Followership
Maryam Alzain
ORSC 2143
Dr. Theodore H. Andrews
January 26, 2015
Throughout my life I thought that there were only two types of followers, those who obeyed their leaders and those who did not. However, the truth is that the study of leadership and followership is much more complicated than that. In order for both leaders and followers to progress they need to maintain a relationship based on trust. It will be difficult for a leader to trust a passive follower who does not take initiative or hold responsibility, just as it will be difficult for a follower to trust a leader who believes that their personal interests is more important than the mission of the organization. It is commonly known that a leader should challenge their followers to develop into effective individuals, who participate in change, take responsibility for their actions, and serve the organization. However, in order for one to develop into an effective follower he or she should also challenge authority. If a follower possesses this trait it will not only help them progress, but will allow their leader to learn and grow as well. Identifying one’s followership style can allow the follower to grow and help the leader understand how to inspire and motivate them effectively. Followers can be characterized into five main groups. Passive followers are dependent and do not hold an active role in the organization. They only do what they are supposed to and require a great deal of supervision. In my opinion, these followers are the hardest to work with because they lack motivation and the means to take on responsibility when needed. Another type of follower is the conformist, who is very much committed to the leader and the mission of the group. These individuals carry out orders uncritically and rarely share what is on their minds. An example that goes well with this followership style is suicide bombing. Suicide bombers do not question the decisions of their leaders. They take their own lives merely
ORSC 2143
Dr. Theodore H. Andrews
January 26, 2015
Throughout my life I thought that there were only two types of followers, those who obeyed their leaders and those who did not. However, the truth is that the study of leadership and followership is much more complicated than that. In order for both leaders and followers to progress they need to maintain a relationship based on trust. It will be difficult for a leader to trust a passive follower who does not take initiative or hold responsibility, just as it will be difficult for a follower to trust a leader who believes that their personal interests is more important than the mission of the organization. It is commonly known that a leader should challenge their followers to develop into effective individuals, who participate in change, take responsibility for their actions, and serve the organization. However, in order for one to develop into an effective follower he or she should also challenge authority. If a follower possesses this trait it will not only help them progress, but will allow their leader to learn and grow as well. Identifying one’s followership style can allow the follower to grow and help the leader understand how to inspire and motivate them effectively. Followers can be characterized into five main groups. Passive followers are dependent and do not hold an active role in the organization. They only do what they are supposed to and require a great deal of supervision. In my opinion, these followers are the hardest to work with because they lack motivation and the means to take on responsibility when needed. Another type of follower is the conformist, who is very much committed to the leader and the mission of the group. These individuals carry out orders uncritically and rarely share what is on their minds. An example that goes well with this followership style is suicide bombing. Suicide bombers do not question the decisions of their leaders. They take their own lives merely