Followership in Corporate America

In the dynamic landscape of corporate America where leadership often takes center stage, the concept of followership plays an equally critical role in shaping organizational success. While leadership typically garners more attention, effective followership is fundamental to achieving shared goals, fostering a collaborative work culture, and driving innovation. We learned in this week’s lesson that followership is defined as “a process whereby an individual or individuals accept the influence of others to accomplish a common goal” (Northouse, 2021 p. 353). I have been in a leadership role within my company for over 15 years. Having a strong relationship with my employees is key because I like to think of it as a partnership. Usually you do hear a negative connotation on followers, however, they play a crucial part in the success of my business. It is imperative that I give them a voice to express their feelings and perceptions of myself and the company because I have seen when followers withdraw, regress, and leave a leader. There is a common phrase in my business when we see a lot of employee turnover in a location and it is that “People do not quit jobs, they quit the leaders”. I will discuss a few key principles that I have learned over the years while working in corporate America.

Effective followership begins with a deep understanding and alignment with the overarching goals, vision, and values of the organization. Followers who grasp the company’s mission and objectives are better equipped to contribute meaningfully towards its success. By embracing and internalizing these guiding principles, followers align their efforts and actions with the broader organizational agenda, thereby enhancing synergy and coherence across all levels. This can incorporate through aligning with organizational goals. “Typically, followers comply with the directions and wishes of leaders-they defer to leaders’ powers” (Northouse, 2021 p.353). It is important for leaders and followers to share a common goal to work towards because this is typically the preliminary steps to success.

Trust forms the bedrock of effective followership, fostering strong interpersonal relationships and collaboration within the organizational ecosystem. Followers who uphold integrity, reliability, and transparency earn the trust and respect of their peers and superiors, thereby enhancing teamwork, communication, and collective problem-solving. Through open dialogue, active listening, and constructive feedback, followers cultivate a culture of trust and collaboration that underpins organizational resilience and success.”Followership carries with it a responsibility to consider the morality of one’s actions and the rightness or wrongness of the outcome of what one does a follower” (Northouse, 2021 p. 354).

Followership entails actively supporting and complementing the efforts of organizational leaders. While leaders provide strategic direction and vision, followers play a pivotal role in executing plans, implementing decisions, and rallying behind collective initiatives. By demonstrating respect, trust, and loyalty towards leadership, followers foster a culture of cohesion, collaboration, and mutual respect within the corporate framework. Also, the willingness to take initiative and assume responsibility proactively is very courageous of a follower. Rather than passively awaiting instructions, followers who exhibit initiative identify opportunities, propose solutions, and take decisive action to advance organizational objectives. We learned in this week’s reading that Chaleff stated, “followers should be morally strong and work to do the right thing when facing the multiplicity of challenges that leaders place upon them”. (Northouse, 2021 p. 359). By demonstrating initiative, followers not only alleviate the burden on leaders but also contribute to a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous improvement.

In conclusion, followership in corporate America encompasses a diverse array of principles and practices that are essential for organizational success and sustainability. By embodying traits such as alignment with organizational goals, support for leadership, initiative, trust-building, and being adaptable, followers contribute significantly to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence within their respective organizations. As integral contributors to the corporate ecosystem, followers play a pivotal role in driving collective success and achieving shared aspirations in the dynamic landscape of corporate America.

Northouse, P.G. (2021). Leadership: Theory & Practice (9th ed.). SAGE Publishing.