To lead or follow: a gray area

From the moment we step on campus, we are enveloped by requests for our involvement in clubs, organizations, sports teams and other groups. This is especially true of small campuses like ours. Many of us answer the call and become involved in our respective areas of interest. Some of us choose to be leaders of these groups while others assume a lesser role as followers. Both roles are essential for the survival of the group and like a food chain or any hierarchical structure, a balance must be achieved. If this balance becomes askew and the population of a group becomes engorged with leaders, can this compromise the group? Can a group be so starved for followers that it crumbles?

First we must understand what it is to be a leader. A good leader should be a good listener. A leader should be someone who is both organized and focused on the goals of the group. The leader should be available for his or her teammates, include others with the tasks of the group and be decisive and confident. (http://www.genv.net/en-us/dream_it/team_building/what_leader).

Do these sound like characteristics of a leader you follow or know? If so, good for you and good for your group to be under such strong guidance. If not, you should be a bit wary of that leader. Be careful of their actions. It’s your right as a member of that group to be critical at times.

A follower defined by Merriam-Webster is one in the service of another, one that follows the opinions or teachings of another or one that imitates another. But a follower is in no way the opposite of a leader. This definition does not restrict followers to silence or lack of free expression.

Dr. David Day is a psychologist from Penn State who has been studying leadership for the past 20 years. Through his studies and research he asserts that in terms of a leader or follower, “you’re not one or the other. You can fulfill both roles even in the same situation." He continues by saying, “Leadership is a dynamic process…We have preconceived notions that leaders are always out in front directing the band, but the process…involves everybody on the team."

The greatest leaders were once followers and this process, as Day said, is dynamic. Your role can change so that one moment you’re the leader and the next moment you have to follow the direction of another and listen to others’ opinions. If this happens, leaders and followers have to take into account all options and should make the best decision for the group.

Day mentions that leaders tend to get along with just about anybody and are termed “Social Chameleons." Even if there are members who you don’t like or members who don’t like you, the sign of a good leader is the ability to get things done despite aversions towards other members.

Can followers lead? Yes. Should leaders follow? Yes. Can a group have too many leaders? According to Day, the leader shouldn’t strictly lead, they should assume both roles, so the answer to that question is no. All members of the group have to work together, take on multiple roles and work towards the ultimate goal of the group as a collective.

What are some ways you can improve your leadership? Day states that you must be self-aware and be open to honest feedback.

“If there are large discrepancies between how you see yourself and how others see you, that’s a big red flag," he said.

A common flaw in potential leaders is the inability to accept this feedback. They dwell on the negative feedback and become defensive rather than self-reflective. Professionalism, responsibility and accountability are huge factors that play into how a leader is perceived and how that person can become a better leader.