Introduction
Followership can often be viewed in a negative context. However, followers are a necessary element that creates a leader because they realize leadership’s main feature is managing people. Moreover, the organization’s productivity largely depends on the team’s work and its members’ ability to perceive and implement management tasks. Therefore, this paper will analyze the phenomenon of followership as an essential component of any leadership process.
The Relationship between Leadership, Followership, and Situation
There is an interdependent relationship between the leader and followers, so leadership cannot be considered separately from the concept of followership. The presence of followers forms a leader and gives the necessary power to manage the situation (Northouse, 2021). Even though the concept of followership often has a negative connotation, the followers are the main driving force to solve the situation. The leader’s task is determining how to manage the situation and the team. However, the followers implement the tasks and have the greatest effect on organizational results (Northouse, 2021). Hence, the outcome of any situation in the company directly depends on the employees who follow the leader. Moreover, engaged followers can influence the leader and change management strategies to increase productivity and efficiency. Therefore, leadership can only exist with followers since they are the source of the realization of the leader’s power.
Following Bad Leaders
I think that one of the main reasons why people follow bad leaders is that it is often difficult to tell a good leader from a destructive one. Often, leaders who do not consider the team’s opinion and prefer to make decisions independently are considered more purposeful and effective. Moreover, according to the Kelley typology, passive and conformist followers always follow the leader and do not analyze the situation on their own (Northouse, 2021). This type of followership promotes a misconception about what leaders should be. Moreover, the leader and followers must work towards a common goal (Northouse, 2021). However, they can often put their own goals above the company’s, and therefore, choose a leader who will create the least obstacles for this.
Phenomenon of Followership
The followership phenomenon is a two-way process that requires leaders and followers to have certain characteristics. According to the theory of Uhl-Bien et al., there are certain attributes for followership characteristics, leader characteristics, behavior, and outcomes that determine the process of followership (Northouse, 2021). Important components of this process are the personal qualities of the followers, their motivation, and the level of perception and interpretation of the followership concept. At the same time, the leader is determined by his followers’ power level, influence, and perception. These characteristics determine the type of interaction and behavior of the leader and team (Northouse, 2021). Outcomes fledge individually for the follower and leader and their interaction.
Followers as a Critical Part of the Leadership
I agree that followers are the critical component without which leadership does not exist. Northouse (2021) says that the influence of followers on the work of the organization and the leader has not been studied for a long time. One of the reasons for this is the presence of social prejudices that create a negative perception of the followership concept. People are convinced that leaders are the most important component of managing a situation. However, in reality, leaders only set the direction while followers do most of the work. Moreover, the presence of followers determines the key characteristics of a leader, such as power, competence, and the ability to establish effective interaction with others.
Conclusion
Thus, having followers is crucial to leadership. The team demonstrates the leader’s effectiveness and is the main driving force for implementing ideas or solving problems. However, for effective followership and leadership performance, it is necessary that both parties are equally interested in achieving a common goal for the company. Moreover, people must not just follow but can think for themselves to guide the leader’s actions and optimize teamwork and its outcomes.
Reference
Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage.