Part of a college application was directed to the applicant’s parents, and one of the questions was, “Would you consider your child to be a leader or a follower?”
After much deliberation, the father wrote that he felt his son, although very much a unique individual, was really more of a follower.
Not long after, a letter of acceptance arrived from the college, accompanied by a note from the Registrar, welcoming his child. It read: “We feel he’ll fit in especially well, as he will be the only follower in a class of 249 leaders!”
Are you a leader or a follower? It’s important to recognize that the qualities of leaders and followers can sometimes overlap, as effective leaders can also be good followers when necessary. However, there are distinct personal qualities that typically set leaders and followers apart.
For example, leaders are often the ones who come up with new ideas and push the boundaries of what is possible. They tend to forge their own paths and are not afraid to stand out from the crowd.
Leaders are development-focused and concentrate on growth, both in themselves and in others. They are people-oriented and prioritize relationships and are adept at motivating and inspiring their teams.
Leaders build trust through transparency and integrity. They have a vision for the future and plan accordingly. They are strategic thinkers and ask “what” and “why” to understand the deeper purpose and potential impact of their actions.
Finally, leaders look beyond immediate gains to what can be achieved in the long-term. They are originators, not imitators. They question existing conditions and seek to improve them. They are self-reliant and confident in their convictions.
Followers, on the other hand, are execution-focused and excel in carrying out tasks and maintaining the status quo. They are skilled at following directions and adapting to established processes, focusing on immediate tasks and short-term goals.
“A good leader makes a good follower,” said Wilfred Bion, British psychoanalyst.
Good followers support their leaders and the group’s objectives. They are reliable and can be counted on to do what is required. They concentrate on the “how” and “when” of tasks and focus on the immediate results and practical outcomes.
Followers may emulate the behaviors and methods of their leaders or peers, but they typically work within the established system. They tend to follow rules and guidelines set by others and work well within a group and contribute to team dynamics.
“Good leaders must become what they want their followers to become,” said my friend Nido Qubein, president of High Point University.
Every organization needs both leaders and followers. Understanding these qualities can help you identify where you naturally fit and where you might want to develop further to enhance your leadership or followership skills. Whether you lead or follow, do it with the conviction and passion that inspire others to achieve greatness.
When I hire, I look for both qualities, often in the same person. True, some people are “born leaders,” but they need to understand what followers need from them instead of just barking orders and expecting the desired results.
“Leaders are leaders only as long as they have the respect and loyalty of their followers,” said Hans Selye, Austro-Hungarian scientist.
Effective team building recognizes the importance of both roles and ensures that each team member can contribute in a way that leverages their strengths. Leaders should not only lead but also listen to their followers, and followers should be active participants, not just passive recipients of orders.
In my experience, the most successful teams are those where the roles of leaders and followers are fluid, allowing members to step into leadership roles when their strengths are needed and to support from the follower position when others’ strengths are being utilized.
This simple story illustrates how good leaders inspire their followers. A city boy went on a field trip to a farm in the country, and the farmer asked him to get a calf into the barn. The more he pushed and pulled, the more immovable the calf became. The farmer’s daughter observing the scene went to help the boy. She thrust a finger in the calf’s mouth, and it instinctively followed her into the barn.
Mackay’s Moral: A company without leaders is like a ship without a rudder; it will never reach its destination. But without followers, there’s no crew to sail the ship. Both are essential for a successful voyage.