Redefining Leadership and Followership

Dr. Gene Habecker

The Limitations of Leadership Development • How many have ever attended a Followership conference?• Usually there are only Leadership Conferences.• So here’s the Q: Because of this strong emphasis on leadership,

do you understand the world to be a better place? Fewer problems? Healthier organizations? An inspired workforce?• Leadership training is a big business: “24 Billion Worth of

Leadership Training and What Do We Get?” The answer: “Not much.” “Have investments in leadership development worked? Probably not so much? So what is the problem?

The Problem: One Possibility…• Have we forgotten how to follow? What it means to follow?• “He (or she) who cannot be a good follower cannot be a

good leader.” Aristotle• “If you want to be a great leader, you must first become a

great follower.” Michael Hyatt• “Bookshelves across the nation are filled with ‘How-to’

books on effective leadership. Few focus on effective followership: To be a great leader, one must first learn to be a dedicated follower. This is as true in the military as it is in corporate America.” US Military Chaplains Bible

The Priority of Followership in Leadership• HBR article, August 6, 2018: “To Be a Good Leader, Start by Being a

Good Follower.”• Here are article highlights:• “Leaders are only ever as effective as their ability to engage

followers.” • “Without followership, leadership is nothing.”• “This perspective (the continued emphasis on leadership)

identifies a major flaw in the usual advice for aspiring leaders. Instead of seeking to stand out from their peers, they may be better served by ensuring that they are seen to be a good follower.” (emphasis added)

The Priority of Followership, cont’d

• The HBR article summary:

• “It seems that those who want to lead are well served by first endeavoring to follow.”

• “Teach me to follow, Lord, and lead me in the right path….” Psa.27.11a

A Preliminary Definition of a Leader

• A leader is someone who has at least one follower.• If you have no followers, you are not a leader.

• “If your staff ‘have to follow’ it means you hold a position of authority and have subordinates.

• “If your staff ‘want to follow’ it means you are a leader who has followers.• Make sense so far?

Preliminary Leadership Definition, cont.• “Leader” is one of those words that requires its

opposite to have meaning:• Hot v. cold• Tall v short• Left v. right• Rich v. poor• Win v. lose• Up v. down• Close v. far

A Better Definition of Leadership

• A Leader is:

• A person with influence;

• Who empowers followers;

• To accomplish;

• A shared purpose.

• Discuss:

The Key to Leadership? Follow and Lead; Lead and Follow

• What makes organizations thrive, even flourish, is when there is a shared understanding that leaders and followers are needed, not just one or another.

• Paradoxically, it is often the same people who end up playing alternating roles.

• If given the choice: Purple (follower) and Gold (leader) baseball caps; which one would you choose?

Follow and Lead; Lead and Follow: Examples

• Example: India baseball cap story: purple (follower) and gold (leader); Goal – one of each!

• The Taylor Mission Statement story:

• My role when attending meetings of the Faculty

• “Few indeed are the misadventures that aren’t foreseen by somebody in the organization.”

• “Few indeed are the opportunities….”

Followership Examples from Scripture• “And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel

and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people.” 2 Samuel 5.12 NLT

• Christ asks us first to be His followers: • “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul,

all your strength, and all of your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10.25 ff• “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people….

But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant…. For I am here among you as one who serves.” Luke 22.24-27 NLT

Followership Examples from Scripture

• Christ is our example of what it means to follow:• John 13.3:• “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over

everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.”• So his next action? Mimic “Bruce Almighty?” He washed

their feet.• Moving experience at TU: Dr. Wellington Chiu – foot

washing! Student leaders washed my feet!• Philippians 2.1-11 Read

So In Your Leadership, What Do You Want?

• The Ceramic Cup? – Simon Sinek OR The Servant’s Towel?

• In your leadership, don’t just settle for being the leader. Follow and Lead; lead and follow. But how?

• Start by being a follower of Jesus: reflect in the way you serve the heart of a shepherd; theattitude of a servant. Fruit of the Spirit – Gal. 5.22,23

• Be a listener to those you lead. Check your pronoun use. Chief Listening Officer on campus?

• Be a learner from those you lead; role reversals.

• Always have the interest of your followers at heart (the families you serve). 2 Sam. 5.12