Leaders and followers: what tango teaches
- 107,729 Views
- 296 Questions Answered
- Best of Web
Let’s Begin…
This lesson illustrates the symbiotic relationship that exists between leaders and followers. So much time and emphasis is spent building leadership muscles that sometimes we forget followership skills are as equally important to accomplishment, as is leadership.
Create and share a new lesson based on this one.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
In his book titled, "The Power of Followership" Dr. Kelly, a renown expert in followership, suggests that more than 80% of task/project accomplishment can be directly attributed to follower performance; while leaders account for less than 20% of the total contribution toward the goal. On your own please continue the learning experience and see what you a find out about the underappreciated skills of the follower.According to Derek Sivers Leadership is "over glorified". His TED Talk is an eye opening look into the power of the First Follower and how the First Follower can transform a "lone nut into a leader".Did you know, good followers have all the leadership skills that leaders have? "There are no leaders without followers"...check out this YouTube video to learn about characteristics common to good followers and how followers have positive impact on leaders and organizations.Check out my sister's TEDxCMU Talk and see how she learned to be led and her Epic Change.Check out this link to dive deeper into the concept of Dynamic Followership and how it is an essential ingredient to effective leadership.Dive deeper still by clicking this link to examine followership styles and their relationship to job satisfaction and performance.Keep learning about the importance of followership by following this link and learning about the Courageous Follower and the Art of Followership.Ira Chaleff's books, "The Courageous Follower" and "The Art of Followership" are excellent resources to better understand and apply the dynamics of followership. Moreover, his website has a wealth of followership resources to continue your quest to become a great follower.
Although in Tango the terms are gender-neutral, in general society "leader" falls in the category...
There's a problem when we expect men to always be 'masculine' and women to always be 'feminine'. Further, 'masculine' traits are often respected more than 'feminine' traits. This creates a double-bind where women can either be disrespected for being 'feminine' or disrespected for not being 'feminine' enough (as Sheryl Sandberg describes in her book and TED talk).
I think when we respect both 'feminine' and 'masculine' traits for the real value they bring together, then there will be equality.
If followers account for 80% of task accomplishment...couldn't we make huge stride within our lives, work centers, organizations if we improve as followers? How would you go about it?
Create and share a new lesson based on this one.
More from The Way We Think
Psychology
Why change is so scary — and how to unlock its potential - Maya Shankar
Lesson duration 13:32
196,782 Views
285,923 Views
1,063,892 Views
1,121,528 Views