Robert Kelley (1992), author of The Power of Followership
Robert Kelley (1992), author of The Power of Followership, suggested that effective followers possess four common qualities:
They are self-managing and able to work effectively without direct supervision;
They are very committed to the organization’s goals;
They possess a high level of competence and mastery of their job skills; and
They act with a high level of credibility and ethics in their job performance.
In this Discussion, you will consider what it means to be a good follower and will consider your own effectiveness in that role.
Consider your own strengths and areas for growth as a follower and how you might improve your followership skills.
BY DAY 3
Post a summary of what effective followership entails, including an analysis of your own effectiveness as a follower. Based on your reading and analysis of this week’s Learning Resources, as well as your own experience and observations, respond to the following:
Do you see yourself as an effective follower? Why or why not? Be sure to provide examples.
What are your strengths and weaknesses, or shortcomings, in being an effective follower? What actions can you take to improve your followership skills?
How can being an effective follower translate to effective leadership? Hint: Your discussion should consider how the “followers” empower or enable the leader’s behaviors (for good or bad).
What recommendations would you make for leaders to better empower and support their followers to meet their goals?
Sample Solution
I believe that I am an effective follower because I am:- Trustworthy: I am someone who can be counted on to follow through on my commitments. I am honest and reliable, and I always do my best to uphold the values and goals of the team or organization.
- Respectful: I respect my leaders and colleagues, even when I disagree with them. I am open to hearing their ideas and perspectives, and I am willing to compromise when necessary.
- Proactive: I am not afraid to take initiative and ask questions. I am always looking for ways to improve my performance and contribute to the team.
Full Answer Section
- Adaptable: I am able to adapt to change and new situations. I am flexible and willing to go the extra mile to get the job done.
- When I was working as a project manager, I was able to successfully complete a complex project on time and within budget. I was able to do this by working closely with my team, communicating effectively with my stakeholders, and being proactive in identifying and addressing challenges.
- In my current role as a software engineer, I am always looking for ways to improve my code and make it more efficient. I am also willing to help my colleagues when they are struggling with a problem.
Strengths and weaknesses as a follower
I believe that my strengths as a follower include:- My ability to work independently and as part of a team
- My ability to communicate effectively
- My ability to learn quickly
- My ability to adapt to change
- I can sometimes be too critical of myself and others
- I can sometimes be hesitant to speak up in meetings
- I can sometimes be too focused on details and lose sight of the big picture
Actions to improve followership skills
To improve my followership skills, I am committed to:- Being more confident in my abilities: I am going to start by acknowledging my strengths and weaknesses. I will also start to take more risks and be more assertive in my communication.
- Being more open-minded: I am going to try to be more open to new ideas and perspectives. I will also try to be more understanding of my leaders and colleagues.
- Being more proactive: I am going to start by taking more initiative and asking questions. I will also start to look for ways to improve my performance and contribute to the team.