Why Leaders Need to Learn to Follow Before They Can Lead
By: Patty Prosser
Many new leaders are thrust into leadership roles before they are really ready – and they know it! Not only are they ill-prepared, but if they’ve never experienced good role models, many can only rely on their instincts.
However, if they have learned how to be good followers, they at least stand a fighting chance!
Why Followership Matters in Leadership
In order to be an effective leader, you must first be a good follower. Leadership and followership are interconnected, with great followership teaching essential skills like humility, listening, and service.
By following first, future leaders learn to:
- Listen to diverse perspectives
- Identify strengths
- Support a shared vision
This approach helps avoid creating a top-down culture of compliance.
Equally as important, good followers are proactive, loyal, and capable of challenging leadership, which builds competence and integrity. Ultimately, the best leaders serve their team’s purpose above themselves.
Key Aspects of Good Followership
- Understanding the “Other Side”
To effectively lead, one must understand the perspective and needs of a follower. - Humility and Service
Great followership ensures leaders are humble, loyal, and service-oriented, which strengthens team cohesion. - Shared Purpose
Followership is about supporting a greater vision rather than merely fulfilling a role. - Skill Development
The qualities of a good follower – such as listening, critical thinking, and competence—are the same traits required for effective leadership.
Key Traits of Effective Follower-Leaders
- Active Engagement
They don’t just follow blindly; they bring initiative to help the leader achieve goals. - Courageous Communication
They dare to challenge leaders respectfully when the team’s goals are at risk. - Loyalty
They stay loyal to their leaders publicly while supporting the organization’s mission. - Listening
They listen to understand the team’s needs rather than just to confirm their own views.
In Summary: Great Leaders Start as Great Followers
The best leaders are actually serving something greater than themselves. When leaders learn to be good followers, they build empathy, humility, and trust – ensuring they understand the team’s experience before guiding them.
Leaders who can follow know when to empower others, creating a more collaborative and innovative environment rather than a command-and-control culture.
Have a Prickly Leadership Challenge?
If you have a “prickly” leadership issue you’d like me to address in future blogs, please reach out to me directly, and I promise to try to discuss it!
There’s more than one way to tackle a problem or issue. Sometimes you just might need a little help.
As always, if you or other leaders in your organization are facing similar challenges, please visit our website at The Center for Leadership Excellence: www.cleindy.com
Patty Prosser, Co-Founder and Coaching Practice Leader at The Center for Leadership Excellence,317-727-6464 or at pprosser@cciindy.com