1. Followership CDR Tim Quinn Fall 2007

2. What is
Followership?

3. Followership Ability to place organization ahead of personal ambition
Allegiance and loyalty up and down the chain of command
Ability to recognize they share responsibility to help organization succeed
Ability to know when and how to challenge the status quo
Loyalty is to the institution not necessarily the people

4. Why is Followership Important?
Why important?
– Followers are potential leaders
– Effective followers exhibit the same traits as leaders
– Most leaders are also Followers
– Effective followers exhibit similar characteristics of leaders
– Followers influence leaders as well

5. of Effective Followers?
Qualities/traits
of Effective Followers?

6. Traits/Qualities Dependability Loyalty Bearing Forcefulness Humility
Maturity
Humility
Courage
Integrity
Judgment
Tact
Enthusiasm
Humor
Knowledge
Decisiveness
Self-Discipline
Initiative
Perseverance/Will
Flexibility
Justice
Selflessness
Confidence
Compassion/Empathy
Followership
Endurance

7. Message to
Garcia
What is the message?

8. Follower Styles Five styles, categorized by two dimensions
Independent/critical thinking
vs.
Dependent/uncritical thinking
Active vs. Passive behavior
Independent/Critical Thinking:
– Aware of the significance of their own actions and the actions of others
– Weigh impacts of decisions on vision
– Offer constructive criticism, creativity and innovation
Dependent/Uncritical Thinking:
– Does not consider possibilities beyond what he/she is told
– Does not contribute to improvement
– Accepts leaders ideas w/out thinking
Active:
– Full participation
– Goes above and beyond
– Sense of ownership
– Initiates problem-solving/decision-making
Passive:
– Requires constant supervision/prodding
– Only what’s required
– Avoids added responsibility

9. Follower Styles Active Passive Independent, Critical Thinking
Alienated
Effective
Passive
Conformist
Active
Pragmatic
Survivor
Passive
Alienated
Effective
- Capable, but focused on shortcomings of organization and other people
- Courage to initiate/assume risk
Cynical
- Serve best interest of org
- Don’t help
- Critical for effective org
- Bad Attitude
Passive
Conformist
- Do what they are told but need a lot of supervision
- Carries out any and all orders; No critical thinking
- Leave thinking to leaders
Willing (“Go along to get along”)
- Conflict avoidance
Pragmatic Survivor
Characteristics of all four
Picks whatever style best to benefit HIS position and minimize risk
% of followers
Dependent, Uncritical Thinking

10. Role of the Follower Assume Responsibility: Serve: Challenge:
Personal responsibility (Behavior and actions)
Ownership in organization/mission
Serve:
Discern needs and actively meet them
Serve others OVER themselves
Challenge:
Do not sell mission or integrity to buy harmony/peace
Transform:
The group’s future is your future
Confront changes and work to improve or reshape organization

11. What Followers Want To be led, not controlled Feeling of significance
“I really matter”
Community
Unity of purpose and a willingness to relate to others as human beings
Challenge and excitement
Synergy – combined energy that occurs when people work together to create new alternatives and solutions

12. Followership – Things to Consider
Leaders are also followers
The most effective follower is the one whose goal is to be a future leader
Without dedicated followers, there can be no effective leaders
Being an effective follower is not automatic
Requires a high degree of self-discipline

13. Questions?

14. What is empowerment and why is it important?
For next time…
What is empowerment and why is it important?
Empowerment