Leadership Skills

Leadership and Followership

Yes, followership is actually a word. One cannot be a leader without followers; therefore, followership is the reciprocal of leadership. Robert Kelley coined the term, and followers play a large role in today's workplaces. Realistically, it takes more than a good leader to make things happen. (If you have not heard this term before, it is being used more often.)

The best followers should be enthusiastic, intelligent, ambitious, and self-reliant. Their main qualities include::

• Self-Management:  A person must be able to manage time, work, and stress in order to juggle daily obligations and tasks that are delegated.
• Commitment:  One should be dedicated to the organization, team, and project. A person must be willing to do what is needed to move the team and project forward.
• Competence:  The individual should have the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the taks assigned. Related to having the knowledge, competent people continue learning so their skills remain current.
• Courage:  Individuals should know and understand their own values as well as those of the organization. People should have high ehics and strict honesty. .

Kelley believed that there were five types of followers:

• Passive: This person is passive and requires motivation from the leader. There is general ennui and lack of commitment.
• Conformist: In this type, the follower is committed to the goal, but he or she does not question any decisions or actions of the leader. Instead, the yes-person defends the leader without thought.
• Pragmatic: This is the type of person who stays in the background. This person will not stand up for controversial issues or ideas unless the majority of the group is in attendance and supportive.
• Alienated: The negative person who tries to stall forward progress. Decisions and actions are always questioned. Oftentimes the alienated person believes he or she is the rightful leader.
• Effective: This is the positive, active, independent person who will not blindly accept decisions or actions without thorough analysis. This person requires not motivation and can carry on tasks without a leader.

Leadership and followership roles often change in working teams. As projects and tasks change, different individuals step forward to lead. When that happens, the other members become followers. On effective teams, that can work very well. The next time your role changes to follower, ask yourself which of the five types you should become.