Being Thankful for Leaders and Followers
One of the things I love doing in my portfolio of services is mentoring 126 first through fourth grade high ability students for Hamilton Heights Elementary School. I love doing this because it keeps me in a teaching mode with students. As a person who coaches/mentors teachers it is important for me to stay connected facilitating learning for students. Another thing I love is the inspiration that comes from working with these students. Yesterday, while working with third graders we were discussing being thankful, and gratitude. I had them reflect on what they were thankful and grateful for.
One young man in the third grade class said he was thankful for leaders and was also thankful for followers. I was blown away. This was a third grader discussing leaders and followers. How cool is that? I asked him to explain. He told the group that leaders inspire and followers support. Pretty impressive right? Most adults don’t fully understand the importance of the leader-follower relationship.
Make no mistake, I believe everyone is a leader, but we also have to fill the follower role. Both followers and leaders are important because each plays a vital role in creating a positive and productive environment. Leaders inspire, guide, and set the direction, while followers support, provide feedback, and help implement the vision. When we appreciate both, we foster mutual respect, collaboration, and a sense of shared purpose. This gratitude encourages teamwork, strengthens relationships, and helps everyone feel valued, which ultimately leads to greater success and growth for the entire group.
This all reminded me of a discussion we had in a leadership program at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School during by Scholar in Residence program with the C. S. Lewis Foundation at The Kilns. Our professor stressed that an organization’s success relies on “followership.” Followers are many times underrepresented in leadership frameworks. The relationship between leader and follower is an important part of the organization’s culture.
When an environment is created for everyone to be a leader, followers are simultaneously leaders with the capacity for independent and critical thinking. My Oxford friends stressed that there are five distinct styles of followers:
- Effective follower
- Conformist
- Passive follower
- Alienated follower
- Pragmatic survivor
Being an effective follower involves continuous learning and growth. These are key to improving our contributions and staying aligned with our team’s evolving needs. Combine this with respect and collaboration by maintaining a positive attitude, valuing others’ perspectives, and working together toward shared goals. Embracing these qualities fosters a productive, respectful, and successful environment for everyone.
Focusing On Real Work
“A primary task of leadership is to direct attention.” Daniel Goleman taught us this, when referring to The Focused Leader. Last week our Head Tutor, Anne McCarthy, in the leadership program I am in right now at the University of OxfordSaïd Business School, started posing great questions for us to journal. Since my blog is my journal I posted my thoughts. You can read last week’s question and entry in To The Unknown And Beyond. This week’s question was, “Are you choosing to spend your time on the work that really matters? What changes could you make to be more focused on real work?” These questions matter because as I circle back to Goleman’s teaching, our primary task is to direct attention, including our own.
As a founder of a professional service firm who is a one person orchestra, the two questions Anne posed are very interesting. My first reaction was “yes” because I touch everything. Then as I began to reflect on the great schools and organizations I get to work and partner with it is clear that the key to Anne’s question is “focus.” Goleman argued, “a failure to focus inward leaves you rudderless, a failure to focus on others renders you clueless, and a failure to focus outward may leave you blindsided.” I have always used this statement as a guide.
While balancing a focus on self, others, and the wider world is tricky, by focusing on these areas, we can create a balanced approach that prioritizes meaningful work while addressing the needs of ourselves, those we serve, and the larger community. Here are some things that come to mind that are in alignment with the curriculum of the leadership program I am currently in:
- Vision and Goals: We must create a clear vision that encompasses both our personal and collective aspirations. Set goals that resonate on multiple levels – individual, growth, team success, and community impact, which can unify efforts toward common objectives.
- Self-Awareness: We need to develop a strong understanding of our own values, strengths, and weaknesses. Regular reflection can help us stay aligned with our core purpose and make decisions that are authentic and impactful.
- Prioritizing Well-Being: Taking care of our own well-being while also supporting the well-being of those we serve. If we engage in practices that promote mental, emotional, and physical health, our ability to focus on the work that matters.
- Encouraging Collaboration: Promoting a culture of collaboration where our team members and partners feel valued and included. This enhances teamwork, sparks innovation, and enables a broader view of the challenges we face and opportunities, ultimately leading to better decision-making.
- Feedback Loops: Establishing regular processes for timely and actionable feedback from both team members and stakeholders. This creates an environment of transparency and continuous improvement, helping to align efforts with what matters most.
It is great to have this reminder and prompt to reflect on focusing on what matters and the real work.
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