A skilled follower helps an inexperienced leader to shine . As the leader grows in skill, he or she is then able to help the followers to shine. And as they all grow in experience and skill, the interplay grows more productive and life-affirming.
Is it okay to be a follower instead of a leader?
Anyone is capable of becoming a leader , but not everyone is cut out for leadership. That doesn’t mean they’re less capable of making an important contribution, just that they bring a different set of skills to the table. There’s nothing wrong with being a follower–the world needs them as much as leaders.
Why is it important to be a follower?
Effective followers don’t just get things done. They keep leaders on their toes and bring out their very best . They hold their leaders accountable to set a strong vision and define palpable objectives that are achievable. Effective followers are also critical thinkers, but with a positive attitude.
Whats more important a leader or follower?
Leadership comes first ; followers presuppose leaders. Accordingly, having followers is the essential test of leadership.
Is it better to be a good follower than a good leader?
As Aristotle said, “ He who cannot be a good follower, cannot be a good leader .” Being a good follower isn’t about being one of hundreds of lemmings that execute instructions with blind loyalty. Today’s followers are more evolved. They judiciously choose who they follow and make followership part of their education.
Why is it important to not be a follower?
Being a follower can cause us to compromise in areas we otherwise wouldn’t. We should have integrity. This means being the same person everywhere we go. You don’t necessarily have to be a leader, but being a doormat for others is never a good thing.
Whats the difference between a follower and a leader?
A leader is the first to try new things and create models and strategies that the rest of the people follow. If your boss is always following the guidelines other people have laid out, he is simply a follower.
Are good leaders good followers?
Studies show that followers contribute about 90% to the success of an organisation. The best leaders are great followers themselves and know how to get the best from their own followers.
What is effective follower?
Effective followers are well-balanced and responsible adults who can succeed without strong leadership . Many followers believe they offer as much value to the organization as leaders do, especially in project or task-force situations.
What do followers expect from a leader?
But if you ask followers what they need from leaders, the clear answer is trust, compassion, stability, and hope . These four basic needs are the result of Rath, Conchie, and a Gallup research team asking more than 10,000 followers what the most influential leaders contribute to their lives.
Why is it important to be a good listener and a good follower?
Listening shows respect and regard for the people you work with. It helps to build rapport and demonstrates that you care about others and what they have to say. Listening is reciprocal, and leaders can model this behavior; when you are a good listener, people will tend to listen more carefully to you, as well.
Are leaders followers?
It is hence essential to understand that leadership and followership is complementary to each other. A leader is no one without their followers and a follower is no one without a leader. There are many common qualities that leaders and followers have to have when working together to accomplish something.
Are followers more powerful than leaders?
Followership is the mirror image of leadership. Most will never have taken a class in followership. You cannot have leaders without followers. ... The success of organizations is more the result of good followership rather than great leadership.
What does it mean to be a leader not a follower?
It means you’re willing to put yourself out there and be wrong at times . You aren’t looking for validation first, you’re acting on how you feel with the knowledge you have, and letting others learn with you. You’re simply pushing the conversation, action, or whatever else.
How do you become a leader and not a follower?
- Use What You Have Learned as a Follower.
- Don’t Wait For a Promotion.
- Understand Your Strengths And Then Use Them.
- Work on Your Communication Skills.
- Praise And Support Others.
- Tell Others About Your Ideas.
- Lead Yourself.
Are leaders smarter than followers?
Traditionally, academic research suggested that leaders will generally be slightly more intelligent than their teams, groups , or subordinates. This makes sense: when people are much smarter than us, we start to have trouble connecting with them, following them, and even being aware of their intelligence.
What are the qualities of a good follower?
- Judgment. Followers must take direction, but not blindly. ...
- Work ethic. Good followers are good workers. ...
- Competence. In order to follow, followers must be competent. ...
- Honesty. ...
- Courage. ...
- Discretion. ...
- Loyalty. ...
- Ego management.
What is a follower in leadership?
Followership is the actions of someone in a subordinate role . ... The study of followership is an emerging area within the leadership field that helps explain outcomes. Specifically, followers play important individual, relational, and collective roles in organizational failures and successes.
How are followers and leaders similar?
Followers and leaders show courage by communicating openly, taking action when needed and holding themselves accountable for modeling the behaviors they expect of others. Followers and leaders alike develop by learning to read people and understanding what motivates them .
How do leaders influence followers?
Leadership has been described as the ability to influence others. An effective leader moves followers into action not with coercion but by eliciting their desire and conviction in the vision and goals articulated by the leader. Misused influence can bring about catastrophic results.
What are the benefits of listening as a student?
- Greater ability to communicate.
- Faster second language acquisition.
- Lower levels of frustration, anxiety, and depression.
- Improved relationship skills.
- Stronger sense of empathy.
Is it important to be a good listener?
Being a good listener fosters meaningful relationships with those around you . Finally, listening to others, and listening well, is important for your personal development because it allows you to expand your horizon.
Why is listening so important?
Listening is key to all effective communication . Without the ability to listen effectively, messages are easily misunderstood. As a result, communication breaks down and the sender of the message can easily become frustrated or irritated. ... Effective listening is a skill that underpins all positive human relationships.
Do leaders need followers?
Leaders need followers to know what is happening in the organization’s industry or field of endeavor . In addition, they want people to understand their customers, competition, and culture and how changes in technology or world events might affect the organization.
What are the cons of being a follower?
As a follower, you may be forced to do or accept to do things you don’t want to accept or do . You may not be allowed to share your views and express yourself as much as possible, especially if your leader is a dictator.
