Why isn’t more written about followership?
Perhaps the subject just isn’t ‘sexy’ enough. The follower has a poor image – associated with passivity, lack of drive and imagination.
Yet we’re all followers in some context.
The position of the follower is always underrated. The band has to have great followers; you can’t have five great leaders
Branford Marsalis
Our ability as follower determines who we allow to lead us.
Looking at the leaders we’ve got, what does it say about us as followers?
Perhaps more attention paid to followership would be useful.
It’s a useful perspective! Certainly from the leader’s position. Yet we must all follow at times, even if we don’t fully support – using the jazz analogy, part of the musician’s role is to listen closely and respond to another’s solo…to follow their train of thought, and contribute to it, even if it’s not understood or even liked. This produces something new, and as follower we learn in the process. Supportive, although not necessarily supporter perhaps!
Thanks Adrian – look interesting…I’ve joined!
Absolutely! for anyone interested in this topic we have a Linkedin group – http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1932453&mostPopular=&trk=tyah – and would be most welcome
Since words influence our perceptions, I suggest we replace “followers” by “supporters”, because if a Leader only has followers and no supporters, chances are he will have some difficulties getting what he has in mind understood, adopted and SUPPORTED until it succeeds beyond expectations