Aspire to follow as well as to lead
We all find ourselves leading and following at different times. Being skilled at both gives us more freedom to choose how to behave in any situation.
Both following and leading are people focused. They require us to be aware of our self, our possibilities, and our impact on others. What skills are needed and how can we develop those?
Here are the key elements:
As a follower, I
understand and share my leader’s purpose
translate my leader’s instruction into action without delay
act as fast as I can while carrying out actions with clarity, confidence, and control
signal clearly to my leader when reaching a limit or needing more time or support
do not anticipate my leader’s instructions. I simply maintain readiness to follow in any direction at any time
act under my own steam. I do not rely on my leader to hold me up. I know how to find and maintain my own balance
make life as easy as possible for my leader, within the limits of my skill
may suggest other courses of action to my leader to take, but only if I have sufficient skill to do so without disrupting the flow of action
As a leader, I
know what my purpose is and which direction I want to go
adjust my plans in response to events
create a safe environment for my followers to perform in
create a comfortable environment for my followers to perform in
give clear instructions to followers, carrying out my actions with clarity, confidence, and control
adjust my plans to the skill level of my followers
adjust how directive or collaborative I am in giving instructions, depending on the needs of my followers
adjust how much detail I use in giving instructions, depending on the skill level of my followers
The above describe the actions of following and leading. They apply in any situation where we want to work in harmony with others.
Of course, many good leaders are also good educators, coaches, or trainers, and seamlessly combine leadership with helping their followers improve. But this is not a necessary part of leading. The necessary part is creating the conditions for followers to perform the best they can in the here and now.
Nevertheless, an alert follower following an accomplished leader will learn a lot from the way they are invited to follow. And an aware leader will, in the process of leading, sense a good deal of what their followers are going through, finding cues to improve their leading.
Being able to carry out actions while maintaining comfort and balance is a matter of technique. However good one’s technique, there is always some aspect that can be improved. It helps to be aware of what points you want to work on and consciously practice. You can only work on your own technique; the technique and skill level of the people around you is something you must take as given.
Crucially, a good leader and good follower are each attentive to the other’s comfort and well-being. This is a matter of mindset, of approaching the partnership as a collaborative endeavour where success of the partnership is the only thing that counts. This is a loving relationship.
I have found Argentine Tango to be a great parallel for leading and following in any situation. As a pair dance, there is always a leader and a follower, who aim to work in harmony. When I was first learning to dance the Argentine Tango,
as a beginner follower I often found my self anticipating my leader’s lead, taking a step they hadn’t intended, or pulling them off balance as I struggled with my own balance. As a result, my leader was less able to focus on the dance; and I was using unnecessary effort.
as a beginner leader I lacked clarity in my own movement to convey my intention clearly to my followers. I gave conflicting or distorted signals. I focused narrowly on some aspect of my technique, or some aspect of my follower’s technique, and found other activity going on around me distracting. I was unaware of my follower’s (dis)comfort, being too occupied with maintaining my own balance. And I was unable to hold the purpose of the dance (to have fun together) in mind for any length of time.
With practice and attention my dancing improved. The learnings for both following and leading have stayed with me. I continue to use them in any situation where I want to work in harmony with others – which is most of the situations I find my self in at work, in social life, or at home.
In summary:
as a follower I remain focused on executing the actions asked of me. If I have a higher level of skill, I may make suggestions to my leader – but only if I can do so without disrupting the flow of activity.
as a leader I focus in two places: on where to go next and on keeping followers performing. The balance of my attention shifts in response to events.
What are your experiences in following and leading? What kind of practice have you found useful? Please leave a comment.