Robert E Kelly, in his article ‘In praise of followers,’ asserts that there is still a shameful experience of companies that achieve adequate performance and profits from employees whom they treat like second-class citizens. “But imagine for a moment the power of an organisation blessed with fully engaged, fully energised, fully appreciated followers!” he wonders. Although we have been led to believe that corporations succeed or fail, compete or crumble, based on their managers’ leadership potentials, this isn’t the case entirely. Whereas leadership matters greatly, it’s equally as important to not lose sight of the people that are being led. Without his armies, after all, Napoleon was just a man with grandiose ambitions, writes Kelly. Effective followership is an important aspect of any organisation. As a leader, to ensure that those you lead are in fact following you, you first need to understand the nature of their role and how different it is from yours as a leader. Jean Michel Habineza, a leadership trainer for students is of the view that, followership needs to be given as much attention as leadership. But first, the difference between these two roles should be clear, he adds. “Instead of seeing a leadership role as superior to the role of the follower, we can think of both roles as equal though in different ways. Most people tend to learn leadership and when it is played well, they applause and recognition is given. This is why followership has become an abandoned aspect,” he comments. Why he thinks followership matters a lot and that everyone needs these skills, is the fact that all people, even leaders, are followers in one way or another. “Even when you have subordinates, you will still have bosses. For every committee you will chair, you will still sit as a member in another, so we are all followers in one way or another.” Lucky Nzeyi, a global challenges student at African Leadership University says that in fact, active followership is another skill needed on the market today. “As organisations grow, the role of followers becomes more and more important because orders can have power or not, basing on whom they are addressed(followers), not only the ones addressing them (leaders),” he explains. He advises people to make an effort to cultivate these skills saying that they are as relevant for a job success just like leadership skills. “Commit to strong purposes and be individually responsible in your company. This will prove to your managers that you do not actually need outside influences to excel in your career,” he says.
