There is a common misconception that you are either a leader or a follower. Not true. The reality is that all leaders must also follow. Even a CEO must follow the leadership of a company's board of directors. Research tells us that the best leaders are also the best followers. Effective leadership and effective followership have much in common, but understanding how to follow can make you a better follower - or a better leader.
A relatively new line of research is focusing on the follower in the leader-follower relationship. Two recent books, "The Art of Followership" and "Followership" discuss this new approach.
Different Types of Followers.
Robert Kelley was the first to discuss different types of followers and the implications for leading them. "Sheep" is the term Kelley gives to followers who passively wait for leaders to give them directions or motivate them.
"Yes-people" back the leader, but still expect the leader to make the decisions and to provide direction, and then they are willing to move forward. The problem with yes-people is that they don't engage their brains or take initiative in moving the group or company forward.
"The alienated" are the followers who are independent, think they know what's best, and aren't afraid to challenge their leaders. Their skepticism and cynicism can create a lot of negativity in organizations.
"The pragmatics" watch out for themselves and back whoever they think will ultimately benefit them. They like things the way they are and will defend the status quo.
It is the "star followers" that are the ideal, according to Kelley. Star followers are active, positive, and work with and for the leader to achieve good outcomes - and outcomes aligned with the direction and vision of the organization. Kelley describes them as "leaders in disguise."
Ira Chaleff also talks about these ideal followers in his book, "The Courageous Follower: Standing Up to and For Our Leaders." Courageous followers do everything possible to contribute to the leader's and the organization's success, but have the courage to constructively challenge the leader or the status quo if they think the direction is wrong. Importantly, the courageous follower helps prevent ethical abuses and misbehavior by the leader and others.
Noted leadership scholars, Warren Bennis and James MacGregor Burns, argue that effective followership is crucial for organizations and collectives to survive. Even the best leaders cannot be successful without courageous, "star" followers, and the qualities of these star followers are the same that qualities possessed by the most effective leaders.
