When it comes to professional development, leadership often steals the spotlight. We’re flooded with advice on becoming effective leaders, especially focusing on “servant leadership” – a philosophy where the primary aim is to serve others. But there’s another crucial element in our careers that doesn’t get the attention it deserves: followership. Have you ever stopped to think about how much more time you spend in roles where you’re not in charge but are instead collaborating, contributing, and supporting?

The Reality of Professional Life

Let’s face it: throughout your career, you’ll spend more time as a follower than as a leader. Now, the word “follower” might get a bad rap, but being a good follower is essential to any organization’s success. Great leaders often start as great followers, refining their skills in teamwork, support, and contribution.

The Art of Followership

Followership isn’t about blind obedience or passive compliance. It’s an active, engaged process that demands many of the same qualities as leadership: critical thinking, initiative, and effective teamwork. Here’s what it means to be a top-notch follower:

  1. Active Engagement: Effective followers aren’t passive participants. They’re proactive, take initiative, and constantly seek ways to add value to the team.
  2. Collaboration: They excel at working with others, understanding the importance of teamwork, building relationships, communicating effectively, and resolving conflicts.
  3. Support: Followers play a vital role in supporting their leaders and colleagues, whether through providing constructive feedback or stepping up when extra help is needed.
  4. Adaptability: The best followers are flexible and adaptable, open to change, and ready to adjust their approach based on the team’s needs.
  5. Loyalty and Integrity: A great follower is loyal to the team’s goals and operates with integrity, being honest, reliable, and committed to the success of the team and the organization.

Followership as a Foundation for Leadership

Does excelling as a follower prepare you for leadership? Absolutely. Here’s how:

  1. Understanding Dynamics: Being a follower lets you grasp team dynamics and the challenges leaders face, providing invaluable perspective for future leadership roles.
  2. Building Empathy: Supporting others as a follower helps you develop empathy, a crucial trait for any leader, enabling you to understand the needs and perspectives of your team members.
  3. Learning from Leaders: Observing and learning from your leaders as a follower gives you insights into effective leadership practices and common pitfalls to avoid.
  4. Skill Development: Followership helps you hone essential skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork, all directly transferable to leadership roles.

The Balance of Leadership and Followership

In many ways, the qualities that make a great follower also make a great leader. Both roles require a commitment to the team’s success, a willingness to listen and learn, and the ability to inspire and motivate others. By focusing on being the best follower you can be, you’re also preparing yourself for future leadership opportunities.

So, while leadership is vital, let’s not underestimate the power of followership. Embracing and excelling in your role as a follower isn’t just beneficial for your growth but is also crucial for the overall success of your team and organization. The next time you find yourself in a follower role, remember that your contributions are invaluable, and you’re already on the path to leadership.

PS – once you get to a leadership role never stop practicing your Followership skills.

Joe, Ned and Mike are growth advisor to franchisors on scaling expansion, operations and brand email joe@franchisorsales.org or direct message Joe on Linkedin.

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