Do the Best Leaders Come from the Ranks of the Best Followers?

”He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.” —Aristotle

There is simply no such thing as a leader without followers. It is also the case that we serve as followers for most of our organizational lives, even when we may be serving as leaders.

The best followers think for themselves, give constructive criticism, or as I like to call it “thoughtful suggestions,“ and are innovative and creative. They know how to get along with their co-workers to benefit the organization. The best followers work well as a team, take initiative and assume personal responsibility for the teams performance. They also give and receive feedback. The best followers know what the job is, they know how to do the job, and they do the job.

This should start to sound like good leadership.

The follower must make the choice to lead. It is not enough to have the skills or the promotion. Making the choice to lead requires commitment.

Yes, I believe, and experience taught me, the best leaders come from the ranks of the best followers.

I’ll see you in the front row of success.