Were Following The Leader!

In a previous post i expressed what i believed were characteristics of an effective leader. That led me to question what is was to be a good follower and why it was important to be a good follower. I came to the conclusion that no matter how good a leader is or thinks she is will be doomed to failure without effective followership. In fact i think followership is every bit as important as leadership. I also believe that effective followership leads to effective leadership. The first step in creating good followers is to gain their trust and support. With this in mind it is important to remember that leaders can lead only when followers have given their consent to be led.

After some significant study on the subject of followership i have narrowed down a list of my "Ten Commandments" of followership. Keep in mind there are probably many more that i haven't considered, but these ten are mine.

1. Be supportive of the leader: Even if a decision is unpopular, do not undermine the goals of the leader, the group, or the organization. It is OK to disagree with an executive decision but do it in private.

2. Do not be a "yes man": Always speak honestly and frankly. Avoid the temptation to tell the boss what you think they want to hear. I have always thought that if i only echo what the boss says i am not offering the company any service. I am not thinking for myself.

3. Accept responsibility whenever it is offered: It could be that the leader sees something special in you and is trying to develop you. This is always a good thing since you become more valuable to the company. Being the "go to guy" is a good esteem builder and offers a degree of job security.

4. Take initiative: Do what is needed without being told to do it. Nobody wants to work for a micro manager so do not put the leader in the position that they have to become one. That being said, there is a difference between taking initiative and being a loose cannon.

5. Know how to listen; Nobody can learn if they are constantly talking. In fact, all learning is achieved through listening and observation. There is some wisdom in the statement that we were created with two eyes, two ears, and and only one mouth for a reason.

6. Ask for clarity about what your role is and what the expectations are: If there is any question about what expectations are, get clarification from the leader. Be proactive about resolving any ambiguity or communication break down.

7. Be an advisor to the leader (when appropriate): I am secure enough in my career to know that i don't have all the answers. However, i am not always aware enough to know when i need to ask for help or advice. I also know that all to often good ideas do not start at the top, they develop in the trenches, with the followers who happen to be experts in their jobs.

8. Seek honest feedback from the leader: This will help clarify what you are doing well and not so well. Do not take feedback personally. Remember, the feedback is about what was done, not who you are. In fact, honest feedback and communication will lead to building a trusting relationship.

9. Keep the leader informed: People are naturally reluctant to share problems with leaders. Not everyone is comfortable with sharing successes either since it may sound like your tooting your own horn. Effective leaders rely on followers to pass important information (even bad news) up the chain of command in a timely fashion. This is the only way to make effective decisions.

10. Do not neglect yourself or your family: There is an old saying that says "if Momma ain't happy, no one is happy". It is OK to be committed to your work but do not neglect your personal needs or the needs of your family. If anyone is unhappy it will carry over into your work and performance will suffer as a consequence.

Most of us never really think about what it is to be an effective follower or how important it really is. This is somewhat peculiar since we will spend most of our professional lives following someone else. Even when we become leaders ourselves we will most likely still be following someone else.