“He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.”
This piece of wisdom is attributed to the Greek philosopher Aristotle. It’s advice widely advocated and trained by sports teams, the military, and other effective organizations.
My previous post examined the tendency for young people to cluelessly do irresponsible things to fit in with a social group for the purpose of allaying feelings of insecurity. They conform to a social clique, often doing valueless and even harmful things, such as vaping, drinking, and drugging. They act like sheep, errantly following the herd off the side of a cliff to belong for a short-term, false sense of security.
That’s not to say that all following is bad. Adhering to a principled, value-based group, such as a religious organization or other virtuously purposed entities, can be highly advantageous. It’s a uniquely human quality to learn to conform to and imitate the cultural norms of a group, such as a team or religion, to enable and sustain the valued principles of such entities, as detailed by Michael Tomasello in his acclaimed book Becoming Human: A Theory of Ontogeny (2019).
Making the Right Decision
Conformity to the correct herd can move us toward long-term, meaningful outcomes. Wrong herd behavior, not so much. It’s a lifelong dilemma of choosing which herd to join or reject, and what behaviors to imitate or resist.
To follow or not to follow—that is the question.
A correct and meaningful choice is a contextual decision-making process, as emphasized by Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), an approach to psychological intervention that trains people to do what matters most with value-based choices and behavior. Engaging in smoking marijuana, rage-baiting, and other deleterious behaviors just to fit in with a herd doesn’t quite qualify as meaningful living.
Effective team members and leaders are anchored by their ability to adhere to and model the defining principles of an organization with meaningful purpose. They are part of a herd, but not one that’s leading its members into oblivion off a cliff.
Successful people also follow in a manner that does not deter them from pursuing their own goals. They are like a G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) climbing their unique path up a mountain in their quest for personal achievement.
Adhering to principled living in a group (herd) setting is a concept called followership.
“Followership” Defined
Much has been written to explain this concept. We will focus on the work of Kleinsmith, S & Everts-Rogers, S. (2000), who identified these five vital aspects of followership:
1. Be a team player: Concentrate on the common goals (and values) of the organization.
2. Demonstrate a strong work ethic.
3. Possess high positive self-regard and maintain high expectations for yourself.
4. Project optimism to others.
5. Practice interpersonal intelligence.
- Listen to others carefully.
- Treat others respectfully, the way they would like to be treated.
- Do not take yourself too seriously and be able to laugh at yourself.
- Be supportive of the leader.
- Do great work without threatening the leader.
Warren Bennis, a prolific writer of leadership material, made this important addition to effective followership: “Be willing to tell the truth. Sharing with the leader truthful facts and honest opinions that might be hard for them to hear.” When speaking out, do so respectfully and honestly. Courage is required!
A Sports Point of View
Well-run teams have value-based guidelines and behavioral expectations to be followed. There are other team things not to go along with. There are times to follow and times to not. Make the right decision.
Here are a few examples of the principled things:
- Treating coaches, teammates, and officials with respect
- Assisting coaches with cleaning up after practice
- Taking responsibility for your mistakes without blaming teammates
- Displaying the courage to assertively confront a teammate when they violate team guidelines
These actions will demonstrate that you’re a follower of team expectations and will earn the respect of everyone associated with the team.
What not to follow? A herd mentality that encourages:
- Rage-baiting, hazing, or bullying teammates
- Heckling opponents
- Drinking or getting high at team parties
These behaviors are violations of team, sportsmanship, or legal principles. That’s behaving like a clueless sheep.
Leadership Essential Reads
A Religious Perspective
“If you want to see how truly religious someone is, don’t watch them in church, watch them in the parking lot after church.”
This astute, humorous quip from an acquaintance of mine has it right. Many people regularly attend worship services and carefully follow the customs and rituals of their religions. Great, if it assists in virtuous living. But what do some of them do “in the parking lot”? Cheat on their taxes, spouse, or both. Engage in racist behavior, lie, etc.
That’s a small sampling of behavior that does not jibe with the moral virtues espoused by any reputable religion. Such immoral sheep believe that abiding by the rituals of their religious group makes them a faithful, righteous person.
Nope.
At the End of the Day
Following is a valued process if it leads to principled standards of behavior and doesn’t interfere with the pursuit of personal, meaningful life pursuits.
Thoughtlessly conforming to what everybody else does just to fit in with a herd to avoid feelings of insecurity can lead to lifelong disappointment and peril. It will deliver short-term security, but little else.
Executing the vital aspects of followership can deliver effectiveness and quality leadership in sports and other organizational endeavors. Behaving in accordance with the guidelines and moral principles of a team, organization, or religion can ensure a meaningful life of fulfillment.
Goats climb mountains striving for the top, and if they belong to a team, religion, or other group, they adhere to principled behavior. Sheep just thoughtlessly follow the herd.
Be the G.O.A.T.!
