What about Followership ?
Here at ALIA we discuss a lot about Leadership and related subject, but we tend to omit that it isn't one dimensional. I mean that there's no need for Leaders if there's no Followers.
Depending on the context and as appropriate I contribute by playing both role.
Wouldn't it help to better understanding/sensing what Authentic Leadership is, if we explore what Authentic Followership is ? I'm seeking here your help to put both into perspective.
Would this be useful for others as it is for me ?
Depending on the context and as appropriate I contribute by playing both role.
Wouldn't it help to better understanding/sensing what Authentic Leadership is, if we explore what Authentic Followership is ? I'm seeking here your help to put both into perspective.
Would this be useful for others as it is for me ?
Tags: Followership
Views: 6
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by emmanuel iziomoh on
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In every group there is always an individual or individuals who moderate or champion the group activities. In the absent of non,there will be chaos in the group because everybody has different ideas. This is termed DIALETICS. If the leader rather when the leader is an authentic leader the followers will be authentic followers. An authentic leader does not just lead,he/she serves the people.
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Permalink Reply by John Coxon on -
Stephen you make a good point, it does appear we take Followership for granted. To me we are both leaders and followers as we flow in and out of situations. Sometimes we take a leadership role, on other occasions we follow the lead of others. Which of course we will only do if that person leads in a way we can relate to. I would like to think that if I were leading in an authentic way then I would be drawn to people with a similar vision, values, beliefs and behaviours - maybe compatiable more than similar. If so then I would feel comfortable following them.
I do wonder though if follower is the best word to use. To me it seems to conjure up visions of the little lady always walking ten steps behind. If I am surrounded by people with a shared vision and shared set of behaviours, if I have provided authentic leadership, if I have help develop their sense of belonging and they are there because they want to be and I am there because I want to be, then are we leaders and followers or are we collaborators walking side by side?
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Permalink Reply by Stephan R. Sengupta on -
Hi,
I found this blog post quite interesting : The leader-follower dance
It puts both Leadership and Followership into perspective. Like Yin/Yang they are complementary...
Can we admit that there can't be Authentic Followers without Authentic Leaders ? And even that there can't be Authentic Leaders without Authentic Followers ?!
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Permalink Reply by Michael Chender on
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My understanding of authentic leadership is that it is largely about following; in this case following the good, the possibility, the calling, the leverage, which can be quite demanding to find let alone follow, and if you're fortunate enough to have someone you trust minding your business, following what they present. In my experience, emptying out my own agenda through serving others, the very occasional times I'm able to do it, allows room to see past the usual preoccupations.
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Permalink Reply by Stephan R. Sengupta on
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Wow Micheal, you're approaching an aspect that resonates in my heart.
May I ask you to be more explicit and develop your point a bit further ?
Michael Chender said:My understanding of authentic leadership is that it is largely about following; in this case following the good, the possibility, the calling, the leverage, which can be quite demanding to find let alone follow, and if you're fortunate enough to have someone you trust minding your business, following what they present. In my experience, emptying out my own agenda through serving others, the very occasional times I'm able to do it, allows room to see past the usual preoccupations.
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Sure--what's resonating for you?
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Permalink Reply by Stephan R. Sengupta on
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Thanks for your fast reply Michael,
Difficult to tell exactly what resonates, as it is just underneath my conscious, not clear at all but close to emerge. But here I try to formulate some questions :
Isn't the leadership/followership a dialectic that is only a mental representation that in fact has no foundation, what remains is being Authentic ?
Isn't leading/following implying a certain dynamic - that we can call action - connected to the phenomenal (vs. noumenal) world, where connected can be understood from a Buddhist perspective as interdependence that is a synonym of emptiness or "non-self foundation" ? And isn't it the same interdependence that connects the leader with the followers ?
Aren't followers only following their own projections activated by their emotions such as desire, fear, etc. ? These projections may take several forms : Gurus, callings, appeals, the idea of good, etc.
From my understanding authenticity is about following his life mission (call it destiny or karma) that is so to say "engrammed" in the noumenal world. This engram can be sensed in enlarged state of consciousness such as meditation and from my experience it is not static but a dynamic that evolves.
As it is permanently evolving, don't we need to be permanently in contact with it in enlarged stated of consciousness ?
I have some phrase that are always present in my mind : Meditation in Action. Acting noumenaly in a phenomenal world. Wei wu wei. The action of non-action to be its own nature. Being in the world without being part of.
At the end what is the meaning of all that ?
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I can see your passion for these questions but not sure I can follow them. The language is very specific, and carries meanings and assumptions we may not share. In my experience these kinds of discussions are best had with one's friends face-to-face, perhaps graced by alcohol, or with one's teacher in an environment that is pregnant with immediacy.
For me, following brings the gift of simplicity. My (assumed) burden to constantly create and give meaning to moment-by-moment experience is temporarily lifted. What a relief!
Stephan R. Sengupta said:Thanks for your fast reply Michael,
Difficult to tell exactly what resonates, as it is just underneath my conscious, not clear at all but close to emerge. But here I try to formulate some questions :
Isn't the leadership/followership a dialectic that is only a mental representation that in fact has no foundation, what remains is being Authentic ?
