The Courageous FollowerA New View of Leader-Follower

Relationships

Leader Followers

Based on the Books

The Courageous Follower and The Art of Followership

Copyright 2009, Ira Chaleff. May be used with attribution

Highlights of the Emerging Field of Followership Studies

• Leader-centric studies citing role of followers • 1988 - HBR article “In Praise of Followers” by Robert Kelley• 1992 – The Power of Followership – Kelley• 1995 – The Courageous Follower – Chaleff• 2003 – Dixon – Dissertation on Chaleff model• 2005 – Lipman-Blumen – Allure of Toxic Leaders• 2006 – Rethinking Followership Conference• 2008 – The Art of Followership – Lipman-Blumen, Riggio, Chaleff• 2008 – Followership – Barbara Kellerman• 2008 – ILA Followership Learning Community• 2009 – Weekly enquiries re: dissertations/ books/articles

Why Followership Now?

• Groundwork laid by leadership scholarship• Failures of leadership at all levels• Inverted pyramid in knowledge orgs• Widespread access to information• Telecommunications enabling peer to peer orientation/collaboration• Language/memes entering the culture• Professional development generating followership standards

Resistance to being “a follower”

• Cultural bias towards leaders• Confusion between follower as personality type and follower as role

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Leader-Follower Organization

Leader-follower Leader-follower

Leader-follower Leader-follower

Leader-follower

Leader-follower Leader-follower Leader-follower

Leader-follower

Leader-follower

Source: Gene Dixon

Resistance to being “a follower”

• Cultural bias towards leaders• Confusion between follower as personality type and follower as role• Desire for egalitarianism

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Shifting Roles

LeaderFollower

Follower

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Shifting Roles

Leader Follower Follower

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Shifting Roles

LeaderFollowerFollower

Distinctions still exist when roles shift with activity

Resistance to being “a follower”

• Cultural bias towards leaders• Confusion between follower as personality type and follower as role• Desire for egalitarianism• Lack of positive models of followership

Common Purpose

The Courageous Follower: A New Model of Leader-Follower Relationships

Leader Followers

Shared Values

Leaders and FollowersServe a Common Purpose

Source: The Courageous Follower – Ira Chaleff

Five Dimensions of Courageous Followership

Courageto:

Assume Responsibility for common purpose

Support leader

and group energetic

ally

Take Moral Action when

needed

Participate in Transformation

Constructively Challenge counterproductive policies & behaviors

Source: The Courageous Follower – Ira Chaleff

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Implementer Partner

High Support

LowSupport

Resource

HighConstructiv

eChallenge

LowConstruct

iveChallenge Individualist

Followership Styles

Source: The Courageous Follower – Ira Chaleff

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Why do Leaders Need Partners?

What dynamics of Leader development and behavior require Courageous Follower behavior?

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Visibility & Pressures Intensify as Leader Rises

Regulation

Rivals

Interest Groups

Family

Press

Budget

Identity Groups

Litigation

Leaders Need Energetic Support

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Impact Magnifies as Leader Rises

Leaders Need Constructive Feedback

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Candid Information & Feedback

NegativeResult

2. Improved Action

Disconfirming Feedback

1. Poor Action

= Learning

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Interrupted Candor & Feedback

Leader Follower

2. Continued Poor Action

= No Learning

InhibitedFeedback

Screened-outFeedback

1.Action

Source: The Courageous Follower – Ira Chaleff

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Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Physical SurvivalSafety

Social Needs - Belonging

Achievement

Self-Actualization

Courage and Skill are needed to speak up

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Other Models of Followership Styles

Art of Followership Chapter 1: Robert Kelley Independent Thinking & Action Engagement Exemplary Followers vs, Sheep, Yes-people,

Alienated and PragmaticsArt of Followership Chapter 11: Rodger Adair How employees view themselves Disciples and Doers vs. Disengaged and

DisgruntledsFollowership: Barbara Kellerman Levels of engagement Isolate, Bystander, Participant, Activist, Diehard

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Need for a Research Agenda

Role of followership in world events Followership in different cultures Early follower development Evolving role of followers Language of followership Courageous Conscience

* Adapted from Kelley chapter – Art of Followership

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For more information Leader-Follower

Partnership

The Key To

The Courageous Followerwww.courageousfollower.com

International Leadership Association’sFollowership Community of Learning

http://followership2.pbwiki.com/