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Before you can lead, you must learn to follow.
In a journal article I had published several years ago, I defined leadership as an art of getting things accomplished through people. What I said then and still believe is that leadership is situational and a person can rise to the occasion when the right situation presents itself. But, before we can lead, we must first learn to follow. Followership is an art in itself; it’s difficult to define, but it is essential in getting things accomplished. Followers get things done; leaders put them together to make something happen.
Let’s examine followership more closely, for without that essential ingredient, success and progress are empty words. Follower is synonymous with disciple, partisan, supporter, advocate and pupil according to my Dictionary of Synonyms. Together, these words explain the characteristics and qualities of the art of successful followership.
Disciple has its roots in the word “discipline,” i.e., the training that corrects, molds and perfects mental faculties and moral character. As followers, we are pupils until the opportunity to exert leadership occurs. As followers, we strive for self-discipline, which also sets us apart as professionals. My military background leads me to believe that imposed discipline is the basis for self-discipline, thus my premise that you must learn to follow before you can lead. You will know when your training is complete because it manifests itself in the attitude of “we over me,” the common good, and a profound sense of mission based on personal sacrifice. Selflessness is both a humbling and exhilarating experience.
Partisan has its roots in the word “participate,” which goes beyond merely taking part in accomplishment. A deeper meaning of participate is “to share,” i.e., sharing in the responsibility for a lack of accomplishment or the exhilaration of success. That deeper meaning includes:
Sharing of yourself as your contribution to the success of our mission and accomplishment of our goals;
Outward and open support for our cause;
Personal commitment;
And putting your trust in others.
Let’s translate all of this into our daily activities. The sharing that evolves from followership takes the form of:
Contributing your knowledge and expertise without being asked;
Offering assistance when you can see it makes a difference – even at the expense of your own initiatives;
Lending your presence as a gesture of support;
Offering improvement instead of criticism.
Supporter has its roots in the word “strength” in the form of reinforcement which is not always visible. The follower is a source of strength for the leader. Webster even goes as far as to define support as “enduring bravely or quietly in promoting the interest or the cause of” our mission and/or goals. Support is quietly and consistently helping to make things happen by staying informed, keeping leadership informed and exerting positive, peer influence when the lack of support is apparent.
Advocate is a word that I haven’t addressed. It goes beyond support. Advocates provide visible reinforcement by their presence and vocal support. Advocacy is a quality of followership that has an associated risk, because it is open and most often contrary to a popular position. Personally, I view advocacy as being one step removed from leadership.
Practicing followership is an internship for emerging leaders. Followership requires a degree of imposed discipline as a prerequisite for self-discipline, a key ingredient for successful leadership. Leadership is taking responsibility for XXX: followership provides the training because it teaches the sharing of responsibility. Leadership is built on strength; followership is a source of that strength. Advocacy and leadership share a similar quality; both epitomize a clear stand on the issues. The lesson to be learned here is that before you can lead, you must learn to follow.
Dr. William Wojciechowski is the president of Pratt Community College
Before you can lead, you must learn to follow.
In a journal article I had published several years ago, I defined leadership as an art of getting things accomplished through people. What I said then and still believe is that leadership is situational and a person can rise to the occasion when the right situation presents itself. But, before we can lead, we must first learn to follow. Followership is an art in itself; it’s difficult to define, but it is essential in getting things accomplished. Followers get things done; leaders put them together to make something happen.
Let’s examine followership more closely, for without that essential ingredient, success and progress are empty words. Follower is synonymous with disciple, partisan, supporter, advocate and pupil according to my Dictionary of Synonyms. Together, these words explain the characteristics and qualities of the art of successful followership.
Disciple has its roots in the word “discipline,” i.e., the training that corrects, molds and perfects mental faculties and moral character. As followers, we are pupils until the opportunity to exert leadership occurs. As followers, we strive for self-discipline, which also sets us apart as professionals. My military background leads me to believe that imposed discipline is the basis for self-discipline, thus my premise that you must learn to follow before you can lead. You will know when your training is complete because it manifests itself in the attitude of “we over me,” the common good, and a profound sense of mission based on personal sacrifice. Selflessness is both a humbling and exhilarating experience.
Partisan has its roots in the word “participate,” which goes beyond merely taking part in accomplishment. A deeper meaning of participate is “to share,” i.e., sharing in the responsibility for a lack of accomplishment or the exhilaration of success. That deeper meaning includes:
Sharing of yourself as your contribution to the success of our mission and accomplishment of our goals;
Outward and open support for our cause;
Personal commitment;
And putting your trust in others.
Let’s translate all of this into our daily activities. The sharing that evolves from followership takes the form of:
Contributing your knowledge and expertise without being asked;
Offering assistance when you can see it makes a difference – even at the expense of your own initiatives;
Lending your presence as a gesture of support;
Offering improvement instead of criticism.
Supporter has its roots in the word “strength” in the form of reinforcement which is not always visible. The follower is a source of strength for the leader. Webster even goes as far as to define support as “enduring bravely or quietly in promoting the interest or the cause of” our mission and/or goals. Support is quietly and consistently helping to make things happen by staying informed, keeping leadership informed and exerting positive, peer influence when the lack of support is apparent.
Advocate is a word that I haven’t addressed. It goes beyond support. Advocates provide visible reinforcement by their presence and vocal support. Advocacy is a quality of followership that has an associated risk, because it is open and most often contrary to a popular position. Personally, I view advocacy as being one step removed from leadership.
Practicing followership is an internship for emerging leaders. Followership requires a degree of imposed discipline as a prerequisite for self-discipline, a key ingredient for successful leadership. Leadership is taking responsibility for XXX: followership provides the training because it teaches the sharing of responsibility. Leadership is built on strength; followership is a source of that strength. Advocacy and leadership share a similar quality; both epitomize a clear stand on the issues. The lesson to be learned here is that before you can lead, you must learn to follow.
Dr. William Wojciechowski is the president of Pratt Community College
