Getting Started
In a Speaking.com podcast (2018), Barbara Kellerman shared a number of insights that speak directly to our theme of leadership systems:
The balance of power between leaders and followers has been changing perceptibly at least since the Enlightenment. Trace the trajectory of history and you will see how humankind has evolved from a system in which Great Men ruled the world to a system in which ordinary people insist on having a say, the most obvious example being liberal Western democracies. In the last several decades this change has been further accelerated, not only by changes in the culture, but by changes in technology, which bestow on nearly everyone the capacity to secure information, forge connection, and indulge in expression.
When asked about the three most important things leaders need to understand about followership, Kellerman responded:
Leadership is a system, not a person. This system has three parts: leaders, followers, and context. So, what matters most about followers will depend not only on the nature of the followers, but also on the nature of the leader and the context.
She concluded her remarks by listing three key takeaways:
Followers have always been more important than they are given credit for in the leadership literature.
For a constellation of reasons, some of which I already suggested, followers matter more now than they ever did before.
Followers matter when they do something, and they matter when they do nothing.
Reference
Speaking.com (2018, June 17). The relationship between leaders and followers with Barbara Kellerman. https://speaking.com/blog-post/the-growing-importance-of-followers-with-barbara-kellerman/(new tab)
Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:
Assess the fundamental relationship between effective followers and effective leaders necessary for effective organizations.
Assess the shifting role of follower and leader in an organization.
Watch the following videos:
Read the Kellerman article, Leadership–it’s a system, not a person!(PDF document)
Frame your initial post of 250-300 words around the following themes and thought starters:
Kellerman (2016) asserted that “it is impossible to exaggerate the degree to which followers have been relegated to the margins in both segments (leadership studies and leadership development) of the (leadership) industry.” McCallum (2013) suggested that “followership may take the backseat to leadership, but it matters…(a lot!).” He goes on to list eight qualities that may be expressed in those who follow well. After reviewing those eight as well as perhaps identifying others yourself, consider how you and/or colleagues/peers of yours might become better followers. Where would you begin the process of exhibiting better follower characteristics in your workplace? Be specific. And be sure to include at least two sources other than your assigned course materials to help inform your discussion posting and responses.