In Your Business Are You A Leader Or A Follower?

Every business needs leaders and followers. Contrary to common belief, it’s supportive followers that shape leaders. So you may be wondering which one you read.

In this business blog, we deeply understand what it means to be a natural and if you need to be a natural to lead.

What Does A Successful Leader Do?

Leaders and followers are entwined, and neither gets far from the other. It’s very much a symbiotic relationship.

Lead by example

A leader must always lead by example, called ‘walking the talk.’ For example, leaders are usually the first to arrive and the last to leave for just about everything, from training sessions to meetings. They must show commitment and consistency to get the same attitude from those who follow them.

Communicate Clearly

There can never be confusion in a leader’s message as that will divide loyalty among followers. Doubt will set in when there is a lack of direction or mixed statements about what is happening or what action is required.

Before meeting with a group, the leader will work out what they want to articulate, and then they will write their speech, practice the delivery a few times on their own, and rehearse it with a couple of trusted advisors. Feedback is then given to all leaders who need and want honest feedback.

Practice

Honing the message until it is comprehensible and coherent without contradiction is the goal of all successful leaders. You’ll see this in action with State leaders and politicians. Leaders won’t rush to speak to the nation even when a catastrophic event occurs. They first communicate with their advisors and then craft a speech avoiding ad-lib communication.

Maintain A Healthy Ego

Leaders need to be self-managing, self-driven, and self-assured. A healthy ego gives leaders the confidence to get on with it, and they will push themselves further than anyone else would or could. This is not to say what great leaders do is without direction from management and mentors.

Leaders get instruction and encouragement and check in regularly to ensure they are on the right track in much the same way as sportspeople and business professionals seek reassurance.

Have a Genuine Interest in People

There is no escaping the need for people to love as a leader. Being humble, empathic, and humorous is part of promoting teamwork and team building.

Leaders must have a genuine interest in people. They must show followers they care and discover what motivates them to earn their trust.

What are the traits of a supportive follower?

PMI.org says with followers, there would be no leaders. Influential followers influence leaders.

Being a follower is not being passive; it’s an active role, and followers use many of the same traits of leadership, including:

• Take direction and instruction
• Work independently
• Show initiative
• Work with common goals
• Respect common values and organisational objectives
• Be a team player
• Value authority

Healthy Respect for Followers

While leaders still get the most praise, being a follower is essential in sports and other organizations, like the military. For example, imagine how a game would play out if the two opposing soccer teams were without a captain and the plays failed to follow the game plan? The team understands the strategy, takes instructions from the leader, and works well together that wins.

Summary

In business, leaders will always get more praise. However, the appreciation of followers is heightened. No longer are they perceived negatively as ‘yes-people, or ‘sheep’. Hiring people who don’t aspire to be leaders yet can take direction, work independently and show initiative is, in fact, critical and likely to improve the company’s overall performance.