Monday Motivation

This week I want to explore a different aspect of leadership, one that gets very little attention, or as Rodney Dangerfield would say, "gets no respect". I am talking about the valuable role of follower and deciding when to take on this role versus leading. Many people see the role of leader being in direct competition with being a follower, as if you should never be both. This week's newsletter will show how these two roles are complimentary and not competitive.

Happy following!

Diane

P.S.  Please share your thoughts about this email or send future topic ideas to diane@dianeamundson.com  

Leader and Followers

• Followers and leaders orbit around the purpose; followers do not orbit around the leader.
• Followership and leadership are two separate concepts; two separate roles that are complementary or reciprocal, not competitive.
• An emotional connection exists between leaders and exemplary followers.

The Follower

• The follower role is a powerful one because "the responsibility for making the leader-follower relationship work remains the follower."
• Followership is an art-- a skill that can be learned, cultivated and consciously developed and exercised.
• Followership also involves knowing when and how to assume the role of leader when necessary.

The Leader

• To be a leader means generating followership
• The ultimate criterion in defining a leader is anyone who has followers.
• No matter how high you climb the leadership ladder, there is always the requirement to follow some of the time...the roles are not in competition, but rather natural compliments to one another's success.
• One develops as a leader by being an effective follower through an apprenticeship
• Mastering followership is a necessary part of becoming an effective leader.

So, when should you follow versus lead? Read below for a few of my ideas:

• Someone else has the expertise that you don't have
• You don't have the time, energy, or resources to lead
• Someone else was invited to lead or is the formal leader
• You want to feel what it's like to be a follower to help you become a more effective leader

Question for You:

Do you often find yourself taking on the leadership role at home or work?

Action For You:

Remind yourself that the role of follower is as important as the role of leader. It is the follower that allows the leader the opportunity to lead. By answering the four questions above you will more easily discern whether you should take the wheel or the back seat as both are crucial to the success of the team.