance (values) clashed with the British crown's desire for control (values). This fundamental conflict (values) led to the American Revolution (context).

Culture:

• Cultural Sensitivity: Genghis Khan (founder of the Mongol Empire). His leadership style was highly effective within his nomadic culture (culture). However, his expansionist tactics often resulted in brutal conquests outside of his cultural context (context).
• Leadership Styles Across Cultures: Democratic leadership styles might be more common in Western cultures, while hierarchical leadership styles might be more prevalent in Eastern cultures (culture). However, these are generalizations, and effective leaders can adapt their approach to the specific cultural context.

Context:

• Crisis Leadership: Abraham Lincoln (American President) during the American Civil War. Lincoln's leadership style evolved significantly during the war (context). His ability to adapt and make difficult decisions (personality) was crucial in preserving the Union (values).
• Leadership During Innovation: Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple). Jobs' visionary personality (personality) and focus on innovation (values) were instrumental in Apple's success. However, his demanding leadership style could be challenging for some employees (context).

Here are a few examples that showcase how followers can become great leaders themselves:

1. Alexander the Great and his Generals:

• Follower: Alexander the Great's generals, like Ptolemy and Seleucus, were initially his trusted companions during his conquests.
• Learning from the Leader: Alexander's military strategies, leadership style, and vision for empire-building undoubtedly influenced his generals.
• Becoming Great Leaders: Following Alexander's death, his generals carved out their own empires, using the skills and knowledge they gained under his leadership. Ptolemy established the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, and Seleucus founded the Seleucid Empire, both of which became major Hellenistic powers.

2. Moses and Joshua:

• Follower: Joshua served as Moses' trusted aide and right-hand man for many years as they led the Israelites out of Egypt.
• Learning from the Leader: Joshua witnessed Moses' leadership through challenges, divine guidance, and community building.
• Becoming a Great Leader: After Moses' death, Joshua assumed the mantle of leadership and successfully led the Israelites into the Promised Land.

3. Mary McLeod Bethune and Dorothy Height:

• Follower: Dorothy Height initially worked alongside Mary McLeod Bethune, a prominent civil rights leader and founder of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW).
• Learning from the Leader: Height learned from Bethune's strategies for social activism, community organizing, and advocating for racial equality.
• Becoming a Great Leader: Height eventually became the president of the NCNW herself, continuing Bethune's legacy and becoming a powerful voice for civil rights and women's empowerment.

4. Steve Jobs and Tim Cook:

• Follower: Tim Cook served as Steve Jobs' trusted confidante and COO at Apple for many years.
• Learning from the Leader: Cook witnessed Jobs' vision for innovation, design, and brand building firsthand.
• Becoming a Great Leader: Following Jobs' passing, Cook took over as CEO of Apple and successfully navigated the company through a period of immense growth and product diversification.

Here's how leaders can cultivate a loyal and engaged following, along with the mindset traits that support this endeavor:

Building a Great Follower Base:

• Vision and Inspiration: Articulate a clear and inspiring vision that resonates with followers' values and aspirations. This creates a sense of purpose and motivates them to contribute to a larger goal. (Think: Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech)
• Trust and Authenticity: Be genuine, transparent, and act with integrity. Followers are more likely to trust and respect a leader who is true to themselves and their values.
• Communication and Transparency: Communicate openly and honestly with followers. Keep them informed, explain decisions, and be receptive to feedback. This fosters trust and a sense of shared responsibility.
• Empowerment and Delegation: Empower followers by giving them ownership of tasks and projects. Delegate effectively and provide the resources and support they need to succeed. This builds confidence and fosters leadership development within your follower base.
• Recognition and Appreciation: Recognize and appreciate followers' contributions, both big and small. Celebrate successes and acknowledge their hard work. This motivates followers and reinforces positive behavior.
• Focus on Growth and Development: Invest in your followers' growth by providing opportunities for learning and development. This shows you value them and creates a more skilled and engaged workforce.

Mindset Traits for Building a Strong Follower Base:

• Servant Leadership: View your role as serving your followers, not the other way around. Focus on creating an environment where they can thrive and contribute their best.
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Be able to understand and relate to your followers' emotions and perspectives. This fosters trust and strengthens relationships.
• Humility and Self-Awareness: Recognize your own strengths and weaknesses. Be open to feedback and willing to learn from your followers.
• Long-Term Thinking: Focus on building a sustainable and positive relationship with your followers, not just achieving short-term goals.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Believe in the power of collaboration and teamwork. Foster a sense of community and shared purpose among your followers.

