"Followership in a Leadership World"

Robert E. Kelly wrote the 14th Chapter in Insights on Leadership. His essay is one of my favorites from the book and is titled “Followership in a Leadership World”.

I recently picked up a copy of Herman Hess’s book the Journey To The East in order to learn more about the character that played a part in Greenleaf’s Servant Leadership concepts. In his essay, Kelly interprets Hess’s character in an interesting manner.

Kelly writes, “Leo is the quintessential exemplary follower, the kind of person that no leader or group can succeed without. Leo knew what it took for the journey to proceed. He willingly did the tough work without any glory. He did not demand the limelight or constant praise. Leo was content with his role as servant”

Finding myself, much more often in the follower role that in the more glamorous leadership role, I can relate to this view of Leo. It is a great reminder that follower-ship is as important, if not more important than leadership, for a leader with out followers can accomplish very little. Followers get the work done and they get it done in a meaningful way.