Leadership often focuses on the skills and qualities of those at the front of the room—those leading teams, organizations, or movements. However, successful leadership goes hand in hand with effective followership, an essential yet frequently overlooked element in achieving organizational success.
Understanding the relationship between leaders and followers can transform how teams operate, increase efficiency, and foster collaboration. This principle is not only relevant to the military but applies across industries and workplaces where people must work together toward common goals.
Understanding the Key Roles: Leaders, Followers, and Managers
Before diving into followership, it's important to clarify what we mean by leadership, management, and followership:
Leader: Someone who inspires and influences others to achieve a common purpose by providing direction, motivation, and vision. Leaders guide others by example, empowering people to contribute their best.
Manager: A person responsible for ensuring the tasks and operations within an organization are completed efficiently. While they may lead teams, their role is more focused on organization and execution.
Follower: A person who actively supports a leader and contributes to the achievement of team goals. Followers are critical to the success of any endeavor, as their engagement and commitment help turn ideas into action.
The Power Dynamics
Followership is a reciprocal process. Just as a leader influences their followers, the behavior and attitude of followers can greatly impact the success of leadership. Effective followers do not passively obey; instead, they contribute to the decision-making process, anticipate needs, and take proactive steps to support their leaders.
Power within these relationships can be categorized as either positional power or personal power:
Positional Power: Derived from a person's position within an organizational hierarchy, such as a manager or a supervisor. This power comes from the authority granted by the organization and is often exercised through formal directives and compliance.
Personal Power: Comes from an individual's skills, experience, and character. Leaders who rely on personal power gain followers' trust and commitment by being relatable, empathetic, and trustworthy. Personal power inspires voluntary cooperation rather than compliance.
While managers typically operate using positional power, leaders often wield personal power, focusing on motivation and inspiration rather than control.
The Importance of Understanding and Supporting Leaders
A key part of being a great follower is understanding how to support leaders in achieving their vision. Effective followers anticipate the needs of their leaders, contributing ideas, resources, or solutions before being asked. This proactive mindset builds stronger leader-follower relationships, rooted in mutual respect and shared goals.
This idea aligns with the concept of servant leadership—a philosophy where leaders prioritize the growth and well-being of their followers. Robert Greenleaf, who coined the term, emphasized that leadership is not about personal power but about serving others. A leader who understands the needs of their team and supports them in achieving success helps foster an environment where both leaders and followers thrive.
Becoming a Better Follower
Developing as a follower means being proactive and situationally aware. It requires understanding the organization's needs and the challenges facing the leader. A good follower is empathetic, communicative, and willing to collaborate, forming strong relationships with colleagues at all levels of the organizational hierarchy.
Terina Allen, a strategist and executive coach, emphasizes that great leaders are often great followers first. In her article, “Want to be a good leader? Learn to follow” in Fast Company, Allen argues that followership is integral to leadership. She explains that followers who actively contribute to team goals—who view themselves as partners rather than subordinates—often become the most effective leaders because they understand the dynamics of working together toward shared objectives.
From Follower to Leader
Learning to follow well is one of the most powerful ways to improve leadership skills. As followers, individuals gain insights into how teams operate, how decisions are made, and what needs to be done to overcome obstacles. These experiences can be invaluable when transitioning to leadership roles, providing the foundation for compassionate and effective leadership.
Bernard Bass, a leadership expert, introduced the concept of transformational leadership, which describes how leaders can inspire followers to exceed their own expectations. This style of leadership involves four key components:
Idealized Influence: Leaders serve as role models, gaining respect and trust.
Intellectual Stimulation: Leaders encourage innovation and creativity, allowing followers to think critically and explore new solutions.
Individualized Consideration: Leaders pay attention to the needs and development of their followers, providing mentorship and support.
Inspirational Motivation: Leaders communicate a clear vision and inspire enthusiasm for the team’s goals.
These components can be used not only to lead effectively but also to develop followership, which in turn enhances leadership.
The Four Needs of Followers
In their 2009 book Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow, Tom Rath and Barry Conchie identify four basic needs that followers require from their leaders:
Trust: Leaders must build trust by being transparent and honest, even when delivering difficult news.
Compassion: Leaders should show genuine concern for the well-being of their followers.
Stability: Leaders provide a sense of security by offering a clear structure and understanding of the organization’s values.
Hope: Leaders instill optimism and excitement for the future, helping followers feel motivated and engaged.
By meeting these needs, leaders can create an environment where followership thrives, and in turn, foster stronger leadership.
Conclusion
Leadership is often celebrated in popular culture, but effective leadership is only possible when followers are engaged, informed, and motivated. Becoming a better follower is essential for anyone aiming to lead successfully. The best leaders often started as excellent followers, understanding the importance of collaboration, empathy, and service.
By focusing on the development of both leadership and followership skills, individuals and organizations can create more effective, cohesive teams that thrive together. Whether in the military, business, or other sectors, understanding and improving followership is a key element of organizational success.
By enhancing followership, we not only contribute to our leaders’ success but also develop the skills necessary to lead effectively ourselves.
References for Further Reading:
Rath, T., & Conchie, B. (2009). Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow. Gallup Press.
Bass, B. M. (1985). Leadership and Performance Beyond Expectations. Free Press.
Greenleaf, R. K. (1977). Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness. Paulist Press.
Allen, T. (2018, November). “Want to be a good leader? Learn to follow.” Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90273002/want-to-be-a-good-leader-learn-to-follow/
Dr. Amelia Duran-Stanton, author of The LOTUS Within: Grow Your Purpose and Ignite Your Passion, was born in the Philippines. She is a colonel in the US Army and has served for over thirty-two years, which includes eight years enlisted, with deployments to Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and twenty-four years as a PA (physician assistant /associate). She holds a PhD in postsecondary and adult education and a doctor of science in PA studies in orthopedics. She is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with multiple awards and decorations. She has mentored, coached, sponsored, and taught several women over the years. She has published over 100 articles and presentations, with topics ranging from medicine and mentorship to management.
