To Become an Effective Leader, Begin with Being an Excellent Follower
Leading from the Back: The Hidden Advantages of Being a Good Follower
Mighty advice for those aiming to wear the crown of leadership is this: "To dominate as a leader, you've got to be perceived as a leader, not just a tagalong." To achieve this, you should eagerly seek out chances to lead, standing tall among the competition.
But tread carefully here, for in the process of claiming the spotlight, you might just undermine your own leadership capabilities. By vying for the top spot, you may end up competing with ones you'll one day need to lead. It's also essential to recognize that leaders thrive on their ability to attract followers. Without those invested supporters, a leader is but a lone ranger.
In truth, leadership is a dance between leader and follower, both part of a shared social group. They share values, concerns, and experiences, and their common mission is to advance the interests of the group, rather than an individual. So, contrary to what we started, perhaps it's better to appear as a devoted colleague, sweat and toil alongside the gang, rather than stand out from the pack.
This idea is a stark departure from our original premise.
A group of research experts delved into the world of Royal Marines, investigating whether the Marines considered leaders by their peers were those who firmly believed in their innate leadership qualities or the ones who focused on getting the work done with their team. The study revealed that those who considered themselves natural leaders struggled to convince their peers of their leadership potential. However, those who threw themselves into the work alongside their fellow troops were viewed as true leaders by the team.
The research also shed light on an intriguing aspect: Leadership choices hinge on the perspective of the evaluator. When superiors were part of the team, they could recognize the hard work of the team members and choose a worthy leader. Conversely, superiors outside the team tended to favor those who view themselves as natural leaders and select them for leadership positions.
This finding explains why external teams of consultants often fail to deliver effective leaders. Appointing a leader whom the team does not recognize as one can have damaging consequences for the team as a whole and weaken the leader's capacity to lead, sapping the willingness of team members to follow the leader's counsel. This grim state of affairs contributes to organizational mediocrity.
Source: Kim Peters and Alex Haslam, "To Be a Good Leader, Start By Being a Good Follower," HBR, 2018/08
Additional Insights:
- Being a follower allows individuals to gain a deeper understanding of team dynamics and develop essential leadership skills such as communication, collaboration, and adaptability.
- Followers who are dedicated and supportive can build trust and respect among their peers and superiors, creating a solid foundation for leadership roles.
- By observing and working under leaders, individuals can learn from their strategies, decision-making processes, and leadership styles, informing their own leadership approach.
- Understanding the needs and perspectives of team members fosters empathy and better decision-making.
- To acquire valuable skills for a future leadership role, it is prudent to focus on personal growth and career development, by first excelling as a follower within the business environment, gaining insights about team dynamics and essential leadership qualities such as communication, collaboration, and adaptability.
- Investing in education-and-self-development to comprehend the nature of teamwork and leadership can yield dividends, as dedicated and supportive followers build trust and respect among peers and superiors, thereby creating a strong foundation for their own leadership tenure.
- Emulating successful leaders and learning from their strategies, decision-making processes, and leadership styles during personal-growth and career-development phases can offer invaluable insights into effective finance and business management, aiding the aspiring leader in honing their leadership style.
