Not all followers are sheep ...

AB Sutanto, Jakarta Consulting Group

Leaders and followers are just like two sides of the same coin. Take a manager of an organization for instance. He functions as a leader when he deals with his supervisors, who are one level below him and who report to him in line with the organization's structure. However, at the same time, he also acts as a follower of the organization's director, whose orders he has to obey.

We must not forget that a good leader also has to be a good follower and that without his followers' support it is impossible for a leader to be successful. According to the concept of Quantum Leadership, there are at least five roles of a follower.

The first role is as a strategic implementor. In this role he acts as an implementor of strategic points in the operations of an organization.

Second, a follower that acts as a leader. Though he is positioned as a follower in the organization, he also has to execute some leadership activities, such as taking initiative, making decisions and the like. This can occur because in the Quantum Leadership concept there is a delegation of duties from a leader to his followers.

Third, as a source of information. Here a follower functions as a source of information for his leader or in marketing jargon it is known as market intelligence. In this role he has to be capable of backing up his leader so that the leader does not miss out on the latest information both within and outside the organization.

The fourth role is as a feedback provider. He has to provide feedback on activities conducted by the leader, so that the organization moves on the right track.

Fifth, as a friend and partner. Here the follower has to act as both a friend and a partner to the leader. Without the support of such followers, it is not possible for a leader to lead an organization successfully.

There is another concept put forward by Ira Chaleff, the concept of the courageous follower -- probably more suited to Western culture, it is questionable whether it would be applicable in the East. This concept features such characteristics as the courage to state the truth and pinpoint mistakes as well as to verbalize a different opinion. It also comprises the courage to assume responsibility, to serve, to challenge, participate in transformation and the courage to leave.

Meanwhile Robert E. Kelly categorizes followers into five types.

First is the sheep type. This type of follower is passive, excessively dependent and uncritical. He just carries out the leader's orders.

Second is the "yes man" type, who is always hovering near the boss all the time, trying to anticipate the boss's every step and is always ready to open the door for the boss.

The third type is called the alienated follower. This type is an independent thinker but is somewhat passive in his style of approach. Often disappointed with the leader's decisions, he does not fully contribute and is not fully committed to his leader.

The survivor is the fourth type. He can survive any sort of reorganization and is always "usable" as he can adapt to various situations or the ups and downs in the organization.

Fifth is the effective follower. His character resembles that of a leader. He makes proactive approaches and is independent and critical. He gives his own opinion about the leader's ideas and also presents his own ideas. He is highly committed to the organization and to the duties assigned to him.

This type will be a valuable asset for any organization.