Isn't leading/following implying a certain dynamic - that we can call action - connected to the phenomenal (vs. noumenal) world, where connected can be understood from a Buddhist perspective as interdependence that is a synonym of emptiness or "non-self foundation" ? And isn't it the same interdependence that connects the leader with the followers ?
Aren't followers only following their own projections activated by their emotions such as desire, fear, etc. ? These projections may take several forms : Gurus, callings, appeals, the idea of good, etc.
From my understanding authenticity is about following his life mission (call it destiny or karma) that is so to say "engrammed" in the noumenal world. This engram can be sensed in enlarged state of consciousness such as meditation and from my experience it is not static but a dynamic that evolves.
As it is permanently evolving, don't we need to be permanently in contact with it in enlarged stated of consciousness ?
I have some phrase that are always present in my mind : Meditation in Action. Acting noumenaly in a phenomenal world. Wei wu wei. The action of non-action to be its own nature. Being in the world without being part of.
At the end what is the meaning of all that ?
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Permalink Reply by Stephan R. Sengupta on
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Thank you Emmanuel and John for your inspiring contribution !
Michael, I understand. I'll send you direct message in your inbox.
Michael Chender said:I can see your passion for these questions but not sure I can follow them. The language is very specific, and carries meanings and assumptions we may not share. In my experience these kinds of discussions are best had with one's friends face-to-face, perhaps graced by alcohol, or with one's teacher in an environment that is pregnant with immediacy.
For me, following brings the gift of simplicity. My (assumed) burden to constantly create and give meaning to moment-by-moment experience is temporarily lifted. What a relief!
Stephan R. Sengupta said:Thanks for your fast reply Michael,
Difficult to tell exactly what resonates, as it is just underneath my conscious, not clear at all but close to emerge. But here I try to formulate some questions :
Isn't the leadership/followership a dialectic that is only a mental representation that in fact has no foundation, what remains is being Authentic ?
Isn't leading/following implying a certain dynamic - that we can call action - connected to the phenomenal (vs. noumenal) world, where connected can be understood from a Buddhist perspective as interdependence that is a synonym of emptiness or "non-self foundation" ? And isn't it the same interdependence that connects the leader with the followers ?
Aren't followers only following their own projections activated by their emotions such as desire, fear, etc. ? These projections may take several forms : Gurus, callings, appeals, the idea of good, etc.
From my understanding authenticity is about following his life mission (call it destiny or karma) that is so to say "engrammed" in the noumenal world. This engram can be sensed in enlarged state of consciousness such as meditation and from my experience it is not static but a dynamic that evolves.
As it is permanently evolving, don't we need to be permanently in contact with it in enlarged stated of consciousness ?
I have some phrase that are always present in my mind : Meditation in Action. Acting noumenaly in a phenomenal world. Wei wu wei. The action of non-action to be its own nature. Being in the world without being part of.
At the end what is the meaning of all that ?
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Permalink Reply by TR Duncan on -
I sense that in your desire to understand followship, you might actually be looking to understand your true gifts. To me leadership is to know oneself.... it isn't about telling people what to do ... It is totally about understanding oneself... one's capacities and the subtle nuances within your body when you know you are called to speak not from reaction but from the fullness of your being. Followship would mean that you sort by others... and put your values as seconday.
If you know your values and you respect anothers values you can get into a true dialogue about how to create solutions that value both perspectives.. or multiple prespectives.
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Permalink Reply by Stephan R. Sengupta on
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Since, I've started this discussion, I've watched myself and others in that perspective and I came to experience that there are no objects nor subjects, as they are only a mental construct. What I could sense is a dance between two polarities, and all its subtle nuances. What only matters is to serve this dynamic. The dynamic of life.
I agree Ducan : "not from reaction but from fullness of your being". It is key to enter and participate to the dance.
TR Duncan said:I sense that in your desire to understand followship, you might actually be looking to understand your true gifts. To me leadership is to know oneself.... it isn't about telling people what to do ... It is totally about understanding oneself... one's capacities and the subtle nuances within your body when you know you are called to speak not from reaction but from the fullness of your being. Followship would mean that you sort by others... and put your values as seconday.
If you know your values and you respect anothers values you can get into a true dialogue about how to create solutions that value both perspectives.. or multiple prespectives.
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Permalink Reply by John Coxon on
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I feel that followership is being part of a shared vision or outcome. Personally I continue to have an issue with the term 'follow'. Maybe I view following as a form of compulsion. My preference is for a 'partner' relationship, one which implies a level of engagement and being valued for what someone brings to the relationship. A sharing of wisdom. To me leader and follower implies someone who is all knowing and others follow so as to benefit from that knowledge. Yet that model applies in many situations without any negative connotations. This suggests to me that followership might occur where there is mutual respect (as opposed to compulsion or admiration) for what a person represents. If there is mutual respect and a shared vision and a desire to help each other is it followership or a collaborative relationship? Or do they simply suggest the one and same?
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