Why Is Followership Important
POSTION PAPER
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FOLLOWERSHIP IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN LEADERSHIP
1. Throughout history there has been a dispute over which is more important: leadership or followership. This article will advocate why followership is more important than leadership, and the supporting rationale behind this synopsis. This paper will discuss the strengths of followership, the weaknesses of followership, and why followership is more important than leadership. Lastly, it will conclude with how followership directly corresponds to the execution of objectives and why this will always be more crucial than leadership.
2. In the military, adherence to followership is paramount. Without followership, authority would not prevail, and orders would be questioned and …show more content…
Instead, the exemplary follower sets ego aside, and works to support the leader. They lead themselves.”1
3. The main con in followership is that it lacks vision and direction. Without direction, followers may spend countless efforts pursuing erroneous solutions. Leaders provide the constant focus needed by way of a vision. This ideal gives the followers a concept to apply in their endeavors, so that they may work in a cohesive manner towards the end goal. According to Mark Van Vugt, “Leadership involves initiative taking and maintaining group cohesion, whereas followership involves deciding who to follow, when, and where to.”2
4. In spite of the immense attention leadership receives, followership is considerably more crucial because it acts as a pillar to the execution of any accomplishment. Take the feat of putting just one bomb on target. The execution by the given individual is riddled with support of followers. For example, for every B-52 aircraft flying per hour, there are roughly seven man-hours spent in maintenance alone.3 According to Major Herman L. Gilster “Without followership, a leader at any level will fail to produce effective institutions.”3. Without the follower there is simply no one to lead, and no one to carry out the task. While leadership has its place, followership will be more
ON
FOLLOWERSHIP IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN LEADERSHIP
1. Throughout history there has been a dispute over which is more important: leadership or followership. This article will advocate why followership is more important than leadership, and the supporting rationale behind this synopsis. This paper will discuss the strengths of followership, the weaknesses of followership, and why followership is more important than leadership. Lastly, it will conclude with how followership directly corresponds to the execution of objectives and why this will always be more crucial than leadership.
2. In the military, adherence to followership is paramount. Without followership, authority would not prevail, and orders would be questioned and …show more content…
Instead, the exemplary follower sets ego aside, and works to support the leader. They lead themselves.”1
3. The main con in followership is that it lacks vision and direction. Without direction, followers may spend countless efforts pursuing erroneous solutions. Leaders provide the constant focus needed by way of a vision. This ideal gives the followers a concept to apply in their endeavors, so that they may work in a cohesive manner towards the end goal. According to Mark Van Vugt, “Leadership involves initiative taking and maintaining group cohesion, whereas followership involves deciding who to follow, when, and where to.”2
4. In spite of the immense attention leadership receives, followership is considerably more crucial because it acts as a pillar to the execution of any accomplishment. Take the feat of putting just one bomb on target. The execution by the given individual is riddled with support of followers. For example, for every B-52 aircraft flying per hour, there are roughly seven man-hours spent in maintenance alone.3 According to Major Herman L. Gilster “Without followership, a leader at any level will fail to produce effective institutions.”3. Without the follower there is simply no one to lead, and no one to carry out the task. While leadership has its place, followership will be more