Throughout history, there have been numerous examples of extreme followers who took their devotion to a leader or cause to dangerous and destructive extremes. Here are a few cautionary tales:

• Nazi Germany and the SS (Schutzstaffel): The SS was a paramilitary organization within the Nazi Party known for its brutality and fanatical loyalty to Adolf Hitler. Fueled by Nazi ideology and propaganda, SS members committed horrific acts of genocide and violence during the Holocaust. Their blind obedience to Hitler and the Nazi regime illustrates the dangers of extreme follower behavior.
• The Peoples Temple and Jim Jones: In 1978, cult leader Jim Jones orchestrated the mass murder-suicide of over 900 people at the Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana. Jones' followers, isolated from the outside world and indoctrinated with his ideology, willingly participated in this tragedy. This example highlights the power of manipulation and control that extreme leaders can exert over their followers.
• The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln: John Wilkes Booth, a fervent Confederate sympathizer, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Booth's extreme devotion to the Confederacy and hatred for Lincoln led him to commit this act of violence, demonstrating the destructive potential of follower extremism in the context of political conflict.
• The Crusades: The Crusades were a series of religious wars fought between Christians and Muslims for control of the Holy Land. While many factors contributed to the Crusades, the religious fervor and unquestioning obedience of Christian followers to the Pope and the idea of reclaiming Jerusalem played a significant role in the violence and devastation these wars caused.
• The Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot: The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, was a brutal communist regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Pol Pot's radical ideology and ruthless methods resulted in the deaths of millions of Cambodians. The extreme devotion of his followers, often indoctrinated from a young age, facilitated the regime's horrific crimes.

These are just a few examples, and the motivations and contexts surrounding extreme follower behavior can vary widely. However, they all underscore the importance of critical thinking, questioning authority, and maintaining a sense of individual morality.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Social and Psychological Factors: Extreme follower behavior can be influenced by social isolation, charismatic leadership, and the promise of belonging to a larger cause.
• Deindividuation: In large groups, individuals may feel less accountable for their actions, making them more susceptible to following orders without question.
• The Importance of Education and Critical Thinking: Encouraging critical thinking skills and promoting media literacy can help individuals resist manipulation and extremist ideologies.

Traits of Leaders that Attract Extreme Followers:

• Charisma and Messianic Complex: Leaders who project a powerful and charismatic image, often presenting themselves as saviors or figures with unique solutions to complex problems, can be very appealing to those seeking direction or a sense of belonging. Think cult leaders or extremist political figures.
• Strong Vision and Conviction: Leaders who articulate a clear and unwavering vision, even if extreme or based on false premises, can attract followers who crave purpose and direction. This can be seen in historical figures who rallied support for wars or revolutions based on distorted ideologies.
• Strong In-Group vs. Out-Group Mentality: Leaders who create a sense of "us vs. them," fostering an "in-group" mentality with a clear enemy or outsider, can attract followers who crave a sense of belonging and a clear enemy to blame for their problems. This tactic has been used throughout history by dictators and extremist groups.
• Authoritarianism and Control: Leaders who project an image of strength and control can be appealing to those who are insecure or fearful. This can be seen in followers who submit to harsh rules or unquestioningly obey orders, even if unethical.
• Preying on Vulnerabilities: Leaders who exploit existing social or economic anxieties, promising simple solutions to complex problems, can attract followers who are feeling marginalized or desperate. This is a tactic used by demagogues and populist leaders.

The Challenge of Assigning Credit:

The question of who deserves credit, the leader or the followers, is complex. While leaders exploit these vulnerabilities and manipulate situations, followers also have a responsibility to think critically and resist blindly following harmful ideologies.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Shared Responsibility: In some cases, there might be a shared responsibility. The leader creates the environment, but the followers have a choice to participate or not.
• Social and Psychological Factors: It's important to consider the social and psychological factors that might make individuals susceptible to extreme leadership, such as poverty, lack of education, or social isolation.
• The Importance of Individual Agency: Even within extreme follower groups, individuals can make choices to resist or break free. Highlighting stories of those who defy the leader can be a powerful message.

We Can Lead: Grab from here