Kim Woods Only (600 1.2 R)

Respond to each post (150 words per response)

Post #1

An effective follower is an individual who is an asset to the team effort. Kelly(1998) gave an example of an overstretched bank with a department head that put a unit together without a leader. This group of people not thought to be leaders put their heads together and came up with a great product. These individuals were assets to their company and to encourage effective followership the leader must empower followers.

In a UWTV (2013) episode Phil Condit talks about how everyone is a follower and everyone has a boss. Even when he was the CEO of Boeing he had a board of directors. I think one of the most important things to understand is the idea of what a follower is and how integral this type of person is to the organization. Leaders should also understand that every leader at some point will float between follower and leader. I know when I hear the term “follower” it has a negative connotation. But the word follower is just a label. The idea of the follower regardless of the label given is vital to the success of any organization. Kelley (1988) was absolutely right when stating that Napoleon would just be a man with ambitions without his armies. For me, I would not have been successful on a submarine without the people that surrounded me. Many times I was the follower, and many times we succeeded, because the Sailors were empowered with new responsibilities and abilities to make decisions and come up with their own plans.

Kelley, R. E., (1998), In praise of followers, Harvard Business Review, 66(6), 142-148

UWTV (2013, November 14) Fostering leadership: The power of followership [Video File]. Retrieved from

Post #2

According to Kelley (1988), an effective follower is someone who can think for themselves and carry out their duties and assignments with energy and assertiveness. These are the high performing individuals in an organization that will are independent problem solvers, risk takers, self-starts, who are viewed by their peers and supervisors as hard workers “Good followers support their leaders, but they also push them, asking questions that may lead to stronger decisions and calling out behavior they believe is unethical or dishonest” (Gobble, 2017, p. 61). “Followership is not a person but a role, and what distinguishes followers from leaders Is not intelligence or character but the role they play” (Kelly, 1988, p. 143). To encourage effective followership, we as leaders need to keep them motivated, engaged and productively aligned with the organizations ethos and strategy (Kelly, 1998). Leaders should empower and recognize good followership that they continue with that behavior.

When I think about an effective follower, I think about one of my staff at the Probation Department who does exactly what he is told to do. He is always on time with his reports, he never complains, he has ideas to improve upon things within the unit, he is very thorough with his cases and ensures that he shares information to other staff within the unit. He is a good worker whom his peers look up to and is highly rated by me his supervisor. This staff is an effective follower and meets all the characteristics as stated by Kelley. How I continually motivate him is that I recognize him when he does good work, and I value his opinions and responses to issues and questions that have arise and even have him speak to the rest of the unit about his experiences and what he thinks. With recognition and empowerment, I feel that I’ve encouraged effective followership. When I see effective followership I will recognize and praise the behavior so it will continue.

Kelley, R.E. (1988). In praise of followers. Harvard Business Review, 66(6), 142-148.

Gobble, M.M. (2017). The value of Followership. Research-Technology Management, 59(3), 1036-1059. Retrieved from: DOI 10.5465/amj.2013.0778.

Post #3

The Harvard Business Review (1988) describes an effective follower as having several critical qualities. Summarized, the characteristics which best describes an effective follower are; self management, commitment supporting the organization in a purposeful manner by not exhibiting selfishness, seeking an understanding to build knowledge for the best results, and are risk takers who value ethical behavior.

Leadership defined Northouse (2015), “a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal”. Currently in my organization, we are going through a very large merger and acquisition. It is critical that our leader exhibits a calm demeanor, clearly communicates time lines, is positive for the future direction of the organization, and consistently remains positive and transparent towards the followers. Our leader has done an excellent job implementing these components, as he continues to encourage us as followers to remain committed to the organization, push for positive sales growth, and focus on the here and now without getting caught up in the what if scenarios.

References:

NORTHOUSE, P. G. (2016). Leadership, Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks: SAGE.

Kelley, R. E. (1988). In praise of followers. Boston: Harvard Business Review Case Services.