Wanted: Courageous Followers
“Followership is a discipline of supporting leaders and helping them to lead well. It is not submission, but the wise and good care of leaders, done out of a sense of gratitude for their willingness to take on the responsibilities of leadership, and a sense of hope and faith in their abilities and potential.”
--Reverend Paul Beedle
"The movement away from command and control leadership has brought new leadership styles that are more democratic and coach-like. The terms “shared leadership,” and “servant leader” are used to describe some of these new ways of interacting. There are also new ways of interacting in the follower role...
"In his book (The Courageous Follower, 2003) Ira Chaleff points out... that curageous followers help leaders stay on track and manage their decision-making processes in the right direction...When both the leader and follower are focused on the common purpose a new relationship between them arises. This new relationship is candid, respectful, supportive and challenging. It is a relationship that honors open communication, honesty and trust from both parties...
"According to Chaleff, there are three things we need to understand in order to fully assume responsibility as followers.
Understand our power and how to use it...
Appreciate the value of the leader and the contributions he or she makes to forward the organization’s mission...
Work toward minimizing the pitfalls of power by helping the leader to remain on track ...
"Chaleff identifies and defines what is required of followers to become an equal partner with the leader in fulfilling the purpose of the organization.
The Courage to Assume Responsibility....
The Courage to Serve...
The Courage to Challenge...
The Courage to Participate in Transformation...
The Courage to Take Moral Action. Courageous followers know when it is time to take a stand that is different from the leader's. The stand may involve refusing to obey a direct order, appealing the order to the next level of authority, or tendering one's resignation. This may involve personal risk but service to the common purpose justifies and sometimes demands such action..."
Read more in Notes for Followership from which the foregoing is quoted.
