Here’s the first in an on-going series of audio essays I’ll be offering on this site. Please give a listen and feel free to react, respond, and pontificate in the comment section below.
Today’s discussion: Leadership, followership, the proliferation of leadership books, and the implications for our own leadership development:
Would you consider followership to be an aspect of leadership? You may want to check out Robert E. Kelley’s “How to be a Star at Work”.
Best,
Josh
Nice to hear your voice again! One of the reasons I enjoy the narrative, fable style leadership books is exactly what you are referencing. They generally don’t offer new concepts. Instead, each author has his own style and manner of telling a story to share thoughts about leadership in a new way. As for the title subject, aren’t the best leaders also good followers? And, don’t the best followers also have good leadership qualities? I don’t think it’s leadership “vs.” followership; it’s leadership “and” followership. Maybe we really need more books that talk about both skills as part of a spectrum.
Interesting, El. At least for me, the reason I chose to write in that genre was because it’s easier for my voice to come through. It’s also why I chose to narrate my own story.
Agreed! Leadership AND followership. We all need a good blend of both. It’s just interesting that we’d rather read about and focus on the leadership element for ourselves. I wonder if that’s a particularly American-culture thing?
Interesting, El. At least for me, the reason I chose to write in that genre was because it’s easier for my voice to come through. It’s also why I chose to narrate my own story.
Agreed! Leadership AND followership. We all need a good blend of both. It’s just interesting that we’d rather read about and focus on the leadership element for ourselves. I wonder if that’s a particularly American-culture thing?