Thoughts From The Leadership Table: The Power of Followership
Wanda Jones-Heath, PhD, CISM
Department of the Air Force Principal Cyber Advisor
Leaders play a crucial role in guiding organizations, but the significance of followership should not be underestimated. Followership refers to the actions and attitudes of individuals who support, cooperate, and align with a leader. In every organization, there are leaders and followers, and effective followership is vital for overall success. Effective followership involves being proactive and engaged, rather than simply following orders. Both leadership and followership are interconnected and interdependent, and both are essential to achieving the goals of an organization.
Why is it crucial for leaders to also embrace followership? Servant leaders who understand the importance of humility, empathy, and collaboration often adopt a followership mindset. By demonstrating their willingness to listen, learn, and follow the guidance of others, they build trust and respect among their team. This approach also highlights the value they place on the input of others. Moreover, following others is an excellent way for leaders to remain connected to the realities and challenges faced by their team. No leader has all the answers, and by being open to following others, leaders can stay current, adapt to changes, and enhance their leadership skills.
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Leaders hold a great deal of influence over the culture of their organization, and incorporating followership into their leadership practices can greatly enhance their effectiveness. Leaders who are willing to follow, when necessary, demonstrate their ability to adapt and prioritize the success of the organization over their own authority or decision-making power. Effective leadership requires a partnership between leaders and followers, with both parties playing a vital role. When leaders value the importance of followership, they foster a collaborative environment where everyone's contributions are valued, leading to increased team performance, innovation, and overall success. By recognizing followership as a critical leadership trait and being willing to step into the followership role when appropriate, leaders can become even more effective and truly harness the Power of Followership.?I am not afraid to step into the followership role because it will make me a better leader.
Security Professional / Senior Executive / Chief People Officer / Board Member /
1 年Thanks for sharing Wanda Jones-Heath, PhD, CISM your #leadershipbyexample with our #linkedinfamily ??
Armis Federal LLC
1 年Always enjoy reading and learning from one of the great Women In Cyber! Keep it coming?
Dean, Division of Professional & Technical Services at Columbus Technical College
1 年Awesome and well stated. If leaders are not willing to adapt, adjust, and follow when needed, they can never improve and become better leaders. This is a great boost for beginning this new work week. Thanks for sharing!
| Thought Leader | CIO/CTO | | Board Member | Emerging Technologies | National Security | & | Policy |.
1 年Dear Ms. Wanda Jones - The synergy between leadership and followership is integral to organizational success. Leaders who embrace followership, particularly those practicing servant leadership, foster trust, adaptability, and collaboration. This approach enables leaders to remain attuned to team dynamics, adapt to challenges, and refine leadership skills. Incorporating followership enhances leadership effectiveness by promoting a partnership between leaders and followers, ultimately driving innovation, performance, and success. Regrettably, some leaders fear change and emerging leadership!