CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Team Charleston, in the military, we constantly study the concepts of leadership and the qualities that make a good leader. In this continuous pursuit for professional development, we seem to focus on leadership and somehow overlook an equally important quality -- followership. In my experience, I have found that the best leaders are those who acknowledge and appreciate the professional nature of followership and they themselves have found the need to master it.
At first glance, many may view followership in a negative light. Some may see it as a submissive quality that indicates weakness. Others may find it to be a cowardly response to every person that outranks them. These views, and others like them, could not be farther from the truth. There is more to followership than uninformed responses to directions from our leaders. Followership is a positive professional leadership quality that promotes good order and discipline.
For us, as Airmen, it is an informed conscious commitment to honor our oath of enlistment. It is the practical application that affirms the vow we made to obey the orders of those appointed over us. This applies not only to us, but also to those who follow us.
It takes hard work, practice and discipline to become an effective follower. If we pay close attention as we grow and develop as leaders, there are many followership lessons to be learned along the way. For example, similar to leaders, followers must develop the confidence to speak up when they can contribute to the task at hand. This type of assertiveness provides relevant information that assists leaders in making informed decisions. Smart constructive input displays initiative and shows that one is a mission-minded follower with their head in the fight. To me, this does not sound submissive, weak or cowardly. To me, this sounds assertive, strong and brave. I believe this is a more accurate view of followership.
Another trait of an effective follower is that they recognize leadership authority and value its role in accomplishing the mission. Effective followers are also loyal to leadership and true to the mission. They willingly accept the final decision as the leadership position and they make it their own. These are just a few follower traits that demonstrate a follower's understanding and commitment to the professional nature of followership.
When viewed from the leadership perspective, effective followers enhance the relationship between leader and follower. They naturally partner with leadership in a way that communicates their trust and professional support. In response, leaders should cultivate this partnership with trust and support in return. In doing so, they acknowledge their appreciation for the professional nature of followership.
As you can see, much like leadership, followership applies to all of us. At one time or another, we are all leaders, followers or both. However, the question is to what extent do we embrace our role as followers? As leaders, we must first acknowledge and appreciate the professional nature of followership and challenge our subordinates to do the same. And as followers, we must take a professional posture on this issue and strive to be Airmen who we, ourselves, would be proud to lead.
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!