Situations and Team Capabilities

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Overview What is the importance of good followership?What is the importance of good followership? What are the readiness factors of followers?What are the readiness factors of followers? How do you build effective relationships with leaders?How do you build effective relationships with leaders? How can you be an effective follower?How can you be an effective follower?

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Quick Write On a piece of paper, list some of the roles you might have as a follower—in school, at work, in your training, and elsewhere. List under each role the ways you show you are a good follower. Photo courtesy of Clipart.com

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 The Importance of Good Followership “Before you can lead, you have to learn to follow”“Before you can lead, you have to learn to follow” Followership is displaying the attitudes, behaviors, and actions that help a leader succeed at leadingFollowership is displaying the attitudes, behaviors, and actions that help a leader succeed at leading A dynamic follower who shares the leader’s goals and values is an invaluable team memberA dynamic follower who shares the leader’s goals and values is an invaluable team member

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 The Follower Relationship Throughout your life you will be a follower in one role or anotherThroughout your life you will be a follower in one role or another For example, on a sports team, you follow the lead of the captain or coachFor example, on a sports team, you follow the lead of the captain or coach Photo courtesy of Thinkstock Images

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 The Follower Relationship The relationship between follower and leader sometimes blursThe relationship between follower and leader sometimes blurs During a single day, a team member’s role might flip back and forth from leader to followerDuring a single day, a team member’s role might flip back and forth from leader to follower A group of business leaders was asked to list traits they looked for in leaders and followers. The traits they chose were similar:A group of business leaders was asked to list traits they looked for in leaders and followers. The traits they chose were similar: –Leader: honest, competent, forward-looking, inspiring –Follower: honest, competent, dependable, cooperative

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Followers Have Power As a member of a group, you probably possess certain skills or knowledge that no one else doesAs a member of a group, you probably possess certain skills or knowledge that no one else does To the degree that the team needs your knowledge and skills, you as a follower can exert considerable powerTo the degree that the team needs your knowledge and skills, you as a follower can exert considerable power Your skill may even be the power of your personalityYour skill may even be the power of your personality

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 The Readiness Factors of Followers The Readiness Factors of Followers Readiness is how prepared a team member is to carry out a particular task or tasksReadiness is how prepared a team member is to carry out a particular task or tasks Team members are at different levels of readiness as they face each taskTeam members are at different levels of readiness as they face each task The leader’s job is to help followers gain the knowledge and skills they need to perform at the highest level they canThe leader’s job is to help followers gain the knowledge and skills they need to perform at the highest level they can

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 The Readiness Factors of Followers The Readiness Factors of Followers Three factors determine readiness:Three factors determine readiness: –ability –willingness –confidence Photo courtesy of Ilene Perlman

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Ability of Followers Ability is the knowledge, experience, and skill a team member or a team brings to a taskAbility is the knowledge, experience, and skill a team member or a team brings to a task If you are a leader, first consider the task you will be assigning and its desired outcomeIf you are a leader, first consider the task you will be assigning and its desired outcome Then decide which followers are best suited, by knowledge, skill, and experience, to handle that taskThen decide which followers are best suited, by knowledge, skill, and experience, to handle that task

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Willingness of Followers Willingness is the degree to which a team member or a team shows confidence, commitment, and motivation to accomplish a taskWillingness is the degree to which a team member or a team shows confidence, commitment, and motivation to accomplish a task Willingness consists of the ability to do the work, a sense of duty in doing it, and a desire to do itWillingness consists of the ability to do the work, a sense of duty in doing it, and a desire to do it Ability and willingness work in tandemAbility and willingness work in tandem

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Confidence of Followers As team members learn more and become more competent, their confidence level will increaseAs team members learn more and become more competent, their confidence level will increase Confidence is a team member’s level of energy, enthusiasm, and commitmentConfidence is a team member’s level of energy, enthusiasm, and commitment As a leader, you must be aware of your followers’ changing levels of confidence and competenceAs a leader, you must be aware of your followers’ changing levels of confidence and competence

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Confidence of Followers Followers usually become increasingly confident as work proceedsFollowers usually become increasingly confident as work proceeds This is not always true, howeverThis is not always true, however In any case, a leader should never label a team memberIn any case, a leader should never label a team member

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Building Effective Relationships With Leaders Many followers say they have a “good” leader or a “bad” leader, and assume they can’t do anything to change itMany followers say they have a “good” leader or a “bad” leader, and assume they can’t do anything to change it They’re wrong: the leader alone does not determine the quality of the relationship between leader and followerThey’re wrong: the leader alone does not determine the quality of the relationship between leader and follower Effective followers know how to strengthen their relationship with their leadersEffective followers know how to strengthen their relationship with their leaders

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Building Effective Relationships With Leaders As a follower, how can you strengthen the leader-follower relationship? Photo courtesy of Clipart.com

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Always Help the Leader Succeed Always Help the Leader Succeed Followers need to help their leaders succeedFollowers need to help their leaders succeed Remember that you and your leader are part of the same teamRemember that you and your leader are part of the same team If the team succeeds, everyone benefitsIf the team succeeds, everyone benefits If the team fails, the blame should fall on the followers as well as the leaderIf the team fails, the blame should fall on the followers as well as the leader

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Understand the Leader’s World Understand the Leader’s World Effective team members must know the leader’s and organization’s objectives so they can share that visionEffective team members must know the leader’s and organization’s objectives so they can share that vision Knowing the leader’s values, preferences, and personality can help a follower understand the leader’s actions and decisionsKnowing the leader’s values, preferences, and personality can help a follower understand the leader’s actions and decisions Such understanding gives followers insight into how to strengthen their relationships with their leadersSuch understanding gives followers insight into how to strengthen their relationships with their leaders

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Educate Your Leader Leaders don’t have all the answersLeaders don’t have all the answers A new leader almost always needs team members’ helpA new leader almost always needs team members’ help It’s up to followers to orient and educate a new leader about team members’ expertise and experienceIt’s up to followers to orient and educate a new leader about team members’ expertise and experience This is especially important if the leader comes from a different field or activityThis is especially important if the leader comes from a different field or activity

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Keep Your Leader Informed Few people like surprises—especially if it’s bad newsFew people like surprises—especially if it’s bad news As a follower, never put your leader in the embarrassing situation of having someone else know more about the team’s business than he or she doesAs a follower, never put your leader in the embarrassing situation of having someone else know more about the team’s business than he or she does Photo courtesy of Clipart.com

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Adapt to Your Leader’s Style Adapt to Your Leader’s Style It’s the follower’s responsibility to adapt to the leader’s style, not vice versaIt’s the follower’s responsibility to adapt to the leader’s style, not vice versa Followers need to be flexibleFollowers need to be flexible They need to adapt to the leader’s decision- making style, problem-solving strategies, methods of communication, and styles of interactionThey need to adapt to the leader’s decision- making style, problem-solving strategies, methods of communication, and styles of interaction If your leader does not set clear expectations, ask for clarificationIf your leader does not set clear expectations, ask for clarification

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 How to Be an Effective Follower How to Be an Effective Follower Be honestBe honest Don’t gripeDon’t gripe Be proactive; takeBe proactive; take the initiative the initiative Make sound decisionsMake sound decisions Be enthusiasticBe enthusiastic Be versatile and flexibleBe versatile and flexible Photo courtesy of Clipart.com

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Being an Effective Follower Use your experience as a follower to help you become an effective leaderUse your experience as a follower to help you become an effective leader The differences between a leader and a follower are quite smallThe differences between a leader and a follower are quite small This is because good leaders and good followers share a goal—to be part of an excellent teamThis is because good leaders and good followers share a goal—to be part of an excellent team

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Review Followership is displaying the attitudes, behaviors, and actions that help a leader succeed at leadingFollowership is displaying the attitudes, behaviors, and actions that help a leader succeed at leading The relationship between follower and leader sometimes blursThe relationship between follower and leader sometimes blurs To the degree that the team needs your knowledge and skills, you as a follower can exert considerable powerTo the degree that the team needs your knowledge and skills, you as a follower can exert considerable power Readiness is how prepared a team member is to carry out a particular task or tasksReadiness is how prepared a team member is to carry out a particular task or tasks

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Review Ability is the knowledge, experience, and skill a team member or a team brings to a taskAbility is the knowledge, experience, and skill a team member or a team brings to a task Willingness is the degree to which a team member or a team shows confidence, commitment, and motivation to accomplish a taskWillingness is the degree to which a team member or a team shows confidence, commitment, and motivation to accomplish a task Confidence is a team member’s level of energy, enthusiasm, and commitmentConfidence is a team member’s level of energy, enthusiasm, and commitment

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Review Effective followers know how to strengthen their relationship with their leadersEffective followers know how to strengthen their relationship with their leaders Use your experience as a follower to help you become an effective leaderUse your experience as a follower to help you become an effective leader Remember that the differences between a leader and a follower are quite smallRemember that the differences between a leader and a follower are quite small

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Summary What is the importance of good followership?What is the importance of good followership? What are the readiness factors of followers?What are the readiness factors of followers? How do you build effective relationships with leaders?How do you build effective relationships with leaders? How can you be an effective follower?How can you be an effective follower?

Chapter 8, Lesson 2 Next Done—situations and team capabilitiesDone—situations and team capabilities Next—leadership preparationNext—leadership preparation Photo courtesy of Peter Macdiarmid Getty Images